St Andrews cycling 'dangerous' claim

St Andrews Space for Cycling’s comments came after the group had toured the town looking at cycling routes.

Now the group aims to develop a safe cycling plan for St Andrews.

In a letter to the Citizen, the founders of the group – Tony Waterston, Averill Marks and Chris Wallard – highlight several dangers to cyclists around the town and comment: “We should be encouraging children from an early age to adapt to sustainable forms of transport,” but they add: “There is poor cycling access to many of St Andrews’ primary schools.”

The next move is a public meeting about how cycling can be made safe and pleasurable at Hope Park Church on March 16 at 7 pm.

St Andrews Space for Cycling’s comments come after plans for a new cycle route between St Andrews and Strathkinness were agreed in Fife Council’s budget.

Local Councillor Brian Thomson, himself a keen cyclist, backed the plans, saying it was “fantastic news, particularly for residents of Strathkinness”.

“Many residents currently commute to St Andrews by bicycle, and this could provide a much more pleasant and safer route,” he said.

And with a eye to the future, Cllr Thomson added: “With a new Madras College to be developed at the Langlands site – a site that’s only a distance of around two miles from Strathkinness – there would also be the possibility of pupils living in Strathkinness using a cycle path to travel to and from the new school.”