With Dundee City Council looking at improving walkability around the city, these Union Street shops share what it’s like to work where cars aren’t king.
Last month, the council released a series of images that showed what the active freeways around the city could look like.
Active freeways are areas that encourage walking, cycling and wheeling by adapting the road structure. The images show Hawkhill, Macalpine Road, Harefield Road, Pitkerro Road and Arbroath Road with widened pavements and designated cycle lanes.
Rachael Bisset is the assistant manager at Assai Records Dundee, one of the many business thriving on Union Street.
The city centre stretch was pedestrianised as part of the Spaces for People initiative during lockdown and vehicle access remains limited between certain hours.
For Rachael, the improved walkability has helped to create a welcoming shopping district.
“It’s great for business for the entire street,” she said, “especially on summer days.
“We get a lot of footfall coming from high street shoppers who enjoy being able to walk here.”
Pedestrian focus makes Union Street ‘unique’
The 27-year-old assistant manager at the vinyl retailer said that customers will often comment on the pedestrianised nature of the street.
“We’ve had a few customers say they like that they can just walk right off the train and walk up here where they can wander around the street.”
The sell for Union Street, says Rachael, is its focus on pedestrians.
“The uniqueness of the street is very appealing to the locals and tourists.
“It’s all pedestrianised – and colourful too. There’s not many streets like it in Dundee.”
Mary Vannet, 54, is the owner of Walker The Jeweller. She also sees the positives of pedestrianisation.
“It’s lovely to see people up and down the street. There are a lot more tourists on the street now too which is really nice.
“I think it’s a really nice thing to see, it’s good for the environment and for lifestyle.”
Mary agreed that shopping on foot allows for customers to notice businesses they might otherwise drive past without a second glance.
“It’s all about giving people the opportunity to feel like they have all the time in the world in a pedestrian area.
“They don’t have to worry about traffic. They can just take their time and view all the different offerings on Union Street.”
Only one unit on Union Street is currently unoccupied.
Access to shops on foot is also a perk for Broughty Ferry residents, who praised the area’s walkability.
Could Dundee active freeways bring similar benefits?
The improved walkability in Union Street makes for happy shop owners and customers. Similar benefits are hoped for from the city’s active freeways, with the focus shifting to pedestrians, cyclists and wheelchair users.
Dr Husam Al Waer is an expert in urban planning who lectures at Dundee University.
He explained: “Research shows now that the more people walk, the more this will affect the economy in a positive way.
“Especially in the high streets of the city centre, walkability can make areas a ‘destination’.”
Husam added that active freeways could “activate” the city, making the streets “attractive, safe, comfortable, connected and inclusive, leaving no one behind.
“Walkability makes it more appealing for people to live, and shop and wander and enjoy.”
However critics fear that the rearranged roads layouts “might cause accidents“.
The consultation for the council’s active freeway proposals closed on June 23.
A Dundee City Council spokesperson said: “Analysis of the responses is now being progressed, with all comments being considered as the projects move forward to the next stage of design.”
