New on-street cycle parking facilities will soon be installed across the city.
A feasibility study into the introduction of secure on-street cycle parking has identified locations where cycle facilities could be installed.
Members of the Environment, Sustainability and Carbon Reduction City Policy Committee were today (Wednesday 30 April) given an update on the council’s plans.
The study, funded via the Scottish Government’s Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme, will outline recommendations to finance, install, and manage on-street cycle parking infrastructure using a cost effective, secure and accessible system which can be implemented across the city.
A city-wide online consultation carried out by the council’s Neighbourhood and Sustainability’s Technical Services looked at levels of support and facility placement requests, potential partners and development of a placement strategy.
Of those who responded to the consultation, 68% suggested locations. These were plotted using GIS (Global Information Systems) spatial analysis then scored on the following criteria:
• number of requests received for secure shelter,
• proximity to areas of high household density,
• proximity to current or ongoing cycle infrastructure.
Those with higher scores were prioritised and clusters resolved to provide single locations. This desktop method was used to provide a list of potential locations. Street surveys will now be carried out to ascertain their suitability.
Christine Francis, Head of Technical Services within Neighbourhoods and Sustainability, said: “We know there is strong public support for safe cycling facilities and the feedback we got from residents during the consultation helped us map out the potential locations for installing cycle storage facilities.
“A significant number of residents live within a four mile radius of the city centre in properties such as tenements, high rise flats and apartment blocks. These have limited cycle storage space and are based around narrow central stairwells. This presents problems for storing and moving bicycles and, where cycles are stored in communal space, can cause an obstruction and attract a greater risk of theft.
“Once the feasibility study is complete we will assess each location before the installation begins late Summer.”
The new on-street parking facilities will be paid for from the council’s Cycling Strategy budget.
A copy of the report is available here