Cyclists will be allowed to ride along pavements at one of Perth’s most photographed streets, councillors have confirmed.
A dedicated cycle path at Tay Street was controversially removed during a review of parking last year.
Perth and Kinross Council created 26 new parking bays in an effort to help lure more people into the city centre. It was a direct response to complaints by shopkeepers in the wake of department store McEwens’ collapse.
But the move was later criticised by the ByCycle campaign group, who threatened to stage a pedal power demonstration along Tay Street unless the cycle path was replaced.
On Tuesday afternoon, members of Perth and Kinross Council’s enterprise and infrastructure committee agreed a comprise. It involves making the riverside pavement on Tayside a share pedestrian and cyclist route, stretching from underneath Smeaton’s Bridge to the sheriff court.
Members of ByCycle gathered outside the local authority’s High Street building to show their support for the scheme.
Secretary Katherine Melville said: “This will be one of the first of these shared footways in Perth. I think its a good idea and I imagine it will be well used.
“Full credit to Perth and Kinross Council for listening to us.”
She confirmed that a planned pedal power protest along Tay Street, which was due to take place before the local elections, had now been called off.
Councillor Lewis Simpson, who backed the ByCycle campaign, also welcomed the new initiative. “I hope that this will be the first of a roll out of shared cycling spaces in Perth, and I hope that those that use them will act responsibly.”
Committee convener John Kellas said: “This will be hugely beneficial to cyclists.
“We have taken on board their concerns and I think these improvements are quite acceptable. We could see more of this sort of thing going forward, in general.”
Traffic manager Charles Haggart confirmed that there would not be a speed limit on the stretch, and said that the cycle path was kept a safe distance from parked cars.
In a report to councillors, Mr Haggart said there was no need to raise the height of the bridge parapet along the cycle route, even though it falls short of the recommended height as stated in Transport Scotland’s official guidelines.
It will cost the local authority about £500 to pay for new signs along the route.