The East Kilbride Active Travel survey saw local people identify better cycling infrastructure in these areas as key priorities.

Now the council has been able to accelerate the delivery of this, after receiving Scottish Government Spaces For People funding from Sustrans to support active travel and social distancing work as part of the Covid pandemic response.

Chair of the council's Community and Enterprise Resources Committee, Councillor John Anderson, said: “Events over the last year have seen a lot more people taking to the saddle. Survey work across South Lanarkshire has confirmed this and we know the picture is reflected locally in East Kilbride.

“This sharp increase in demand and the funding from our partners has enabled us to bring forward this new route that we were already committed to as a key local priority identified by local people, and to help tackle climate change by encouraging active travel.

“We have also seen a rise in the number of young people cycling which is great for their independence and their health. Improving the cycling network will make it easier and safer for more young people and families to enjoy the health and environmental benefits of active travel.”  

The new cycling infrastructure is part of the broader East Kilbride Active Travel Network and will create a route between the rail station and the town centre via Torrance Road, Brouster Hill and Cornwall Street. This route will in turn connect into the wider network with a link to new cycle lanes being developed on West Mains Road with the support of Sustrans, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport and the Scottish Government.

Developing these new cycle links now will ensure they are in place to support the planned East Kilbride Rail Enhancement investment which is set to deliver significant upgrading of East Kilbride rail station.

The measures have been designed to meet the appropriate design standards as well as considering the characteristics of each road.

Work got underway on Monday 1 March at the junction of Kirktonholme Road/Torrance Road/Brouster Hill and is due to be completed by mid April (2021).

A second programme of work under Places for Everyone gets underway on Thursday 11 March to deliver fully segregated cycling infrastructure on West Mains Road between its priority junction with Torrance Road and the remote footpath connection for Creighton Grove. 

This work is due to be completed in early May 2021.