Councillor Peter Convery officially opened the Alloway to Burton cycle route
In 2007 South Ayrshire Council won the Scottish Transport Award 2007 Walking and Cycling Award. The award recognised the Council’s innovative and exciting work that led to an extensive number of cycle and walking routes being created in South Ayrshire.
Employees from the Council’s Transportation section of the Department of Development, Safety and Regulation, submitted their Local Cycle Feeder Routes scheme for consideration for the Scottish Transport Awards 2007.
The Alloway to Burton Cycle route that has just been officially opened by Councillor Peter Convery, the Council’s Portfolio Holder for Sustainability and Environment, was one of the reasons why such a prestigious award came to South Ayrshire.
A group of P6 pupils from Alloway Primary School, who have been undergoing cycling training to make them aware of how to be safe when out on their bicycles, took part in the official opening, along with other invited guests.
Councillor Peter Convery said: “South Ayrshire has excellent cycling and walking routes that can be enjoyed by local people and visitors. We are continuing to expand the routes and that is why we have compiled a new South Ayrshire Cycle Map that shows all the routes that were in existence from February this year.
“Cycling Scotland have just completed their latest National Assessment and again South Ayrshire has come out very well, clearly demonstrating its commitment to developing and promoting cycling.
“Walking and cycling are environmentally friendly and sustainable ways of travelling. The cycle routes in South Ayrshire can be used to get to and from work, during leisure time or to keep fit. I am particularly pleased to see that the pupils from Alloway Primary School are enthusiastic about cycling and I hope that they continue to cycle throughout their lives.”
In 2005 Cycling Scotland published a National Assessment, where they looked at how each of the 32 local authorities in Scotland was performing in their provision of cycling facilities. South Ayrshire has faired well in the report and continues to be one of the best authorities for providing excellent facilities for people who wish to cycle.
Other projects in South Ayrshire helped to secure the award they included:
- Joint partnership working to develop cycle routes in the South Ayrshire area to feed in to National Cycle Route 7.
- Meeting public demand for safe and direct routes to schools.
- Designating over 11 kilometres of road space to new local cycle routes along main arterial roads to Ayr.
- Introducing cycle routes to schools and incorporating them in school transport plans.
- Creating rural routes for recreational purposes and increased access to the countryside.
- Encouraging Council employees to cycle to work.
- Reducing car usage that benefits the environment.
- Creating a safe environment along cycle routes to encourage men and women to use the routes.
Anyone who would like to find out more about cycle routes in South Ayrshire should log on to the Council’s website where the new South Ayrshire Cycle Map can also be found.
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