Councillors today had an update on progress with strategic cycle routes in Aberdeenshire.

We heard that it is a longer-term project which aims to encourage greater uptake of active travel modes as everyday transportation, linking larger settlements and key destinations.

With the increased sales and affordability of E-Bikes which now feature significant ranges and generally faster speeds, these longer commutes have become even more viable.

Phase 1 of the project aims to provide linkage between the peripheral settlements of Aberdeen to the city, namely Inverurie, Ellon and Stonehaven (via Portlethen). Due to the long-distance nature of these projects, it is proposed to develop each Phase 1 route in a section by section phased basis.

Routes under development are summarised below.

Phase 1
A92N Ellon to Aberdeen – Reaching an approx. population of 15,000
A92S Stonehaven to Aberdeen – 20,000
A96 Inverurie to Aberdeen – 21,500.

Phase 2
Kemnay to Kintore/Inverurie – 9,000
Inverurie to Oldmeldrum – 16,000
Fraserburgh to Cairnbulg – 14,000.

Phase 3
Blackburn to Westhill – 15,000
Alford to Kemnay – 6,000
Ellon to Peterhead – 30,000
B9119 Westhill West – 15,000.

The infrastructure services committee heard that developing the initiative will take a considerable amount of time and investment to deliver.

There will be engineering issues to overcome, third party landowners to engage with and funding to be sought.

However once delivered, these routes will form the backbone of an inclusive infrastructure resource which will serve communities for many generations and help steer Aberdeenshire and the nation on a path to cleaner air, improved health outcomes, reduced congestion and lower carbon emissions.

These routes would typically be of a high surface quality to support faster cycle speeds and the longer distances involved. However, it should be noted that delivering this level of infrastructure will take considerable investment and a phased approach to surfacing should be considered.

Delivering an unbound surface would in the short term allow these routes to open creating valuable off-road commuting corridors which can then be surfaced as funding allows.