The Highland Council is holding a drop-in event at Eastgate Shopping Centre on Friday 7th October, from 8:30am until 4pm, to gather feedback on a proposed city centre cycle route.
Design funding for city centre improvements for walking, wheeling and cycling has been secured through Places for Everyone.
The proposed redesign of Academy Street aims to make it a more attractive and healthier place for people walking and wheeling.
For cycling, two potential alternative routes have been identified.
The first route would utilise the Eastgate Underpass to connect to the existing cycle route on High Street before ultimately connecting to Bridge Street.
The second route would access Falcon Square and Inglis Street.
In both scenarios, the plan would be to reconfigure Bridge Street to accommodate a cycle connection by reducing the width of the carriageway.
Both High Street and Bridge Street would require some physical changes to separate the movement of pedestrians and cyclists.
As part of the consultation process, businesses on High Street and Bridge Street, as well as members of the public, are invited to an all-day drop-in event at Eastgate Shopping Centre.
Taking place on the ground floor near the Falcon Square entrance, opposite TUI, information boards will be on display and representatives will be on hand to answer questions and gather feedback.
Councillor Ian Brown, Leader of Inverness and Area, said:
“Further to previous in-person and online events to gauge feedback on Academy Street proposals, this event will focus on an alternative cycle route, and I would encourage businesses on High Street and Bridge Street in particular to get involved and share their thoughts.
“We have the opportunity to greatly improve Academy Street and city centre infrastructure for those walking, wheeling and cycling, but we need input from those who use the space. This event will be key for gathering feedback.”
Emily Gait, Grant Manager for Places for Everyone at Sustrans, said:
“This event, in combination with other recent events, present key opportunities to hear first-hand from communities and businesses about how walking, wheeling and cycling in Inverness city centre can be made more accessible.”
All views with be collated and reviewed and will inform the ultimate design of Academy Street and the alternative cycle route.
Feedback can also be submitted online at https://academystreetproposals.commonplace.is/
