Calls made for ‘critical’ infrastructure upgrade works on cycle route

Calls have been made for the Scottish Government to confirm that capital investment for active travel infrastructure upgrades will benefit Dunblane and Bridge of Allan.

Speaking in Holyrood at Portfolio Questions for Transport, Mark Ruskell, Scottish Green MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, highlighted that plans for promised segregated cycle infrastructure between the two communities had still not materialised, despite road safety concerns on the route.

Mr Ruskell asked for the Cabinet Secretary to confirm that there would be no roll back on Scottish Government funding for active travel infrastructure, and that funding will be made available in 2024/25 to progress key projects.

In response, the Cabinet Secretary for Transport said that the Government is making substantial investment in active travel, and committed to look in more detail at the situation in Dunblane and Bridge of Allan.

Mr Ruskell said: “People living across Stirlingshire have waited for years for safe, segregated cycle infrastructure between Dunblane and Bridge of Allan.

“There have been too many accidents and near misses – particularly between Bridge of Allan and Keir roundabout. All vulnerable road users, like cyclists, need better protection.

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“I am grateful for the Cabinet Secretary’s commitment to investigate the situation on this stretch of road, and I’m hopeful that we’ll start to see improvements soon.

“I’ll also be writing to Stirling Council asking them to make a public commitment to work with the Scottish Government to install this critical active travel infrastructure as soon as possible.”

In February, cyclist and dad-of-three Hamish Hutchinson, told the Observer how he was left with a broken back after being hit by a car while on the Keir Roundabout at Dunblane.

The driver who struck the 43-year-old was banned from the roads for 20 months.

Hamish, from Bannockburn, suffered the excruciating injury after being mowed down by a BMW whilst on a morning cycle with a group of friends in June last year.

The driver had failed to stop at the Keir Roundabout in Dunblane, striking Hamish who landed on his car bonnet then was thrown into the road. He broke his back – narrowly avoiding being paralysed because his spinal cord was unaffected.