£2m boost for Edinburgh walking and cycling measures

Sustrans funding award will support Spaces for People programme

Edinburgh has secured almost £2m in additional funding from Sustrans to improve conditions for walking, cycling and wheeling.

The £1.95m award, comprising of Spaces for People and Places for Everyone funding, will add to £5m already received from the Scottish Government, via Sustrans, to implement temporary measures supporting travel by foot, bike or wheelchair.

The new funding will enable the city to complete the proposed programme of temporary improvements first approved by Policy and Sustainability Committee in May. It will also allow the Spaces for People team to enhance schemes where possible, carry out more road and pavement resurfacing and increase the removal of street clutter.

Since May, the city council has introduced many temporary changes across the city to create protected routes designed to help pedestrians and cyclists to travel while physically distancing. Amongst these are widened pavements in key shopping streets, segregated cycle lanes on main roads, closures on roads leading to popular parks and beauty spots, and improvements around schools.

Transport and environment convener Cllr Lesley Macinnes said: “This additional funding will help us to deliver an even better package of routes and improvements which not only create more room for physical distancing but help residents to make healthy, active travel choices whenever they can.”

An update report to Transport and Environment Committee published last month outlined the next steps for Spaces for People in Edinburgh, including amendments to existing interventions, several more complex schemes and improvements developed as a result of public feedback.