sallyhinchcliffe posted: " This is the second in our series of detailed 'missing links' posts as we explore the gaps in the active travel network in and around Dumfries. Coming in no particular order (as we manage to write them up) we continue with Heathhall's close neighbour, Loc"
This is the second in our series of detailed 'missing links' posts as we explore the gaps in the active travel network in and around Dumfries. Coming in no particular order (as we manage to write them up) we continue with Heathhall's close neighbour, Locharbriggs, and suggest the council follow the desire lines ...
The Caledonian path provides a safe, direct traffic free route from Locharbriggs and Heathhall into Dumfries and is well used. However, in contrast to Heathhall and the new housing at Summerpark, Locharbriggs has very few step-free and accessible accesses onto the path.
In some places, there are steps because the path is high above the road, but that's not always the case. For instance, this entrance from Catherinefield Crescent, which would provide a large number of houses with easy access to the pathway, could easily be a ramp.
Stepped access to the Caledonian path
This access further along only has a gravel surface, making it hard to use wheelchairs and buggies:
There's a reason why the default bike in Dumfries seems to be a mountain bike ...
These steps would be challenging to turn into an accessible step-free access, but not impossible. Note that the wheeling channel - which is intended to allow (non-disabled) cyclists to push their bikes up and down the steps - is far too close to the handrail to be usable by almost any bike - and would not help anyone with a laden bike or one with a childseat, who is towing a trailer (for instance to transport children) or who needs to use a trike - let alone someone with a wheelchair, or pushing a buggy.
It's clear that the population of Locharbriggs would like better access to the path because all along the route you can find 'desire lines' - pathways created informally by people simply making their own way. For instance this path here joins the Caledonian to the shops and other amenities. At the moment it's only accessible to determined non-disabled pedestrians (and mountain bikers) but it's concrete evidence that a proper path is needed (and far cheaper than hiring consultants or carrying out surveys).
If paths aren't put in, people do find a way ...
Unlike a lot of our missing links posts, this is less about cycling than about accessibility. Making the Caledonian Path more accessible to the population of Locharbriggs is first and foremost a matter of equality. The current situation means that anyone reliant on a wheelchair, parents with pushchairs, and anyone unable to negotiate steps or scramble up a bank has less access to this key route into town, or to a path which many people use for recreation as well as transport.
Fortunately, the solution to these missing links is pretty clear: just upgrade what's already there, including the paths people have made themselves. Converting the sub-standard accesses and existing desire lines into usable step free entrances would be a straightforward and relatively cheap way to increase the usability of the town's traffic free network.
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