By Brian Allison and Graham Huband

CYCLISTS USING a newly upgraded riverside walkway in Dundee have been asked to show greater consideration to people out for a stroll.

One regular user said she had become increasingly concerned at the threat posed to pedestrians by cyclists on the walkway between Stannergate and Douglas Terrace in Broughty Ferry.

The woman—who walks her dog along the route every day—said she had witnessed numerous near misses between cyclists and vulnerable elderly dog walkers.

The walkway has been enjoying a new lease of life since an £800,000 transformation and now welcomes more visitors than it has for much of its 80-year history.

The increased traffic has, however, prompted concern among elderly members of the community in Broughty Ferry, who fear an accident is inevitable unless steps are taken now.

One Douglas Street resident, who asked not to be named, said, “I am concerned that someone will be knocked over by a bike on the walkway.

“The bikes come up on you so quickly and quietly and they are not inclined to swerve. This is not just my experience, there are other ladies who walk along there regularly and are of the same opinion.

“We did set up a petition when they started the work to have a white (cycle lane) line dividing the path in two but now it is all done it is obvious it would not be the best thing as it would spoil the place.

“Instead, it would make all the difference in the world if the cyclists had bells on their bikes. The cyclists are nice people and so are the people who walk along there—I would just like to see all the bikes have bells.”

Ferry ward councillor Derek Scott said the refurbishment of the walkway had been widely welcomed.

He said, “Before the improvement programme started I got lots of complaints from people who use the walkway about its condition and the need for it to be upgraded.

“Now my constituents are telling me how pleased they are with the improvements which have already been made and that there are more to come.”

Among the outside contributors to the project are the Scottish Government and sustainable transport charity SUSTRANS.

The original idea for the walkway came in 1913 as part of the annexation act that brought Broughty Ferry into Dundee.

Building work began in 1929 and the walkway was completed on a budget of £5300.