Spaces for People - Beach Active Travel Corridor

Overview

As NHS and Public Health Scotland battle COVID19, there is an immediate need for Aberdeen City Council, as the local Roads & Traffic Authority, to support physical distancing requirements which will enable people to move safely around the city.

The patterns of pedestrian and cycle usage on many city routes have changed since the pandemic lockdown started, with a marked increase on popular leisure routes. It is expected that as residents return to work, these patterns will change again but they are unlikely to return to the pre-lockdown situation in the medium term.  The lockdown has enabled many people to reacquaint themselves with cycling on roads, with low levels of traffic helping to improve novice and returning cyclists’ confidence.  In line with Scottish Government advice, this uptake in cycling provides an opportunity to encourage those when they begin commuting again to opt for bike over a car, in order that the transport network can operate more effectively.  Combined with a likely heavy reduction in bus service capacity, cycling as a mode of commuting is anticipated to increase. Many of the traffic corridors will see significant additional pressures and conflicts.

Aberdeen City Council was awarded a ringfenced £1.76 million grant on 26 May from the Scottish Government’s Spaces for People fund to carry out temporary works in our streets to help provide space to physically distance in line with government guidance.  

The grant will pay for a roll out of temporary measures to allow people to walk, cycle, and queue for buses and shopping while adhering to the physically distancing guidance. Measures taking place include pedestrianisation, pavement widening, temporary bike lanes, and one-way walking.  

A number of the projects within the Public Road response are aimed to rapidly expand and connect cycling infrastructure across the city to create an improved cycle network.  The Beach active travel corridor (city centre to Bridge of Don) is one of those currently being developed. 

Mandatory Lane Approach

Due to the requirement to install the network quickly as lockdown restrictions are eased and people return to work, there are limited levels of physical alterations to the road.  Long lengths of kerb realignment are not feasible in the timescale, and instead the installation of mandatory cycle lanes can be achieved on the existing road. 

The Esplanade has seen a marked increase in recreational cycling, including young and novice cyclists.  In order that the works cater for this recreational demand, the cycle lanes will be placed beside the current pavement taking space from the road, and made usable in both directions with minimal interaction with general traffic.  The arrangement is commonly referred to as a bi-directional mandatory lane and would be defined from the general carriageway using signs, road markings and traffic cylinders.

On sections of the route more associated with commuting such as Ellon Road and the Beach Boulevard, the plans show mandatory cycle lanes. For Ellon Road, there are several options under consideration, however, time does not allow for all of these to be shown on the plans:

• Cycle lanes in both directions;
• Bus & cycle lanes in both directions;
• Bi-directional cycle lane on the northbound road  (requires the banning of left turns from Ellon Rd to Balgownie Rd)

Beach Boulevard plans show existing cycle infrastructure being upgraded and expanded providing with flow mandatory lanes in both directions.

Feedback from the public is being taken into consideration to help shape these plans so we invite comments of these options and the proposals.

Why do we need your information?

Aberdeen City Council collects this information about you in this form in order to better understand travel patterns to assist with infrastructure planning.

The Council does not use an automated process for making decisions about you or the services you require.

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