Tag: cycling

Spokes announce Election Hustings

Spokes Council Election Hustings, Mon 28 March, 7.30-9.30

Transport Policies, with particular reference to Cycling

Local Council elections take place on 5th May.  The Spokes hustings on March 28 will challenge representatives of the main parties represented on Edinburgh City Council to explain and defend their transport and cycling policies for the next 5 years.  All speakers are candidates in the election.

Each speaker will have 5 minutes to outline their transport and cycling policies for the next 5 years, after which there will be a one-hour QA during which speakers will face searching questions from the online audience.

Website article … www.spokes.org.uk/2022/02/thurs-5-may-2022-council-elections

Tweet … twitter.com/SpokesLothian/status/1506737466547609602  

Hashtag #SpokesMtg

Practicalities

Date/Time : Monday 28 March 7.30-9.30

Registration : Register in advance – the link is in the above website article and tweet

PANDEMIC ERA SEES HUGE RISE IN CYCLING

Campaigners have highlighted new Government figures which show that people will cycle if it feels safe, and if car traffic is low. The new stats also reveal the huge public handouts to the bus industry through the pandemic.

The data was published today in Scottish Transport Statistics, and covers 2020/2021 when there was a huge drop in traffic due to Covid-19 restrictions. 

The figures show a 63.5% increase in cycling in 2020-2021, while all other forms of transport showed marked reductions due to Covid-19 restrictions. 

Figures show that the bus industry in Scotland received £340m in funding from local or central government in 2020-21. Passenger revenue for the same period was £131m. Effectively, the taxpayer subsidised 72% of the industry. 

Meanwhile, bus fares in Scotland have increased by 6% (adjusting for inflation) over the past five years, while the increase for Great Britain as a whole was 3%. 

The statistics also show:

 • Public transport journeys fell by 70%, with 153m public transport journeys made in 2020-21. For comparison, in 2019-2020, there were 502m public transport journeys recorded.


 • 83% of public transport journeys were made by bus, 9% by rail, 5% by air and 3% by ferry.


 • The number of bus journeys fell by 65% in 2020-21. While this was the result of the pandemic, it also follows the trend of long term decline in bus passenger numbers. There were 458million bus journeys in 2009-10 but this had fallen to 363 million by 2019-20



Transport is Scotland’s largest source of climate emissions and levels have barely changed since 1990. 

Friends of the Earth Scotland’s Air Pollution Campaigner Gavin Thomson commented: “These statistics confirm the huge increase in cycling we witnessed over the first year of the pandemic.

“People will cycle if they feel safe, whether that means fewer cars on the road or segregated cycle lanes. As we head into the elections, all local council candidates need to recognise there are huge benefits to their area of making it safe and easy to cycle.

“These figures show just how much the public purse is subsidising the bus industry. But politicians have failed to get value for money. Fare rises far above the UK average, constant route cuts, and a complete lack of control or accountability. Councils need to use the new bus powers to take control of our bus network; if we’re paying for it, we should control it.

“This data is a snapshot from the first year we faced huge societal changes due to Covid-19. We still don’t know what the world will look like on the other side of this pandemic, but there are opportunities to deliver on those early promises to build back better and greener. Councils have a range of powers at their disposal to make it safe, easy, and cheap to travel sustainably.”

Veterans urge cyclists to get on their bikes to support Poppyscotland

A FORMER Royal Artilleryman, who cycled 855 miles for Poppyscotland, has got back on his bike to launch the charity’s Sportive event.

Billy Morrison, 57, from Musselburgh, is urging cyclists of all ages and abilities to join the 7th annual cycling event throughout East Lothian and the Scottish Borders.

He joined former comrade, Jack Regan, 54, from Tranent, to launch the Sportive, Poppyscotland’s biggest fundraiser outside of the Poppy Appeal. Returning after a two-year break, it has already raised more than £250,000 to support current and former members of the Armed Forces and their families across the country.

Around 1000 cyclists are expected to take part in the event on Sunday 25th September, sponsored by Fred. Olson Renewables.

Starting and finishing at Prestonpans Community Centre, three routes ranging from 45 to 102 miles will take in the stunning coastal road to North Berwick then loop round the East Lothian countryside. More adventurous riders will cycle over the Lammermuirs, dipping down to Chirnside and Duns in the Scottish Borders. 

Billy, who served in the first Gulf War and Afghanistan and now works as a Tesco delivery driver, has already raised an incredible £10,000 for Poppyscotland as part of his 1921 Poppy Pledge.

He cycled the distance of Land’s End to John O’Groats around East Lothian and on a static bike in the Musselburgh Tesco store in the run-up to Remembrance Sunday last year.

He said: “I’d encourage cyclists of all ages and abilities to join in, get fit, and raise funds for a great cause. I’ve been very lucky myself, but I see this as a way to give back to former colleagues.

“Whenever I needed a bit of help, someone always stepped up for me. That’s something I’ll always recognise, and I want to make sure that everyone else who has served can get the help they need.”

Jack, who served alongside Billy in Iraq and recently retired as a Scottish Power linesman, added: “This is a fantastic day out, as well as a way to show our support to former servicemen and women and their families.

“Veterans can be very reluctant to ask for help, but we want to get the message out that it’s only a phone call away.”

Gordon Michie, Poppyscotland’s Head of Fundraising and Learning, said: “We’re very excited that the Sportive is returning to East Lothian and the Borders after a two-year break. It’s always a sell-out event, so we are encouraging cyclists to sign up as soon as possible.

“We keep numbers low to avoid the need for road closures, and the intimate and friendly feel of the event is one of its attractions. The route takes in stunning coastal views and country roads, while the timed hill climb will challenge more experienced cyclists.

“We’re incredibly grateful to Fred. Olson Renewables for continuing to sponsor us this year. This means 100 per cent of the sign-up fee and any sponsorship raised will go directly to our work supporting Scotland’s Armed Forces community.

“We’ve already raised more than a quarter of a million pounds to provide vital welfare support to families across Scotland, from help with housing and employment to mental and physical health issues.”

The Sportive is an “open road” cycling event, meaning that no roads will be closed in order to minimise disruption to the public.

Participants on e-bikes and tandems are welcome to take part, while riders can have a free place if they are supporting a cyclist with a disability.

For more information or to register, visit www.poppyscotland.org.uk/sportive

Spokes public meeting: Monday 21st February, 7.30 – 9.30pm

Traffic Reduction Commitments, Scotland & Edinburgh

The Scottish Government has made a remarkable “commitment” to reducing car-kilometres by 20% over the 2019 pre-covid figures, by year 2030 – primarily as a response to the climate crisis, although with many additional side-benefits for public health and community.

Edinburgh City Council has followed this up with a 30% ambition – albeit a “target” rather than a commitment.

Our online public meeting on Monday 21 February brings together Scottish Government Minister Patrick Harvie MSP, responsible for active travel policies and Cllr Lesley Macinnes, the City’s Transport Convener, to explain, debate and be challenged on the route to achieving these very tough ambitions.

Dr Caroline Brown, member of Spokes and of the Transform Scotland policy forum, will critique the government and council approaches; and this will be followed by an hour of debate between the panel members, prompted by your questions.

The QA/debate will be chaired by Dr Sam Gardner, head of the Edinburgh Climate Commission.

Website article …

http://www.spokes.org.uk/2022/02/spokesmtg-traffic-reduction-commitments-in-scotland-edinburgh/

Tweet …twitter.com/SpokesLothian/status/1493588445595410438   Hashtag #SpokesMtg

Practicalities

Date/Time: Monday 21 Feb 7.30 – 9.30pm

Registration : Register in advance – the link is in the above website article

Roads, transport and parking tops the agenda for Scots

Science-based technology company 3M urges local authorities to address concerns felt by drivers, cyclists and pedestrians

 

Roads, transport and parking should be the number one agenda item for local authorities in 2022, according to almost half of residents living in Scotland (47%).

The new research from science-based technology company, 3M reveals that within the region, this is the area most in need of attention alongside housing (47%) and followed by jobs, business and investment (41%), and education (35%). 

After more time spent working, travelling and exercising close to home in the past two years, 80% of people in Britain believe the pandemic has highlighted the need for vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians to be able to co-exist. However, there are specific factors preventing these groups from doing so in harmony.  

Accessibility for cyclists in Scotland

It is estimated that one in five Brits now cycle in a typical week. However, in Scotland nearly a quarter of those who already cycle (23%) say that despite having access to cycle lanes where they live, they still wouldn’t feel safe enough to travel on a bike during peak times. 

74% of this group don’t believe the right infrastructure is in place to allow them to ride safely and 62% say that their local authorities could do more to make the area more accessible to cyclists. 

Drivers vs cyclists – the perception gap

The research has brought prevalent safety concerns and the contrasting opinions of road users to the fore, particularly when it comes to motorists and cyclists. Seven in 10 (70%) cyclists worry that drivers don’t know the correct etiquette when using roads with cycle lanes in their area.

Meanwhile, only 53% of drivers confidently say that they know the latest Highway Code rules in relation to cyclists, which at the time of the study had not been updated since 2015.

Outside of lane usage, overtaking is a bone of contention for motorists and cyclists alike; 93% of drivers say they leave as much room when overtaking a cyclist as they would a car whereas 73% of cyclists say drivers pass too closely. 

In Scotland, one thing both parties do agree on is there not being clear enough road markings on cycle lanes for all road users – only 27% of motorists and 25% of cyclists feel there are clear visible markings in their area.

The lack of visual guidance could be part of the problem when it comes to navigating shared road spaces, easily improved by solutions such as better signage that incorporates retroreflective technology, while also improving education on the Highway Code.

Andy Fish, Technical Specialist for 3M Transportation Safety Division, said: “Its fantastic that investment in new cycle lanes, walkways and other infrastructure is being put to good use.

“This research shows that irrespective of mode of transport, the majority of people want to be able to share spaces with others safely, and they are looking to their local authorities for support. 

“At 3M we are actively encouraging local councils and highway authorities in Scotland to participate in a pilot scheme that would allow their communities to benefit from traffic safety solutions designed to address some of the concerns expressed by drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.” 

Drivers’ admitted lack of understanding of the Highway Code could be to blame for some of the frustrations they have towards cyclists – 86% say seeing two or more ride side-by-side is frustrating and 72% say they become frustrated simply by driving behind one. 

This is in spite of it being legal for two cyclists to ride next to each other unless on narrow or busy roads or cycling round bends, along with recent rule changes including cyclists riding alone being instructed to use the centre of the lane in slower moving traffic.

To find out more about 3M’s leading road marking and signage solutions, such as 3M Diamond Grade DG3 reflective sheeting. and 3M Stamark road marking tape, visit www.3m.co.uk.

Spokes new Edinburgh Cycle Map available now

Spokes’ revised and updated map of Edinburgh showing the best routes for cyclists and walkers published

The new Edinburgh Cycle Map (11th edition), produced by Spokes (the Lothian Cycle Campaign), has just been published. Fully revised and updated, the map shows new cycle infrastructure and other developments across the city.

It is invaluable for cyclists and walkers seeking safe routes to shops, work or school and for planning leisure and running routes. The map is available through bike shops, some bookshops and from Spokes. 

The whole city was surveyed by local Spokes volunteers and the mapping revised and updated by a skilled volunteer cartographer. Major updates and improvements to the map include all the new housing developments across Edinburgh and contours and hill-shading so users can see the hill spots at a glance.

In addition, the back of the map now shows the area from South Queensferry to Newbridge, as well as the usual large scale map of the city centre. The maps are printed on tear and water-resistant synthetic paper which is fully recyclable.  

Members of Spokes and their children recently travelled to the City Chambers to hand over copies of the new map to Council Leader Adam McVey, Depute Leader Cammy Day and Kristen Layne, Network Development Manager with Sustrans. Alex Fitzhowle, co-founder of Farr Out Deliveries, provided logistical support!

The printing of the map was supported by Sustrans Scotland and Cycling Scotland, with much information provided by City of Edinburgh Council.

A spokesperson for Spokes said: “This has been a great voluntary effort by local Spokes members.

“The new map will help residents and visitors find their way around the city in active and healthy ways, as well as showing new quiet routes and short cuts they didn’t know existed!”

Council Leader Adam McVey said: “We’ve got a growing network of safe and protected cycling and walking routes – some of which people might not know about.

“This is a great resource which will benefit so many people to make journeys around the city by bike – thanks to all the volunteers who made it happen.”

Depute Leader Cammy Day added: “Cycling is a healthy, environmentally-friendly and cost-effective way to get around the city and we want to support more people to do that.

“This map is a great way to explore safe and direct routes, whatever level of ability they have.”

Kristen Layne, Network Development Manager at Sustrans Scotland, said: “As Scotland faces the climate emergency, we need to work together to make walking, wheeling and cycling the obvious choices for more journeys across the country.

“We’re delighted to support our friends and partners at Spokes in launching the latest update of the much-used Edinburgh Cycle Map, and hope they continue to inspire many more people to make their journeys in a sustainable and active way.”

The new Edinburgh Cycle Map is available from local bike shops for £6.95.

There is also a special introductory offer for orders direct to Spokes on office@spokes.org.uk before the end of December 2021, to buy one map for £6 (postage-free) or £27 for 6 copies. 

Spokes has also produced a buff/snood featuring a central section of the new Edinburgh map. This is on sale only from Spokes. Price £7 post-free or just £3 if added to a map order. 

More information on all Spokes maps and sales outlets is available at:

www.spokes.org.uk/spokes-maps

Edinburgh to invest £117 million in Active Travel Programme

An updated five-year programme of investment will see more than £117m invested in schemes to help people walk, wheel and cycle in Edinburgh.

Under the Active Travel Investment Programme (ATINP), we will deliver over 85km (52 miles) of additional safe, protected cycle routes – the equivalent of a trip from Edinburgh to Aberfeldy. These measures, which are already in the pipeline, will help children to walk, cycle and wheel to many of the city’s schools and provide significant improvements to public spaces, pavements and paths.

The ATINP supports our Active Travel Action Plan (ATAP), which sets out a high-level framework for delivering a walking, wheeling and cycling-friendly city. A new ATAP, covering the period to 2030, is currently under development and is expected to be completed in summer 2022 when we’ll be able to share proposals, similarly to Glasgow’s Active Travel Strategy published this week.

The City of Edinburgh Council will pay for less than 20% of the ATINP as most of the funding is secured from external sources, with more than £80m committed by the Scottish Government via Sustrans.

A report to be considered by the Transport and Environment Committee on Thursday (14 October) covers a review of the ATINP.

It aligns the plans with a Sustrans budget review as well as the delivery of Council projects and priorities. Changes in travel behaviour relating to the Covid pandemic are also examined, taking into account the temporary measures introduced under Spaces for People, now Travelling Safely.

In addition to several major projects to transform the city, like City Centre West East Link and Meadows to George Street, the ATINP will increase spending on key improvements to prioritise travel by foot, wheel or bike. This includes the installation of dropped kerbs and citywide bike parking.

Councillor Lesley Macinnes, Transport and Environment Convener, said: “Supporting people to walk, wheel or bike around Edinburgh is essential for urgently lowering carbon emissions, promoting healthier lifestyles and creating safer streets. Our package of significant investment will kick-start a shift change in the delivery of schemes designed to help achieve this.

“The ATINP drives forward an ambitious programme of improvements which will, for the first time, lead to a truly connected network of protected walking and cycling routes, helping people get from A to B safely, quickly and conveniently. There is an urgency to this which many people already recognise.”

Councillor Karen Doran, Transport and Environment Vice Convener, added: “As we emerge from the Covid pandemic we have the opportunity to transform the way we travel around the city, and really support those who have embraced, or rediscovered, walking and cycling over the last 18 months.

“I’m excited to see our ambitious programme of investment take shape over the coming years, and the positive impact it will have on all those who live, work and visit here.”

The 85km of cycling improvements planned over the next five years will add to 211km of existing off-road, quality signed walking and cycling paths and Edinburgh’s 36km of Travelling Safely routes, creating, for the first time, a comprehensive network spanning the city.

As part of this the council will be delivering improvements near more than a third of the city’s schools, helping children and families travel by foot, wheel or bike.

Some of the other key active travel projects being brought forward over the next five years are Roseburn Path to Union Canal and West Edinburgh Link. Spending on minor improvements, such as localised cycle signing or widening off-road footpaths, will also rise under the reviewed ATINP.

Read about Edinburgh’s commitment to Transport for All’s Pavement Pledge.

The current ATAP was initially approved in 2010 and was subsequently refreshed in 2013 and 2016. By helping people to choose sustainable modes of travel the associated improvements will not only positively impact health, safety and wellbeing, but it will support our net zero carbon goals.

Read the full report, Active Travel Investment Programme Update, on the Council website. 

Watch Transport and Committee live from 10am on Thursday, 14 October via the Council webcast.

End of the road for Just Eat Cycles

An announcement from Just Eat Cycles:

It is with great sadness that we announce today that Edinburgh Cycle Hire will close on 17 September 2021. We know how disappointing this announcement is for our many regular users.

Unfortunately, the contract to provide a cycle hire service to the City has come to an end, so we are unable to continue. The scheme will continue to operate until midnight on 17 September 2021, at which point the service will stop.

All annual and extended period passes which have been purchased and have a remainder of time left on them will be refunded automatically with any balance after 17 September 2021.

Over the coming days we will share more information about the closure, including when certain stations will close.

The scheme has run under a three-year agreement between Serco and Transport for Edinburgh, and in that time has made a great impact on Edinburgh’s sustainable transport network, with hundreds of thousands of trips made on our bikes since 2018.

Since then 70,000 unique users have cycled over 450,000 trips, replacing millions of miles of combustion engine transport with a green travel alternative.

Council Leaders have expressed disappointment at the end of the contract between Transport for Edinburgh and Serco to run the city’s cycle hire scheme.

The Council is investigating alternative options to replace the popular scheme.

Council Leader Adam McVey said: “We are very disappointed that Serco have opted to walk away from the popular shared bike hire scheme in Edinburgh. When the bike hire scheme was first introduced the commitment was to operate it with no public funding and it is highly regrettable that Serco will not continue the scheme on that basis. 

“We recognise that the bike hire scheme has helped more people get access to bikes, enjoying the benefits of fast, reliable, healthier journeys around town. The withdrawal of Serco will come as a frustrating shock to many regular users of the bike hire scheme.

“It sends absolutely the wrong message at a time when so many of us are deeply concerned about the climate emergency and what we can each do to combat the effects of human activity. Choosing to travel by bike is one of the easiest changes many of us can make.

“We’re now working on a replacement bike hire scheme for the Capital. We are actively pursuing options to ensure that a replacement scheme is in place as quickly as possible.”

Depute Council Leader Cammy Day said: “Over the past few years it’s been a welcome sight to see residents, students and visitors making journeys from A to B across Edinburgh by hire bike and they’ve become a key part of our sustainable transport infrastructure in the city. It’s a huge disappointment the scheme’s coming to an end.

“The city will share our huge disappointment that the scheme is  coming to an end and that Serco have walked away form a key part of the city’s active travel plans. We will now engage with the cycling community to look at alternative innovative scheme to get people back on the bikes.”

‘Walked away’? Not at all, say Serco. The Serco absolutely refute the council leaders’ claims, and maintain it is the COUNCIL ITSELF that is to blame for the ditching of the scheme.

Serco’s micromobility director Sam Jones, said: “We’re disappointed that we have been unable to find a way to continue the Edinburgh bike scheme.

“We have explored every route possible to find extension options beyond our original three-year contract which expires on 17 September 2021. Those efforts continued through to last week when the council advised us that they were not able to extend the current contract.

“Serco has been running the scheme since September 2018 under a three-year concession. Despite the scheme making a loss over that time we have not walked away and we have stood by our commitments and continued to make a success of the scheme for the city’s people and visitors.

“As was reported in May 2021, funding options were being explored which would have enabled the scheme to carry on – however we were informed two weeks ago that City of Edinburgh Council has been unable to confirm those plans.”

More than half a million journeys were made by over 70,000 users during the life of the bike hire project. During 2020, when the Edinburgh Cycle Hire Scheme was the fastest growing scheme in Britain, there were with 234,500 trips made. 

In 2020 the scheme also won the award for Cycling, Walking and Public Realm at the Scottish Transport Awards.

Heart Research UK: Healthy Heart Tips

Getting Fit Whilst Getting to Work

Many more of us who have been working from home will be set to return to offices either part-time or full-time over the coming weeks and months (writes Dr HELEN FLAHERTY).

There has never been a better time to start integrating exercise into your commute, as we begin to establish new routines both at work and home. With this in mind, here are some tips for doing just that:

Park further from work

Not everyone lives within cycling distance of their workplace, and you may rely on a car to get from A to B.

If this is the case, try parking further from work and cycling the last part of your commute.

Track your distance

It can be really motivating to see how far you have cycled over a week or month and you may be surprised about just how far you can go with an extra few miles each day!

Apps like Strava are great for tracking how far you have cycled over a long period of time.

Adapt your routine

If getting on your bike is simply a matter of starting out a little earlier, consider what might have to change within your routine to accommodate for this.

This may be getting to bed earlier, preparing your meals the night before, or having a lighter breakfast before you set off.

Invest in a new bike

Buying some new equipment can be a great first step towards committing to a new habit.

If you find your rusty old bike is putting you off commuting, you may look to see if your employer is signed up to the Cycle-to-Work scheme where you can get a brand new bike at a lower, monthly cost than you may otherwise pay.

You may also be able to donate your old bike to a local bike renovation scheme.

Promoting physical activity is key to achieving U.N. Sustainable Development Goals, says study

A new study by Queen’s University Belfast and Washington University in St. Louis shows that promoting physical activity is key to achieving the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s).  

The research provides new evidence to show that integrating strategies to promote increased physical activity is a key part of the action plan for achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. 

The study, ‘Physical Activity Promotion and the United National Sustainable Development Goals: Building Synergies to Maximize Impact’ was published in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health. It is the first study to systematically explore the links between the seven strategies known to be effective for promoting physical activity at scale or a population-wide level, and the 17 U.N. development goals  (SDGs).  

The study found strong links between physical activity promotion strategies and eight out of the 17 SDGs: good health and well-being (SDG 3); gender equity (SDG 5); industry, innovation and infrastructure (SDG 9); reduced inequalities (SDG 10); sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11); climate action (SDG 13); and peace, justice and strong institutions (SDG 16). 

Deborah Salvo, Assistant Professor of Public Health at Washington University in St. Louis and lead author on the study, said: “Physical inactivity has been characterized as a pandemic, accounting for 7% of all premature deaths per year globally and resulting in billions of dollars spent on health-related expenditures.”  

The international research team applied a modelling method to simulate the effects of large-scale physical activities strategies to gain insights on the potential impacts of widespread scale-up of active transport systems and active urban design strategies on three different city types of high-, middle- and low-income countries. 

The simulation results indicated that expected physical activity gains are greater for low- and middle-income countries. In high-income countries with high car dependency, physical activity promotion strategies may help to reduce air pollution and traffic-related deaths, but shifts toward more active forms of travel and recreation and climate change mitigation may require complementary policies that disincentivize driving. 

Dr Leandro Garcia, from the Centre for Public Health at Queen’s University Belfast and co-author, said: “The simulation results reveal context-specific relations. In terms of physical activity increases, low- and middle-income country cities stand more to gain from urban transformations that prioritize equitable access to walking, cycling, public transport, and recreational infrastructure.

“As for high-income country cities, findings suggest that to observe meaningful improvements in physical activity levels and climate change mitigation, these types of strategies may need to be further complemented by policies that increase the cost of driving.  

“Our research provides strong evidence to illustrate the multiple benefits of promoting physical activity on a large scale, not just for specific areas or populations. The benefits are huge for individuals, communities and to the planet and goes a long way in contributing to the U.N. sustainable development agenda.  

“As well as helping to prevent chronic disease, promoting physical activity at scale can reduce traffic deaths and pollution. It helps to create more equitable societies and reduce climate change.

“Physical activity promotion strategies can bring benefits beyond health and bring us closer to a more equitable, sustainable and environmentally friendly future.” 

New Edinburgh Walking and Cycling Day Trip Routes launched

John Muir Way launches new routes

If you’re seeking inspiration for outdoor activities this weekend, during the holidays or on your next day off, the John Muir Way may have the answer. A selection of one-day and half-day routes has been created across central Scotland, to be explored on foot or by bike.

They include:

Each is based around a part of the longer John Muir Way coast to coast trail and is designed to offer a micro-adventure in a local area, on a route that will get you back to your starting point.

Using the John Muir Way and local paths, you’ll find everything from big loops to short strolls, taking in castles, beaches and often the option of public transport home for tired legs.

The day trips have all been graded according to difficulty and distances range from a family-friendly 4.5 mile walk up to a 27 mile cycle. You’ll find maps and a wealth of information on recommended places to visit on each route on the John Muir Way website at: www.johnmuirway.org/day-trips

‘Hidden Treasure’ to be Found

To celebrate the launch of the Day Trips and provide a little extra incentive to get out exploring, there will be ‘treasure’ of John Muir Way merchandise – including water bottles, caps, badges and route passports – stashed at a selection of attractions, cafes and other businesses along the route.

Goodies can be claimed by visitors doing any John Muir Way Day Trip or coast-to-coast route section.

To claim a prize, walkers and cyclists just need to take a photo of themselves next to a John Muir Way signpost or waymarker and show it at one of the participating treasure locations. Each location has prizes for the first ten treasure hunters, so there are plenty of chances to claim a souvenir of
your trip. 

For more information on how to take part, visit www.johnmuirway.org/treasure

Support for John Muir Way Day Trips

The development of these day trips was boosted by funding from several sources, including VisitScotland and the ‘Scotland Loves Local’ Fund administered by Scotland’s Towns Partnership.

Scotland’s Town’s Partnership Chief Officer Phil Prentice said: “These day trips along the John Muir Way sound brilliant – with something for everyone. I am delighted that we have been able to support them through the Scotland Loves Local Fund.

“They are a great example of ways in which people are being encouraged to embrace and enjoy our brilliant countryside, supporting all kinds of businesses and attractions as they do. It’s a boost for our health, local communities and the economy.”

Neil Christison, VisitScotland Regional Director, said: “With so many people staying in the UK this year there has never been a better time to appreciate all the wonderful locations and attractions we have on our doorstep.

“Whether it’s discovering somewhere new or experiencing an old favourite in a completely new way, now is your time to enjoy the unique experiences that a holiday in Scotland offers.

“These new one day and half day routes on the John Muir Way provide a great option for making the most out of holidays at (or close to) home in a responsible and sustainable manner.”

There are John Muir Way prizes to be claimed at locations across the route.

The John Muir Way Day Trips launch has been funded by the Scottish Government ‘Scotland Loves Local’ Fund administered by Scotland’s Towns Partnership; by the Scottish Government and the European Community through the LEADER 2014–2020 Programme; and by the VisitScotland Sector and Destination Operational and Market Readiness Fund.