Let's Get Scotland Walking: NWS, Appendix 1: Suporting Material

Safer and Stronger

9. Smarter Choices Smarter Places - Go Barrhead

The 'Go Barrhead' programme, implemented as part of the Smarter Choices Smarter Places (SCSP) programme, encompassed a range of infrastructure and behaviour change measures to encourage more sustainable travel choices in Barrhead. These were designed to encourage people to adopt travel patterns which save them money, make them healthier, reduce transport emissions and develop more cohesive communities.

The planned programme was delivered between 2009 and 2011. A number of parallel initiatives took place at the same time in the town, and changes observed in behaviour and attitudes are therefore likely to be a product of 'Go Barrhead' and related initiatives. There was considerable joint working and co-operation between organisations from the public and private sectors, and media coverage was mainly positive.

Observed travel behaviour changes included:

• The proportion of all trips made by car as a driver dropped strongly over the period of the SCSP intervention.
• The proportion of all trips made by walking increased strongly.
• Mode share for travel to school by bus and car declined and there was a marked rise in the proportion of trips made on foot and some increased cycling.

Travel attitudes also changed:

• There were positive perceptions of improvements in walking and cycling infrastructure and a large improvement in perceptions of pedestrian safety.

10. Developing open space standards - Greenspace Scotland

Scottish Planning Policy requires planning authorities to carry out a comprehensive open space audit and prepare a strategy for their area which will inform the regular review of the Development Plan.

Three local authorities were part of a research project to develop open space standards - Fife, North Ayrshire and West Dunbartonshire - each of which were developing an open space. During the course of the study, a number of different approaches to developing standards were investigated before an approach to standards development developed in Fife (the 'Fife model') was adopted by all three authorities. The standards relate to:

• overall quantities of 'publicly usable' space per settlement
• quality thresholds for civic spaces and greenspaces
• distances from where people live to their local spaces (using, where possible, network analysis to allow calculation of actual walking distances)

The mapping data was used to determine acceptable and achievable quantity and accessibility standards. In this way, 'challenging but achievable' target figures can be agreed and used to develop priority actions for open space management and context-sensitive standards for open space in and around new developments. Tailored models show how the generic models can be adapted for local use or for more detailed interventions. They include examples of a locally-derived outcomes triangle and a project-specific multiple results chain.

11. The City of Edinburgh Active Travel Action Plan - The Royal Mile Improvements

The quality of the historic environment of the High Street is important. The Royal Mile is important for encouraging visitors to Edinburgh. It is a key area for events taking place as part of the annual Edinburgh Festivals and Festival Fringe, during which footfall is extremely high. The City of Edinburgh Council has implemented a series of improvements to the High Street over the last two decades. In 1996, environmental improvements to the Royal Mile between George IV Bridge and St Mary's Street were undertaken. Following the 2003 study, improvements have also been implemented to Castlehill, Lawnmarket and Canongate as well as a partial pedestrianisation of the High Street between Cockburn Street and its Chambers.

Improvements undertaken along the length of the High Street include:

• installation of raised tables over junctions;
• improved pedestrian crossing points;
• increased pedestrian space/pavement width;
• installation of seating areas;
• phone boxes relocated to building's edge;
• installation of high quality granite pavements;
• improved links through closes all along the High Street; and
• improved signage.
  

Edinburgh has implemented a series of improvements to its streets and squares in the last few decades, including Royal Mile, South Castle Street, Grassmarket and St. Andrew Square.

12. Kirkcaldy Street project - Sustrans Scotland, Transport Scotland

This project complemented the work being done in Kirkcaldy through the 'Make Your Move, Kirkcaldy' project which is a partnership between Fife Council and Sustrans Scotland aiming to get people travelling actively and safely in an urban area. The project re-designed the Galatown neighbourhood to 'Designing Streets' standard, which puts people and place before vehicular movement. In addition, the project created a second exemplar project at Katrine Crescent, which involves slowing traffic, whereas Galatown focused on access over busy roads to green-spaces, schools and shops. In addition, a community link (off-road path) will allow pedestrians and cyclists to avoid busy roads on their trips.

Outcomes: Safer active travel. This will be achieved by making short trips more attractive for walking and cycling and less convenient by private car, reduced congestion by offering a safe off-road path as an alternative to a busy main road for those concerned about levels of traffic and safety, by reducing emissions with less vehicles on the road and by improving public health through a more active population.