Walkers and cyclists in Perth are helping shape the future of active travel in the city.
The council has launched a website to collect views on the best way to deliver more accessible streets, better public spaces and provide high quality routes for cycling and walking.
Commuters in the city have criticised the lack of routes and the quality of those that do exist. Lanes are often marred by pot holes and are inconsistent.
Campaigners want more segregation between traffic and walkers and cyclists and for better planning at dangerous junctions.
Transport secretary Michael Matheson hailed Dundee’s walking and cycle routes earlier this week and Perth is widely seen to be trailing its Tayside neighbour.
Environment and infrastructure convener Councillor Angus Forbes, Conservative, said the website would help to develop a business case for extra funding to be submitted to active travel charity Sustrans in April next year.
He said: “The website allows us to overcome barriers and engage with a much wider audience than usual. It allows people who drive, walk and cycle to comment on what can be improved with our streets and what they would like to see the council deliver.
“All the comments are available for people to see, making it a very transparent engagement tool. It also allows us to keep people informed of the progress through the news section.
“Fundamentally, it is the people of Perth who will define the design and investment of the schemes Perth and Kinross Council aim to take forward and deliver over the next five years.”
He said the Sustrans bid was key to delivering change “They aim to help local authorities deliver bold and ambitious active travel schemes, by providing substantial match funding, which enables councils to overcome significant physical and financial barriers.”
Cycle safety in Perth has been under scrutiny since the death of pensioner Margaret Lowden in a collision with a lorry in Main Street, Bridgend, in the summer.
Councillors have been going on cycles with residents frustrated by the lack and quality of pathways and cycle lanes. Blairgowrie-born endurance cyclist Mark Beaumont backed calls for additional funding to tackle the problem in September.
Perth cyclist and commuter Sam Bird said it was important that walkers and cyclists in the city took the opportunity to make their voices heard.
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to revolutionise Perth.
“It would be great to see Perth up there with Copenhagen, New York or Amsterdam – forward-looking cities who have all started to realise the economic benefits of active travel,” he said.
The website can be viewed at yourplaceyourfutureperthmap.commonplace.is/
