Cycle Counter to be installed in Broughty Ferry

A continental-style cycle counter is set to be installed in Broughty Ferry following approval by Dundee City Council.

The “high-visiblity” cycle counter will be installed at the east end of the Douglas Terrace walkway along the waterfront and will provide a visual counter of the number of cyclists using the route.

A network of counters, inspired by those in countries such as Denmark, is being established across Scotland by sustainable transport charity Sustrans and Transport Scotland with the co-operation of local authorities. They gather data about cyclists that is used to plan new routes.

At present, Dundee and Aberdeen are the only cities in the country not to have a cycle counter, with Aberdeen’s set to be installed in the next few months.

Claire Daly, spokeswoman for Sustrans, said the idea behind cycle counters was to promote sustainable transport such as walking and cycling instead of driving.

In general, cycle counters have been shown to be motivational for cyclists and provide data that assists planning for cycling infrastructure.

One of Britian's Best Bike Rides on Our Doorstep - Dundee to Arbroath

In May 2012 the Guardian newspaper featured the Dundee to Arbroath cycle route as one of 'Britian's Best Bike Rides'. It's right on our doorstep and I can confirm it is a real gem. Last week I took advantage of the warm weather and cycled the roads and miles from Broughty Ferry to Arbroath and back. 

The fact that most of the route is off road on shared paths for walkers and cyclists, makes this a relaxed ride and easy to appreciate the sea views. While there is little motorised traffic to worry about, on the sections between Broughty Ferry and Monifieth you do need to be really alert for pedestrians and dogs and of course other cyclists.

I particularly enjoyed the section from East Haven to Arbroath that has most recently been opened. The new route runs between the railway line and the beach. Note on the Sustrans map below, this part of the route is described as 'proposed'.

Congratulations to Dundee City Council and Angus Council for their joined up work with financial support from Sustrans, the sustainable transport charity.

Click on Map to enlarge

Here is how the Guardian describe the ride:
"This popular Scottish route is a lovely, flat, mainly traffic-free ride along the Tay estuary. Start from under the Tay road bridge (you'll need photo ID to get through the dock area, so if you don't have it, start from the east of the port). The route heads to Broughty Ferry, before hugging the sea to Monifieth. The route continues on a traffic-free path over Barry Links, with its low sand dunes (great for wildlife) and on to Carnoustie with superb views of the bay. The route finishes by Arbroath's historic harbour, famed for its Arbroath smokies (haddock smoked over burning woodchips)."

Read/download the Sustrans Leaflet Dundee to Arbroath

Public Access is Maintained as Work Progresses on Upgrading Coastal Pathway

Earlier in the week, I noticed that work is progressing on the last section of the upgrading of the coastal pathway running between the Stannergate to Douglas Terrace in Broughty Ferry. This major contract has been jointly funded by Dundee City Council and SUSTRANS. This particular section of the pathway runs between Grassy Beach and Douglas Terrace.

I think that many of the regular walkers and cyclists who make use of the pathway will be relieved to know that public access will be maintained while the extensive work is undertaken. This should ensure that dog walkers, leisure and commuting cyclists and other users can continue to use the pathway day by day.

Judging by the reduced width of a short section of available pathway, it will require some patience and good sense at busy times when folk coming in opposite directions meet in the 'narrows'. In the long run, I think constituents will accept that our temporary inconvenience will be worthwhile when they can enjoy using the complete upgraded pathway in the Spring.

Why I Was Justified in Questioning Council's Lapse in Contract Procedures

Last Monday night (26 November 2012) I tried to assist Dundee City Council by questioning why the works that were starting at Douglas Terrace Walkway had not been properly authorised. This could have led to the situation where a £887,579 contract was begun with no prospect of the bill being paid. This would have been bad for Dundee City Council, bad for Tayside Contracts and bad for the people of Dundee. I think my actions have saved the City Council from possible censure from Audit Scotland and from possible legal action.

Of course I wholeheartedly welcome this major improvement of the coastal pathway at Douglas Terrace. I made this clear on Monday night and in August when the planning permission for this work was granted. But it's important that contractual procedures are carefully followed or the Council might end up with a local version of the West Coast Mainline Trains fiasco on its hands.

At the City Development Committee meeting on Monday night, I questioned why it was that a contract worth more than £850,000 for rebuilding a section of the coastal pathway had been publicly advertised to begin on the morning on Monday 26 November, before it was brought to Committee that night. While I received a full apology for this oversight, it is still not clear who would have noticed this if I had not raised it on Thursday and Friday last week by telephone and email?  

I was very disappointed that not every Councillor saw this as an important issue and some sought to close down my questions. I presume that they would rather that the Council acted illegally than have proper scrutiny of the Council's spending of public money.

Cyclists and Pedestrians Need to Show Mutual Consideration on Shared Coastal Pathway

Diverse traffic on the coastal pathway
 at Grassy Beach - click to enlarge

I think many of my constituents are aware that I enjoy walking along the coastal pathway between Douglas Terrace and the Stannergate. Most days I take our dog Milli for a walk along this pathway. Milli enjoys chasing a ball on the beach and a swim off the slipway at Grassy Beach. On my walks, I usually encounter other dog walkers, joggers, folk out with children in the buggy, walkers, drivers of mobility scooters and of course cyclists; all of whom have the right to use this pathway.

Some walkers I have encountered resent the presence of cyclist using the pathway. I usually point out that it was the charity Sustainable Transport (Sustrans) which made substantial grants towards the upgrading of each of the sections of the pathway so that that it could remain open. The walkers accept that if this was the price of retaining the pathway so be it. 

But several walkers have expressed their concern that the mixed modes of human traffic sharing this pathway is 
"an accident waiting to happen". 
They point out how frightening it can be when a cyclists comes up behind them and passes them at speed. But it's not just the cyclists who may offend other path users. I sometimes witness dogs running out of control and in front of cyclists. I have also seen walkers and joggers engrossed in their music and unaware of other traffic on the route.

So the issue I want to raise is the need for all those who use this pathway to show more consideration to each other. This means cyclists ensuring they have a bell or other warning device and make use of this as they approach pedestrians up ahead. It also means that they should moderate their speed when approaching walkers especially when the pedestrians are blind sided.  For walkers it means their avoiding getting engrossed with their music or their conversation so that they don't step out in front of an approaching bike. Dog walkers should also try to keep their dogs under control and clear up their dog's mess and dispose of this in the bins provided.

I have also written to the Head of Transportation to see whether the walkway hard surface might be divided into two lanes; one for pedestrians and one for cyclists. I am hoping this may be possible when the final section of the pathway is rebuilt later this financial year and the pathway has a more uniform width.

Safer Routes for Cycling Now on Google Maps

Click on map to enlarge

Finding a safer route to ride your bike is set to be easier as cycling routes are made available on UK Google Maps for the first time. This follows a collaboration between the UK charity Sustrans and Google.


In what is a ground-breaking move, National Cycle Network routes across the UK can now be navigated online using a new bicycle symbol on Google Maps, alongside the options of driving, public transport and walking.


Cyclists can now plan their trips, make use of bike lanes, calculate cycle-friendly routes that avoid big hills and customise the map for cycling on smart phones and computers.


My illustration above shows the results of my trying out this feature and asking for directions from my home postcode in The Ferry to my office in City Square. If you enlarge the screen shot from my computer you can clearly see the National Cycle Network routes marked and selected. I think many cyclists will find this a useful feature so that they can easily locate safer routes to cycle to work, school, shopping or for fun and fitness.


I also notice that Google Maps are inviting interested parties to help them develop their cycle maps by sending in details of cycle routes other than those that are part of the network of national cycle routes. I have written to the Director of Transportation to request that Dundee Travel Active are invited to input to Google Maps the detailed information they have on record about local cycle tracks and routes throughout the city.