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Case Studies News News & Opinion Places for Everyone

New research shows active travel projects are helping keep Scotland healthy

People walking and wheeling on the South City Way in Glasgow.

What are the main findings?

Since 2016, Places for Everyone has delivered almost 180km of cycle, pedestrian or shared use paths.

Nearly half of these are newly constructed with the remainder being upgrades to existing routes.  

Through Places for Everyone the Scottish Government provides millions of pounds to local authorities and community groups every year in order to help create new and accessible walking, wheeling and cycling connections across Scotland, from the Scottish Borders to the Western Isles.   

In 2023-24 alone, £76m was invested in active travel infrastructure via Places for Everyone, making this the largest active travel programme in Scotland at nearly 46% of the total investment.  

Thanks to these new paths, the number of people in Scotland living within 500m of high quality active travel infrastructure constructed through Places for Everyone has tripled between 2016 and 2024.   

The latest analysis, carried out by Sustrans’ Research and Monitoring Unit (RMU) estimates that over 1.3 million more active travel trips per year were made after projects were delivered.

This analysis is based on a sample of projects and likely underestimates the true increase in trips.  

This is an increase of 28% in active travel trips.

For walking, there were 600,000 additional trips (an increase of 16%), whilst there were 700,000 more cycling trips (an increase of 85%).  

Results also indicate that Places for Everyone projects have contributed to a reduction in car travel and, consequently, levels of noise and air pollution.

People walking and cycling on a traffic free link at Raigmore in Inverness.
Traffic free links like this one in Inverness are encouraging more people to walk, wheel and cycle. Credit: McAteer.

What are the key benefits?

The latest analysis suggests that projects delivered through Places for Everyone have significantly improved safety for people walking, wheeling and cycling.  

As reported last year, the total number of casualties has decreased where new routes have been built despite a corresponding increase in walking, wheeling and cycling journeys.  

In response to surveys, more people also reported feeling safe after improvements had been made.

Before project delivery, 77% of survey respondents reported feeling safe on project sites, rising to 89% after.  

As well as improving safety, results suggest that the programme has boosted health outcomes by increasing physical activity.  

Across newly delivered projects, 94% of respondents agreed that a desire ‘to get exercise’ influenced their choice to walk, wheel or cycle along one of the new routes.

A group of people walking and cycling across a road.
The City Centre West to East Link has made it safer to cycle across the capital. Credit: Colin Hattersley.

How has this impacted on protected groups?

Results show that completed Places for Everyone projects are also helping to encourage more active journeys to school.  

Schools with projects located within 500m have substantially higher rates of walking, wheeling and cycling to school compared to the Scottish average.  

In terms of gender and age, both men and women made more trips on Places for Everyone routes after construction, and the number of trips has also increased across every age group.  

However, because the overall number of trips has increased, the proportion of women making trips on Places for Everyone routes has remained similar.  

Other groups often under-represented in active travel include people from minority ethnic groups and those living with disabilities.  

Following project completion, the proportion of route user survey respondents from minority ethnic groups using the new routes increased, although they remain underrepresented.  

Similarly, the proportion of respondents with a long-term health condition has increased slightly but remains below the population average.  

Another aim of the programme was to increase walking, wheeling and cycling rates amongst people who live in areas identified as ‘deprived’ according to the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation.   

Up to five years after completion, the number of trips made by people from more deprived areas has nearly doubled from around 97,000 annually to 184,000, an 89% increase.

However, this group remains underrepresented on Places for Everyone routes. 

A young man with a visual aid walking beside a cycle lane, with a cyclist approaching.
Protected groups remain underrepresented on Places for Everyone routes. Credit: McAteer.

Where can I read the report?

The excel-based report is available on request.  

Please contact scotland@sustrans.org.uk for more information.   

Categories
Case Studies News News & Opinion Places for Everyone

Major active travel network transforms the city of Stirling

Partners and school pupils celebrate the opening of Walk Cycle Live Stirling
Project partners and local school pupils talk about the benefits of the new routes.

Construction is complete on the £11 million Walk, Cycle, Live Stirling project.

The project has created two new active travel corridors of more than 6.5 km that connect communities, businesses and higher education institutes across the city like never before.

The routes were officially opened on 24th April at a section next to Wallace High School, with staff and pupils, funding partners and other key local stakeholders marking the occasion.

Healthier lives, cleaner air and better for business

Partners and school pupils celebrate the opening of Walk Cycle Live Stirling
Project partners, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and local school pupils celebrate the opening of the new routes. Credit: Stirling Council.

With many people across Stirling already using the new routes on a regular basis, locals are starting to reap the benefits of getting active for their everyday journeys.

One of the routes provides a direct connection to Wallace High School.

School pupil Nora said: “It definitely encouraged me to cycle more because it’s just a safer route.

“I don’t really like cycling on the road, so it’s a lot easier to go more places with the cycle paths.”

Walking, wheeling and cycling is good for our physical and mental health, as well as being a crucial part of our journey to a Net Zero nation.

Evidence also shows that active travel benefits the economy, including increased spending on the high street and in town centres.

The new routes connect residents and tourists to local Stirling businesses.

Danielle McRorie-Smith, Director of Go Forth, Stirling’s Business Improvement District, said:

“It greatly helps accessibility for the city centre businesses and especially for the Business Improvement District.

“It cuts down on the volume of traffic and it’s encouraging for the university students to have that link in with the city centre: to go there to spend their money, to spend their time, study, use the cafes and coffee shops and all the Business Improvement District businesses.

“I think it also makes it so much more attractive, from a placemaking perspective, when you see a healthy city centre and people using the cycle routes.”

Walk, Cycle, Live Stirling – a route guide

The project is comprised of two routes.

Route one provides a safe and accessible link between Stirling Train Station and the University of Stirling. 

The route travels north from the Train Station, crossing the historic Old Stirling Bridge before heading up Causewayhead Road.

People walking, wheeling and cycling can take in the views of the iconic Wallace Monument on their way towards the University.

People wheeling and cycling on the forecourt at Stirling Train Station
The new segregated infrastructure makes it easier for people to walk, wheel and cycle across Stirling. Credit: McAteer.

Route two has bridged the gap between Forth Valley College and Stirling’s historic city centre.

On the way out from the city centre, the route passes through Albert Place.

New traffic-calming measures and landscaping improvements have made this on-street section a welcoming and enjoyable place to walk, wheel and cycle.

Coming out onto Dumbarton Road, the segregated path passes by the King’s Knot and, along Raploch Road, under the shadow of the impressive Stirling Castle. 

The route continues onto Raploch, connecting people to Forth Valley College.

Young people cycling on segregated infrastructure on Dumbarton Road with Stirling Castle in the background
The new routes celebrate the historic significance of Stirling, passing by iconic landmarks. Credit: McAteer.

Expanding travel choice

Connecting communities and places across Stirling through safe and accessible routes, Walk, Cycle, Live Stirling offers real travel choice to locals and visitors alike.

Simon Strain, Head of Programme for Places for Everyone at Sustrans, said:

“Making walking, wheeling and cycling safer and easier means everyone moving around Stirling has more choice for everyday journeys.

“Feeling confident enough to choose to walk, wheel or cycle benefits our health, our wallets, and our local environment. 

“We’re delighted that Walk, Cycle, Live Stirling has now made these choices a reality for more people in the city.” 

People walking and cycling on segregated infrastructure on Albert Place in Stirling
Feeling safe to walk, wheel or cycle helps more people get active for their everyday journeys. Credit: McAteer.

Stirling Council Depute Leader, Councillor Jen Preston, described the project as setting “a new standard for active travel infrastructure in a Scottish city”.

“For the first time ever, there are seamless routes for cycling and walking in the heart of Stirling, linking communities and public transport hubs to businesses, schools, the university and college, as well as the wider region.

“The new infrastructure has already been used by people of all ages in our communities, including by pupils and staff at Wallace High, and it’s going to be a key part of how we support the growing shift to active travel as well as increasing footfall and economic activity for our businesses. 

“I want to thank all our residents and businesses for their patience and understanding during the works, and we are committed to engaging with them to unlock the full benefits of this major investment.” 

School pupils cycling on segregated infrastructure in Stirling
The new routes have created safe and accessible links to school, college and university. Credit: Stirling Council.

Working in partnership to embolden communities

Walk, Cycle, Live Stirling has been funded by the Scottish Government through Sustrans’ Places for Everyone programme (£8.4 million) and via the City Region Deal (£2.5 million), and by Stirling Council from developer contributions (£325,000).

The project is a cornerstone of the Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal.

This is a £214 million partnership between both Stirling and Clackmannanshire Councils, the University of Stirling and the UK and Scottish Governments.

The new routes also lay the foundations for planned future connections reaching out beyond Stirling to Clackmannanshire and the wider Forth Valley Region. 

Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop said:

“To support the ambitions of Scotland’s local authorities for more high quality active travel infrastructure, we are investing £188 million into active and sustainable transport in 2025-26.

“This will help ensure more people and communities across Scotland can benefit from easier sustainable travel options.

“To help communities prosper, the Scottish Government is investing £45 million through the Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal.

“The Deal aims to create 5,000 jobs in Clackmannanshire and Stirling by boosting transport, tourism, training, business growth and projects to tackle climate change.”

Categories
Case Studies News News & Opinion Places for Everyone

£6 million street transformation complete in Greenock

People are being encouraged to check out Greenock’s new-look West Blackhall Street following a £6 million project to improve walking, wheeling and cycling. 

The street fully reopened recently following a massive modernisation project to make the town’s traditional high street more attractive to residents, shoppers, visitors, and new and existing businesses.

The project was led by Inverclyde Council and delivered through Transport Scotland via Sustrans’ Places for Everyone programme and Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT).

The aim of the redevelopment was to create a vibrant area which is accessible for all with additional space for pedestrians and cyclists and new public realm areas with extra seating and trees to enhance the environment, whilst maintaining vehicle access.

Work was carried out in two phases, initially starting in January 2024 and was completed last month.

Locally led solutions

The historic high street in Greenock now benefits from a new cycle line, planters, benches and more. Credit: Sustrans, 2025

Plans for West Blackhall Street were originally developed following consultations with the public, residents, traders and partners.

The project supports the aims and objectives of the Greenock Town Centre masterplan to promote West Blackhall Street as a safe, accessible and attractive street in which to live, shop and spend time in, with a focus on supporting future uses such as café culture and the night-time economy.

West Blackhall Street has also been opened up with existing roads layouts replaced with a single one-way system straight through from Westburn Street to Grey Place to simplify access for cars and parking down one side of the street only.

In addition to improving the look and accessibility of West Blackhall Street, the project is also designed to ‘future proof’ the area so that it will be compatible with more sustainable forms of transport and zero-carbon targets with a shift in focus towards pedestrian priority.

New and improved network

Safer crossing points and a cycle lane provision mean access to the waterfront is easier than ever. Credit: Sustrans, 2025

To compliment these works, a £305,000 project to improve the National Cycle Network Route 75, which links West Blackhall Street to Greenock Esplanade, and upgrade the Patrick Street junction is nearing completion.

It is being funded by the Scottish Government and delivered in partnership by Inverclyde Council and Sustrans Scotland’s Network Development programme.

The upgraded junctions at Patrick Street and Campbell Street, as well as improvements to 1.8km of the existing traffic-free Esplanade, will enable people to walk, wheel and cycle safely and easily between the newly revamped high street and the waterfront.

Delivering through partnership

It is hoped the improvements will provide an accessible and welcoming space for locals to spend their time in. Credit: Sustrans, 2025.

A large portion of the funding for the modernisation came from Sustrans Scotland through their ‘Places for Everyone’ scheme, which is an active travel infrastructure programme backed by Transport Scotland and administered by Sustrans.

Simon Strain, head of programme, Places for Everyone, at Sustrans, said:

“Making places safer and more accessible to reach and move around actively is a win-win for our communities, and we’re delighted to see these changes on West Blackhall Street which give the people of Greenock more choice for their everyday journeys.”

“As well as benefitting people’s health and wellbeing, the revitalisation of West Blackhall Street will offer a huge boost to local businesses, who can expect greater footfall as the street becomes a more attractive destination for locals and visitors alike.”

Councillor Jim Clocherty, Inverclyde Council’s vice-convener of environment and regeneration and chair of the Greenock Town Centre Regeneration Forum, said:

“It was widely acknowledged that West Blackhall Street had seen better days and the council, thanks to support from Sustrans and SPT, stepped up to try and breathe new life into Greenock’s traditional high street.”

“I’d like to thank residents, businesses, and shoppers of West Blackhall Street and surrounding areas for their patience and understanding while this important modernisation project was carried out.”

SPT provided funding towards works including upgrades to traffic lights and pavements at the Grey Place side of West Blackhall Street and to support other elements of the redevelopment.

SPT Chair of operations, Inverclyde Councillor David Wilson, said:

“This is exactly the sort of project which can make such a difference to Inverclyde, improving the area to become a become a much more pleasant place to visit and support the variety of local business available.

Categories
National Cycle Network News News & Opinion Places for Everyone Project/Department Filtering Research and Monitoring

New Stockingfield Bridge reaches quarter of a million journeys milestone 

According to data collected and analysed by Sustrans, around 240,000 active journeys are predicted to have been made via Stockingfield Bridge in 2023. 
 
Of these, around half were completed by bike, with joggers and walkers making up a large part of the remainder. 
 
Delivered by Scottish Canals in partnership with Sustrans, Stockingfield Bridge provides a key active travel connection between the communities of Ruchill, Gilshochill and Maryhill.

Featuring stunning artworks and landscaping improvements, the new bridge also serves as the missing link in the Forth and Clyde Canal and National Cycle Network.
 
A total of £13.7 million was awarded to the project via Sustrans through Places for Everyone, an active travel infrastructure fund backed by the Scottish Government.

Accessible attraction

Stockingfield Bridge provides a safe and accessible crossing for people living and working in the north of Glasgow. Credit: Sustrans/McAteer, 2023.

Researchers also asked people about their experiences of using Stockingfield Bridge. Most of those surveyed agreed that the route is well signposted, is of high quality and allows them to cross busy roads safely. As well as this, 82% of users agreed the route is accessible for people of all ages and abilities. 
 
Prior to completion of the bridge, access to the canal towpath and travel between the communities was limited to a narrow poorly lit underpass. Heavy traffic and a repeated instances of flooding also raised safety concerns.

Karen McGregor, Scotland Director for Sustrans, said:

“It’s truly extraordinary to see how people living and working across Glasgow have embraced Stockingfield Bridge over the last two years. Not only is the route proving to be indispensable in increasing the number walking, wheeling and cycling journeys to and from the city centre, it’s also reconnecting neighbouring communities and keeping people safe from traffic every day.”

“The route is also transformational in terms of accessibility, meaning everyone regardless of ability can access the canal towpath and travel onwards via the National Cycle Network. I really look forward to seeing Stockingfield Bridge continue to grow in popularity and firmly embed itself as an iconic Glasgow landmark.”

The unique design of the bridge allows people to cross the structure from multiple locations along the canal towpath. Credit: Sustrans/McAteer, 2023.

John Paterson, Scottish Canals’ Chief Executive Officer, said:

“Stockingfield Bridge has not only re-connected the people of north Glasgow who did not have easy access across the canal since the canal was built in the late 1700s, but has become an active travel route for thousands across Scotland.”

“We are committed to ensuring that our canals and towpaths are accessible for all and provide a traffic free attractive environment to enjoy, and Stockingfield Bridge is impressive example of this. We are delighted to hear that so many people have benefited from this investment and look forward to welcoming many more in the future.”

The report and its findings can be accessed here.

Categories
News News & Opinion Research and Monitoring

Active travel increases after path upgrades to Wishawhill Wood

The Wishawhill Wood path links the suburb of Craigneuk in North Lanarkshire with Wishaw town centre via a high-quality active travel route.

Previously, the only option for walking, wheeling and cycling away from the busy road, and without the use of an inaccessible footbridge over the railway, was a muddy and overgrown path.

Construction on the new route was completed in 2020.

It has since provided a safe and easy way for people of all abilities to travel between Craigneuk and Wishaw, as well as improving access to the local woodland and Wishawhill Wood Pump Track.

The project was led by Green Action Trust (GAT) and part-funded by the Scottish Government through Sustrans Scotland’s Places for Everyone programme. Match funding was provided by North Lanarkshire Council who have also taken on maintenance responsibility for the route.

Sustrans’ Research and Monitoring Unit (RMU) evaluated the impact of the project in 2022 by counting and surveying people using the path, as well as interviewing local people and stakeholders.

The Wishawhill Wood path links the suburb of Craigneuk in North Lanarkshire with Wishaw town centre via a high-quality active travel route. Credit: Green Action Trust.

What were the findings?

RMU analysis found that the path has contributed to substantially more trips being taken through Wishawhill Wood – particularly by young and older people.

Before the path upgrade, an estimated 16,000 trips were made during 2019 by people passing through or visiting the pump track. After the upgrade, an estimated 41,000 trips were taken during 2022 – about two and a half times as many.

The path is mainly used for recreation and has helped local residents increase their regular physical activity.

In 2022, 40% of survey respondents said they made a journey along the route daily, compared with 15% in 2019.

The path upgrade has also helped people access a much wider range of local services than before.

Many people using the route strongly agreed that it is easily accessible, enhances the area and meets the needs of the community.

85% of respondents said they were walking or cycling because the path was the most convenient route to get to their destination, up from 18% in 2019.

Numbers of people strongly agreeing that the path is well maintained, feels safe and is well lit have also increased, but are still relatively low.

RMU analysis found that the path has contributed to substantially more trips being taken through Wishawhill Wood.

A community asset

Reflecting on the impact upgrading the path has had on the local community, interviewees were positive.

One person told us:

“It’s a great green transport link, in terms of from the centre of Wishaw, right the way down through…it certainly has opened the area up.”

Local resident, Wishaw

Dan Scott, the Managing Director at Socialtrack, a local social enterprise that encourages people to cycle, scoot, and skateboard, explained how the upgraded path had encouraged pump track users to cycle rather than drive.

“Six lads travelled from another part of Wishaw, which was two miles away from the pump track. The first time they came, six lads came in four cars and then six lads came in three cars, and then eventually six lads came themselves on their own bikes.”

Dan Scott, Managing Director, Socialtrack

Communicating the results

By presenting the findings of the study as a StoryMap, which uses a combination of interactive maps, graphs, voice recordings from local people and “before and after” photos, users can simply and interactively learn more about the project.

The webpage details the story of the path, how it was developed, how it connects people and place, and its impact within the local community.

Alan Boyd, Evaluation Officer in Sustrans’ Research and Monitoring Unit, said:

“We are pleased to share our findings which detail the increase in walking, wheeling and cycling as a result of the path upgrade in Wishawhill Wood.”

“The new path has created a safer and more accessible route for people of all abilities travelling between Craigneuk and Wishaw.”

“We have uploaded our analysis onto a StoryMap for those who would like to find out more about the project. The StoryMap is flexible, so users can zoom in and out of the maps, easily skip to whatever research they find most interesting, and listen to local people discuss the changes that they have seen since the path opened.”

Alan Boyd, Evaluation Officer, Sustrans
The upgraded path had encouraged people to cycle rather than drive to the local pump track. Credit: Holly Musgrove/Sustrans, 2022.

Mike Batley, Development Officer at Green Action Trust, added:

“The Wishawhill Wood project has been a great opportunity for the Green Action Trust and partners to make a real difference to people’s quality of life through access to greenspace and active travel.”

“Anecdotally the path has clearly had a positive effect, however this new piece of evaluation has put firm data behind its impact, which is very encouraging for future projects.”

“The StoryMap brings the work to life in an easily understood and engaging way, so I’m delighted to see the results in this format.”

Mike Batley, Development Officer, Green Action Trust

Want to find out more?

Experience the StoryMap or contact monitoring@sustrans.org.uk

More information about StoryMaps

Categories
News News & Opinion Places for Everyone

Analysis shows increase in active travel after project delivery

Staff and volunteers from Glasgow's Hidden Garden set up planters off Victoria Road as part of the South City Way Small Grants Scheme, funded by Sustrans and Glasgow City Council

The 2020/21 evaluation report published today provides evidence on the key impacts of the Places for Everyone grant fund, and demonstrates the contributions of the programme to the outcomes set out in Transport Scotland’s Active Travel Framework.

The report also highlights how the programme performed during the pandemic and the baseline monitoring currently being undertaken for projects in the design stage.

The Places for Everyone programme is funded by the Scottish Government and administered by Sustrans.

The programme is open to a range of organisations in Scotland – including local authorities and community groups – that enables the creation of active travel infrastructure.

In addition to funding, the programme also provides advice and support to partners on establishing safe, attractive, healthier places in our urban and rural areas.

There are currently around 250 projects in place or in development as part of the Places for Everyone programme.

Impact of the programme

The report aggregated data from projects across the lifespan of the Places for Everyone programme up to and including the 2020/21 funding year. This includes Sustrans Scotland’s previous Community Links and Community Links Plus grant funds.

One of the key findings is that walking, wheeling, and cycling numbers increased after the completion of infrastructure projects.  

Results from an analysis of 30 projects showed a 54% average estimated rise in active travel trips after initial delivery.

Further study showed that the increase in active travel was sustained one year after delivery, with 24 projects averaging a 37% increase in trips.

The 2020/21 evaluation report provides evidence on the key impacts of the Places for Everyone grant fund and demonstrates the contributions of the programme to the outcomes set out in Transport Scotland’s Active Travel Framework.

The monitoring also suggests that the programme led to an improvement in the perception of safety among both pedestrians and cyclists.

This was particularly evident among groups who traditionally regard safety as a barrier to active travel, including women, the elderly and disabled people.

Local people’s perceptions of community involvement in planned Places for Everyone projects were equally encouraging.

In Glasgow, a survey of 984 local residents found that 71% felt the Connecting Woodside project would either greatly or slightly improve the sense of community in their area.

Monitoring and evaluation during the pandemic

Results show that Places for Everyone projects were particularly beneficial to communities in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The programme helped mitigate against some of the impacts at local level by providing safe active travel options for key workers and others.

The projects saw increases in walking, wheeling and cycling during a period of unparalleled societal change.

In Edinburgh, for example, the Innocent Railway path project saw a 344% growth in cycling between 2014 and during the pandemic in 2020.

The report aggregated data from projects across the lifespan of the Places for Everyone programme up to and including the 2020/21 funding year.

Looking ahead

The Places for Everyone programme is committed to enabling more people in Scotland to walk, wheel and cycle for their everyday journeys.

The Research and Monitoring Unit are continuing to monitor a sample of projects currently at design stage, and will update their analysis with projects from 2021/22 and 2022/23.

Planned work includes upgrading active travel routes, improvements to public spaces in our towns and cities, connecting communities and key hubs and addressing local safety issues.

This highlights the variety in the programme’s work, with projects ranging from rural to urban and village to city.

It also evidences Places for Everyone’s contributions to wider development projects such as local masterplans and flood defence schemes.

One of the key findings is that walking, wheeling, and cycling numbers increased after the completion of infrastructure projects.  

Nigel Donnell from Sustrans’ Research and Monitoring Unit, said:

“We’re really pleased to be able to share this evaluation report. It highlights that the Places for Everyone programme is helping people throughout Scotland to walk, wheel and cycle for more of their everyday journeys.

We are really proud of everything it has achieved so far, and with around 250 projects in place or in development the fund will continue to play an important role in creating safer, more attractive, healthier, and inclusive communities.

We’d like to thank Transport Scotland for providing the funding to facilitate the Places for Everyone fund, and our delivery partners whose hard work has ensured the success of the programme”.

The full report is available on request, if you would like to find out more contact nigel.donnell@sustrans.org.uk.

PLACES FOR EVERYONE 20-21 IMPACT REPORT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Categories
Engineering team National Cycle Network News Pocket Places

Perth residents celebrate community-developed revamp of Craigie Place

Residents, school pupils and artists who worked to redevelop Craigie Place in Perth have celebrated following the completion of installations designed to make the area a better place to walk, wheel, cycle and live.

Craigie Place pictured from above. Artwork by Bigg Design and Fun Makes Good

The square where Craigie Place meets Glenearn Road and Windsor Terrace, on National Cycle Network Route 775, has been resurfaced and a designated cycle path installed. Also among the improvements are the installation of benches, cycle parking and raised beds for planting. 

Artists Eleanor Young from Fun Makes Good and Hamish Bigg from Bigg Design designed wayfinding artwork and floor murals, highlighting places of local interest as well as those further along NCN775 such as Loch Leven, and, more locally, Perth’s South Inch park and Craigie Burn. 

The improvements, developed by Sustrans Scotland and Perth and Kinross Council together with the community, Inch View Primary School and St Mary Magdalene’s Church through online consultations and surveys, were designed to address local concerns about unsafe and illegal parking in the square, as well as difficulty finding NCN775. 

Artwork by Bigg Design and Fun Makes Good

Paul Ruffles, Principal Urban Designer, Sustrans, said: 

“This is a wonderful small project delivered in partnership with the local community, Perth and Kinross Council and local artists. The work has transformed the space from a redundant space used for car parking into a calm, green and vibrant space for people of all ages and abilities. It’s a real pleasure to see these changes happen and highlights the value of putting people at the heart of decisions on their local spaces.” 

Installations at Craigie Place, Perth. Image: Janie Meikle Bland

Christopher Lennox, Technician, Road Safety, Traffic and Network, Perth & Kinross Council, said: 

“My involvement in the scheme was to investigate, partially design and organise the hard landscaping works on behalf of Sustrans. This included helping with the construction strategy and traffic management plan. The pocket places programme has revitalised the small space creating a focal point in the community, having improved travel networks benefitting both pedestrians and cyclists.”

Members of the Sustrans team with artists Eleanor Young and Hamish Bigg at the launch. Image: Janie Meikle Bland

Artists Eleanor Young and Hamish Bigg said:  

“Bigg Design and Fun Makes Good have been delighted to work with Sustrans and Perth and Kinross Council to transform this once derelict space. We were amazed at the support and responses we received from Inch View Primary School and the local community. It’s been particularly enjoyable getting hands-on installing the artwork and meeting residents as they’ve come to chat to us and see the project evolve – everyone has been so friendly and enthusiastic about the new space! 

“Located on the National Cycle Network, the sculpture draws on the aesthetics of road signage and ground markings, reinventing them to create a colourful and engaging public space. A circle of posts support double-sided artworks symbolising local landmarks and places of interest, whilst a hand-painted ground mural acts as a ‘compass’ to point visitors in their direction.  

“Combined with Sustrans’ landscape design, we hope the new space creates an oasis of art and planting in the urban environment – a place to meet, rest and play, that invites exploration of the local area.”

Artwork by Bigg Design and Fun Makes Good
Craigie Place before the installations.

Sustrans Scotland’s Pocket Places programme is an opportunity for local communities to shape their neighbourhood and take a lead in making their local area a better place to live. Pocket Places is funded by the Scottish Government through Transport Scotland and delivered by Sustrans Scotland.

Categories
Case Studies News News & Opinion Places for Everyone Project/Department Filtering

Opening the Loch Indaal Way

An opening event was held in October 2021, attended by local children from Port Charlotte Primary School with music provided by the Islay Pipe Band. Credit: ©2021, Islay Community Access Group, all rights reserved.

The Loch Indaal Way joins the communities of Port Charlotte and Bruichladdich via a safe, accessible and traffic-free route.

Prior to this, the sole existing link between the two communities was a section of the A847 carriageway, a national speed limit road which offers little protection to those walking wheeling and cycling on the island.

The newly completed off-road route has already proved popular with local residents and business owners, with its frequency of use expected to greatly increase when the tourist season returns.

Making waves in rural design

The Loch Indaal Way provides 2.53km of traffic-free route between the Islay communities of Bruchladdich and Port Charlotte. Credit: ©2021, Lisa Irvine/Sustrans, all rights reserved.

The Loch Indaal Way project was spearheaded by the Islay Community Access Group (ICAG), a local network of volunteers with a vision to increase health and wellbeing through greater outdoor accessibility.

Patrick McGrann, Head of the ICAG, said:

“ICAG, a small voluntary group, worked for 6 years to deliver the Loch Indaal Way. We are extremely proud of our new community asset .To see local folk and visitors of all ages and abilities enjoying access to the countryside is heart warming. We have involved our community throughout and all have ownership and satisfaction of a job well done.”

Pat McGrann, Head, Islay Community Access Group

With the support of Sustrans’ Places for Everyone programme, ICAG secured the a large part of the funding to deliver the 2.53km off-road active travel route.

Sustrans and ICAG previously worked together to deliver the lauded Three Distilleries Path at Port Ellen, a popular 5km active travel route which takes in the Laphroaig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg distilleries.

Emily Gait, Infrastructure Coordinator for Sustrans, said:

“The Loch Indaal Way is a great example of where a community have worked together to create a project which meets the needs of the people who live and visit the area. Inclusive designs and strong community backing have been key to the ultimate success of this project.

Going forward, we hope this inspires other small communities across Scotland to nurture their own walking, wheeling and cycling ambitions.”

Emily Gait, Infrastructure Coordinator, Sustrans

Key features of the route include three upgraded and newly created crossings, as well as landscaping and placemaking initiatives such as the provision of comfortable seating areas and shrubbery sections.

Smooth gradients and minimal placement of steps also maximise accessibility for users with limited mobility.

Change through community

New and upgraded crossings, minimal steps and barriers, as well as added seating areas and landscaping initiatives were fundamental to the designs. Credit: ©2021, Lisa Irvine/Sustrans, all rights reserved.

The proposals to create a new off-road walking, wheeling and cycling route between Port Charlotte and Bruichladdich received popular community support from the outset.

Through an proactive and considered period of engagement, ICAG worked closely with local landowners to secure necessary land donations to make the path a reality.

The local Bruichladdich Distillery also became involved in the promotion and funding behind the project, even entering into a maintenance agreement with ICAG to ensure to path stays fit for purpose.

AJ Cunningham, Operations Manager at Bruichladdich Distillery, said:

“Even before the path was finalised, it was being adopted by a lot of locals. I don’t think this was out of them being inquisitive, either. It’s just a really enjoyable and risk-free way to walk where they didn’t have that option before.

I don’t think it could’ve worked out any better unless you took it all the way out to Bridgend!”.

AJ Cunningham, Operations Manager, Bruichladdich Distillery

Evident local enthusiasm for project only further increased as construction got well underway against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic.

A safer, healthier future

An opening event for the Loch Indaal Way took place in October 2021, featuring attendees from Port Charlotte Primary School and the Islay Pipe Band. Credit: ©2021, Islay Community Access Group, all rights reserved.

At an opening event in October of last year, children from Port Charlotte Primary School led a procession along the Loch Indaal Way from the Port Ban war memorial to Bruichladdich Town Hall.

They were joined on-route by local residents, members of ICAG and the local Baptist Minister, as well as the musical stylings of the Islay Pipe Band.

After passing several renowned destinations, including the Bruichladdich Distillery, the event culminated in a ceremonial ribbon cutting, which officially opened the route for all users to enjoy.

Children from Port Charlotte Primary School have provided artworks depicting key attractions along the route, including St. Kiaran’s Church and Loch Idaal House lighthouse. Credit: ©2021, Islay Community Access Group, all rights reserved.

Six months on, and The Loch Indaal Way is now an indispensable part of daily life on Islay.

A local group of swimmers use the path for convenient access to the beach as part of weekly meet-ups.

Attendees of St Kiaran’s Church hold fortnightly walks along the path.

A recently installed cycle repair station has also been well received by the community, ensuring daily errands, active commutes and leisure trips are able to continue with minimal disruption.

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Behaviour Change Case Studies News Places for Everyone

Creating new neighbourhood links in Toryglen

Through their work with local people, Glasgow-based charity Urban Roots realised that residents of a new housing development, funded as part of the regeneration of Toryglen, were finding it hard to access local services and greenspaces.

The charity applied for funding through Sustrans’ Places for Everyone programme to design local walking and cycling routes. These will link the new estate with nearby shops, football pitches and woodland.  

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Listening to the needs of the community

To gather information on the links that would be most useful to the community, Urban Roots held focus groups tailored to their different volunteer groups, held engagements at existing meetings and ran standalone events.

Urban Roots works to support many vulnerable people and groups with protected characteristics. This experience and the trust built up with volunteers, locals and service users let them carry out in-depth consultation with groups that may have been hard to reach for a local authority or developer, including a mental health and wellbeing group and the Orchard Grove care home

The charity focused on identifying solutions to problems faced by the community in the area. They created concept boards to spark ideas at consultations. By working closely with the community and design agency LUC, Urban Roots were able to make sure that feedback from the targeted consultations was meaningfully translated into the concept designs. 

This meant the proposed designs suggested walking and cycling routes which recognised the everyday journeys made by local residents, formalised desire lines and which were accessible, safe and welcoming to all.

“I think this would be a great space to use and for everyone from elderly to disabled people. Really well thought about!”

Consultation Response

Changing local travel habits

Urban Roots used their consultations as a chance to find out more about individual and social barriers to walking and cycling in the area. This led to the charity setting up a behaviour change project in partnership with Camglen Bike Town.

The project supported local people to be more active in their everyday trips. Cycle training for adults and young people gave locals the confidence to use bikes to get around the local area. Bike maintenance sessions and guided rides help to make sure that people had the skills and knowledge to ride safely and confidently.

“ At Bike Town, we believe local communities and the organisations representing them are ideally placed to facilitate walking and cycling activities that support the development of new cycling active travel infrastructure. ”

Jim Ewing, Senior Team Leader, Camglen Biketown

Partnership working

Urban Roots were well placed to lead on the community engagement but did not have experience of project managing significant construction projects.

To take the designs forward, Urban Roots engaged with Glasgow City Council and local regeneration agency Clyde Gateway This has resulted in Clyde Gateway applying for £50,000 of detailed and technical design funding through the Places for Everyone fund, to further develop Urban Roots’ concept design work.

Key Learning

Community organisations have key local contacts and an understanding of their local area. Local authorities could contract them to help with the planning of new routes or to encourage a more meaningful engagement process.

Community organisations may also have capacity to help drive local authority projects and foster local ownership.

This approach could be replicated through all stages of a project, from initial design creation to supporting activities after construction and ongoing maintenance.

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Behaviour Change Case Studies News Places for Everyone

Reaching new audiences along the South City Way

Bike for Good, interior and exterior shots, Glasgow
Two women stand, talking at a counter in Bike for Good's shop. A third woman stands behind the counter smiling. The women to the left of the image is holding a green and white bike.
The new Bike for Good Hub provides servicing, repair and a community base

A proactive approach to reaching new audiences has seen a surge in the number of people trying cycling for the first time along the South City Way in Glasgow.

The South City Way project is a partnership between Glasgow City Council and Sustrans, funded through Transport Scotland. The 3km route, from Queen’s Park into the City Centre, seeks to rebalance the streets in favour of people walking and cycling and to make journeys in the area more pleasant.

Local charity Bike for Good were funded by Glasgow City Council to deliver behaviour change measures before and during construction of the project.

They offer bike recycling, cycle training, outreach activities and maintain the city’s Nextbike public bike hire fleet.

The charity has strong partnerships with local organisations around the cycle route and provided tailored support activities to different audiences. 

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Focused Impact

Bike for Good’s purpose was clear: to reach people new to cycling and help them to overcome their barriers to being more active.

By organising a wide range of events that mixed food, music, films and socialising they reached people who would not have been interested in purely cycling-focussed activities.

 As a result, two-thirds of cycling activity participants were new to cycling.

Removing barriers

A section of text is written on a blackboard: "Changing lives through cycling! Our Glasgow South Community Hib offers a range of services for..."
Bike for Good run a wide range of programmes from their two Glasgow centres

Bike for Good worked hard to make it easier for more people to come along to their engagement sessions.

The sessions are free to attend and the charity proactively took their services to different areas along the route. 

As well as reaching new audiences by partnering with other organisations working on health, integration and rehabilitation programmes, they offered activities for specific audiences including:

  • Women only rides and cycle skills training
  • Kids afterschool club with occasional trips away
  • “Spokes Not Blokes”, a monthly maintenance session for women and non-binary people

Finally, Bike for Good also ran a pilot project aimed at giving people affordable access to bikes. Aimed at people on low or no income and population groups who are less likely to cycle the “Bikes for All” pilot provided access to Glasgow’s Nextbike public hire scheme for £3 year – a discount of 95%.

This meant that as well as Bike for Good activities being accessible to a wider range of people, they have increased their understanding of ways to effectively encourage participation in cycling among under-represented and minority population groups.

In a two-year period (July 2017 – July 2019), 414 people were signed up, representing 8% of all new annual members of the nextbike scheme in Glasgow during this time. In the same period, 10,253 bike rentals were made by Bikes for All participants, representing 2.3% of all nextbike hires in Glasgow. (from the Bikes for All impact report, November 2019).

Key learning

Tapping in to existing social and support networks helps increase engagement with a bigger range of audiences, especially those who may be seldom heard.

Activities that encourage people to use new infrastructure should be tailored for different target groups or individuals. As a person starts to make more journeys by bike, their needs will change. This means that there needs to be a range of ways to support them.

Local Authority Support

Glasgow City Council provided funding to Bike for Good through Smarter Choices Smarter Places funding. This two year agreement has enabled them to provide a visible and welcoming community space to promote active travel to those living and working around this new route.

The targeted use of this fund to support this significant new route is to be commended. It has supported and complemented the  changes to the built environment carried out by Glasgow City Council and, by coming from a trusted, local organisation, will help lead to longer, more impactful changes in the community.

Key learning

Just as individuals will have specific active travel needs, different infrastructure projects will require different approaches to how they encourage people to walk and cycling more in the surrounding area.

Based on the reported success of Bike for Good’s activities, a relatively small investment in providing support activities can have a large impact. The number and type of people using the route will be key measures of success, so the benefits of supporting a wider audience to be cycle-ready are clear.