Walking and cycling in Greenock town centre
A STUDY has been launched to find ways to encourage more walking and cycling in Greenock town centre.
Inverclyde Council wants to hear people’s views on how routes can be improved to support greater active travel by understanding the current restraints and barriers.
The aim of the study, ‘Greenock Connections’, is to find out what could be done to boost walking, cycling and wheeling links in and around the town centre to make it easier and safer for people of all ages to get about and use local facilities and amenities.
Ideas submitted will be used to shape plans being drawn up by the council in partnership with walking and cycling charity Sustrans.
The study is linked to the regeneration of Greenock’s traditional high street, West Blackhall Street, and the development of a new segregated cycle lane, which is currently ongoing.
Councillor Michael McCormick, Inverclyde Council’s convener of environment and regeneration, said: “One of the few positive effects of the covid pandemic is the surge in popularity of walking, cycling and wheeling.
“It’s important that we capitalise on that by improving connections in Greenock town centre to allow people to continue enjoying active travel and all the benefits that brings for health and the environment but also to make it easier to access the town centre to support local businesses as part of our ongoing commitment to regenerate the area.”
The aim of the study is to improve connectivity by developing well-designed routes, places and signage that will help increase local journeys by bike and on foot, making the streets safer and more attractive for residents and visitors to the town.
It will tie-in with the redevelopment of West Blackhall Street and look at potential links to other key areas of the town, including the waterfront, the new Greenock Ocean Terminal development and bus and train stations, and the National Cycle Network, which could connect to other parts of Inverclyde.
To take part in the study, visit https://greenock.commonplace.is/.