Cycling chiefs to cite routes as inspiration for national strategies

Humza Yousaf and Mark Beaumont will be present

Decision makers will gather in Perth next month for a major national conference that could define Scotland’s future cycling strategy.

Perth and Dundee will be held up as examples of how cycle routes can be successfully introduced into cities and rural areas.

Over two days, the Cycling Scotland Conference will bring together more than 200 professionals and campaigners, together with local and national campaigners including Transport Minister Humza Yousaf MSP.

Perth Concert Hall will be the venue for the event, which takes place over November 7 and 8, but almost the entire first day will be spent on the road.

Described as “study tours”, the guided outings will take many of the high level delegates on fact finding missions on two wheels.

The route through Perth will explore what is being done to make the city more cycle-friendly, taking in the new cycle counters on the North Inch and looking at how changes to road layouts and urban design are making it easier to cycle and walk around the Fair City.

Another will look at how the Loch Leven Heritage Trails have helped link cycle routes to wider rural communities.

In Dundee, cyclists will tour between the Waterfront and Broughty Ferry to show how cycling can be integrated into large-scale regeneration projects and everyday journeys by bike can be made easier.

November 8, meanwhile, features a wealth of top speakers including recordbreaking long distance cyclist Mark Beaumont and Mr Yousaf.

Panellists will also include Sustrans chief executive Xavier Bryce, Cycling Scotland chairwoman Maureen Kidd and Dr Jenny Mindell, reader in public health at UCL (University College London).

In addition to developing cycle strategy to improve routes in communities across the country, the conference will also explore how to get Scots of all ages and abilities cycling more often.

Perth and Kinross Council and its community partners have been working hard in recent years to improve access to cycling.

November 8, meanwhile, features a wealth of top speakers including recordbreaking long distance cyclist Mark Beaumont and Mr Yousaf

Picture: Kim Cessford. James Mill, from Perth, cycles past the counter which shows cyclists per day and also the annual total at the South Inch, Perth.