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Case Studies Homepage Featured News News & Opinion Places for Everyone Project/Department Filtering

Community Engagement Key to Flourishing Molendinar Success 

Celebrations were held on Langdale Street in the North East of Glasgow last month, as early designs to improve walking, wheeling, and cycling in the local area were completed. 

On the 22nd and 23rd September residents came together to learn about the ambitions of the Flourishing Molendinar project. 

Play days were held on the section of the street that St. Paul’s Youth Forum – the group leading the project – wants to close to through traffic in order to promote active, sustainable travel and create a community space.

It was a fantastic event with many families coming down to enjoy the space. Local children had their bikes fixed, held races on the closed road and were able to learn more about the vision of the project. 

Inspiration behind the project

For many years, Langdale Street and the surrounding areas have experienced high levels of traffic and poor air quality. 

As Jean McClean from Blackhill Community Council, explained: “This wee community is stuck right in the middle of two motorways, and this is a thorough-through for kids from Blackhill to get up to St Philomena’s. It’s quite dangerous with cars and big trucks flying up and down this area.”

Community engagement found that barriers to active travel in this part of Glasgow were the speed and volume of traffic, lack of safe routes and the condition of the paths.  

Celebrations held on Langdale Street, Glasgow as designs to improve walking, wheeling, and cycling in the area were completed. Credit: Sustrans, 2022.

What is Flourishing Molendinar? 

Flourishing Molendinar aims to create a network of segregated active travel routes and quiet streets which are accessible and safe, making it easier and more enjoyable for local people to walk, wheel, and cycle. 

“One of the things in the community that was often fed back to us was about transport poverty.  

We’re only three miles away from the city centre, but there’s a massive disconnect in terms of public transport – in getting to and from the city centre.  

“It’s [the project] about ensuring people in the North East of Glasgow can enjoy the same opportunities as their peers across the city”

Ben Raw, St Paul’s Community Group

As part of the proposed work, Langdale Street will be transformed into a quiet route where walking, wheeling, and cycling are prioritised, whilst still maintaining access for residents, blue badge holders and emergency service vehicles.

Pupils of St. Philomena’s Primary School will be one of the main beneficiaries of the project which will create safer routes for travelling to and from school. 

Flourishing Molendinar will eventually lead to the development of Langdale Place – a proposed community space featuring enhanced greenspace, benches and places for people to meet and socialise. 

Local children will be one of the main beneficiaries of the project which will create safer routes for travelling to and from school. Credit: Sustrans, 2022.

Driven by and for the local community

Flourishing Molendinar has, up to this point, been led by St. Paul’s Youth Forum and their On Bikes project. Funding was provided by Sustrans’ Places for Everyone programme, with support from Glasgow City Council and designers Urban Movement.

To make sure that the developments fit the needs and wants of local people, members of the community have fed in throughout the design process.  

Since the project started a number of exciting consultation and engagement methods were used to ensure that different voices were heard.  

Activities included tasking school children with creating designs for Langdale Place during Minecraft workshops. Most recently, this approach to engaging young people in street design won the award for ‘Most Innovative Transport Project of the Year’ at the Scottish Transport Awards.

Innovative consultation and engagement methods were used to ensure different voices from the community fed into the design process. Credit: Sustrans, 2022.

A session with local artists was also held during St Paul’s weekly community evening meal. Attendees were shown a museum box containing old toys, games and photographs which was used to inspire conversations on how streets were used in the past. 

Other methods of communication included social media campaigns, logo drawing and badge making sessions, meetings with a local steering group, street stalls and led cycle rides that included additional learning regarding climate change, air pollution, urban design and the Flourishing Molendinar project. 

This cross-community engagement has been very successful and culminated with the Langdale Street closure, where people came together to celebrate the project.  

“It’s great for me to see my community happy. My community is going to benefit out of this closure and this project”

Jean McClean, Blackhill Community Council

What’s next?

Flourishing Molendinar is now moving to the next stage of the development and is being handed over to Glasgow City Council who are going to drive it forwards.

“Flourishing Molendinar shows what can be achieved when communities are engaged with redevelopment projects.

The combination of new public spaces, improved pedestrian crossings, new segregated cycle lanes and redesigned quiet streets is going to transform this area of Glasgow.

It is going to connect people together, and ensure that everyone in the local community, regardless of age or ability, can safely walk, wheel or cycle for everyday journeys”.

Michael Melton, Grant Manager at Sustrans
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Case Studies Homepage Featured News News & Opinion Places for Everyone Project/Department Filtering

Trial of Protected Junctions finds cycling numbers double along South City Way

The Glasgow South City Way project is delivering a high-quality active travel corridor from the heart of the South Side through to Glasgow City Centre.

The project is part of Glasgow’s ambition to become a cycle friendly city – linking routes and destinations by “quiet ways” that enable anyone regardless of ability to travel by bike.

As the project developed, two protected junctions (road junctions that separate people travelling on foot, by cycle, and in vehicles) were trialled at a couple of locations along Victoria Road.

They were the first protected junctions ever trialled in Scotland!

What were the outcomes of the trials?

Protected junctions introduced on Victoria Road as part of the South City Way Places for Everyone project in Glasgow. Credit: John Linton, 2021.

During the trial period Sustrans’ Research and Monitoring Unit (RMU) found a significant increase in cycle traffic.

Between March 2019 and September 2021, the total cycle traffic through the junctions had almost doubled.

Pedestrian traffic changed much less in the same period, increasing slightly at one junction and decreasing at the other.

Video footage from the same period showed that 94% of cyclists followed the segregated cycleway through the protected junctions as intended.

Similar footage revealed that pedestrian behaviour had also changed between the pre and post-intervention monitoring.

At the protected junctions, fewer people were crossing on the diagonal, opting instead to cross each arm of the junction separately. Crossing when the red figure shows had increased suggesting that people felt safe enough to cross when traffic was still flowing through the junction.

How have perceptions of safety changed?

As part of the RMU study, 218 interviews were carried out with people who walk and cycle to find out how the introduction of the junctions had changed safety perceptions.

The responses were conclusive, with all the cyclists and over two thirds of the people walking feeling either safe or very safe when using them.

There were, however, also learnings to be taken.

Some people reported confusion with the crossing signs and the position of signals at the new junction layout.

A few survey responses raised concerns for the experience of vulnerable groups using the protected junctions, including the light controls not having sound for people with sight impairment, and trip hazards due to the path and road being at different heights.

A small number of those interviewed also highlighted cyclists not using bells, not observing red lights and travelling in the wrong direction.

The introduction of the protected junctions has allowed more people to walk, wheel and cycle safely in the South Side. Credit: John Linton, 2021.

Looking forwards

While initial findings from the study are very encouraging, the team noted that further work is required to support the roll out of these protected junctions.

“We are pleased by our initial findings after the introduction of the protected junctions on the Victoria Road section of the South City Way.

Those we spoke to reported an increased sense of safety when using the junctions, and the growth of cycle traffic volume since their installation shows they will be an important tool to encouraging more people to use active travel for everyday journeys.

However, we know that there is a lot more work to be done.

Future monitoring will capture more data on the direction of cyclists travelling along the cycleway, and there will be a focus on the experiences of vulnerable groups using the intervention to ensure that everyone is able to safely walk, wheel and cycle in Glasgow”.

Ben Farrington, RMU Evaluation Officer at Sustrans
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News News & Opinion Project/Department Filtering Spaces for People

Sustrans publishes evaluation of temporary active travel programme

Sustrans is the charity which makes it easier for people to walk, wheel and cycle for more of their everyday journeys.

Supported by Transport Scotland, we provide funding and expertise to help deliver walking, wheeling and cycling improvements across Scotland.

Spaces for People was a flagship Scottish Government programme launched at the start of 2020 early in the COVID-19 pandemic to enable people to make essential journeys and exercise during lockdown.

Funded by the Scottish Government and managed by Sustrans Scotland, the £33 million fund was made available to local authorities and other statutory bodies to introduce temporary infrastructure across Scotland. 

The infrastructure was introduced to protect public health and alleviate the effects of lockdowns. 

Short term measures included widened pavements, pop-up cycle lanes and reduced speed limits.

Prior to Spaces for People interventions, such as temporarily widened footways, people weren’t able to adequate physically distance in many urban settings. Credit: Colin Hattersley/Sustrans, 2020.

These interventions allowed people to physically distance more easily.  

The interventions also helped maintain safe access to essential services such as healthcare, food or education services without using public transport.

The reports released provide insights on the extent to which Spaces for People achieved its overall aims as well as how those with protected characteristics were impacted by the programme.  

The report also highlights key learnings and recommendations to be taken forward. 

In total, 30 local authorities, 3 NHS trusts and TACTRAN took part in the programme, with each delivering their own projects.

Temporary cycle lanes were installed through the Spaces for People programme in order to create safe links to key destinations such as schools and healthcare sites. Credit: Colin Hattersley, 2020.

Together, this resulted in the implementation of 1,298 interventions in a 2-year period.

This is an unprecedented rate of delivery within the sector. 

Public support

Findings show that walking and cycling increased across Scotland while temporary measures were in place.  

The reports also show that public reception of the programme was generally more positive than negative.

Success of the programme

One of the key successes of the programme is the large number of temporary Spaces for People measures which have contributed to longer-term plans or new active travel projects in the area. 

This includes the closure of the Kelvin Way in Glasgow to motor traffic, and the people-first pedestrianisation of Union Street in Dundee that has benefitted many local businesses in the area. 

Interventions which have served their purpose and are no longer seen as relevant by communities are currently in the process of removal, if not removed already. 

This was the intention of the programme from the outset.

Lessons to be learned

Whilst the broader aims of protecting public health and facilitating essential journeys during the pandemic were largely met, a number of key lessons have been taken from the delivery of the programme.

Lack of availability of materials early in the pandemic meant that local authorities often had to rely on poorer quality and visually unappealing materials, such as traffic cones, to deliver temporary measures.

This was later rectified in some areas through the use of more welcoming fixtures, such as wooden community planters.

Feedback collected by Sustrans also highlighted that improved engagement with disability groups in addressing their concerns could have increased the overall success of the scheme. 

The learnings from the research will now be fed into a process of learning and continuous improvement over the coming months through a series of engagement sessions and workshops with delivery partners. 

“Spaces for People was an emergency response to the global pandemic – across the world, in places like New York, Paris and Berlin, streets were reshaped to meet the big shift in public demand for safer walking, wheeling and cycling.

These welcome reports from Sustrans Scotland show that many of the Scottish schemes have been successful and local authorities are choosing to make them permanent.

At the same time, delivering schemes swiftly and at scale raised issues that we can all learn and build on as we consider new permanent infrastructure.

The active travel landscape has improved much since Spaces for People was first announced.

Funding for active travel is now at record levels and set to increase further in future years, and we will work with partner organisations to ensure that inclusive design and accessibility is embedded in designs from the outset”.

Patrick Harvie, Minister for Active Travel

“Spaces for People was an enormous undertaking during what was an unprecedented time for all of us.”

“We are immensely proud of the successes it has achieved.”

“The temporary measures delivered through the programme ensured people across Scotland could safely distance from one another when making necessary journeys to key workplaces, schools, supermarkets and healthcare sites.”

“We are hugely appreciative of our delivery partners for their tireless work throughout the pandemic to make sure temporary measures were implemented both swiftly and safely.”

“We’d also like to thank Transport Scotland for providing the funding to facilitate the Spaces for People programme.”

Karen McGregor, Scotland Director, Sustrans

“The Spaces for People programme showed the importance of collaboration and communication between the multiple partners responsible for delivering safe and accessible active travel infrastructure in Scotland.” 
 
“SCOTS and our local authority members have been delighted to support the programme and its evaluation.”

“We look forward to embedding the lessons learned in developing best practice and continuing our collaborative active travel partnerships.” 

Chair of SCOTS, Walter Scott

You can find further information about the programme on our dedicated Spaces for People Showcase webpage, as well as the reports and key learnings below.

Spaces for People Evaluation Report
Spaces for People Evaluation Report (Easy Read)
Spaces for People Evaluation Report (Appendices)
Spaces for People Equalities Report
Spaces for People Equalities Report (Easy Read)
Spaces for People Lessons Learned
Spaces for People Equalities Report (Easy Read)

British Sign Language (BSL) versions of the report executive summaries are available upon request from our Places for Everyone team at PlacesForEveryone@sustrans.org.uk

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Case Studies News Places for Everyone

New path network opens to the public at Malls Mire woodland

In June 2022, opening celebrations were held for the new path network in the Toryglen area of Glasgow that will make walking, wheeling, and cycling more accessible.

The project forms part of a much larger multi-million-pound regeneration of the Malls Mire woodland in the southside of the city, known as the Malls Mire Woodland Regeneration Project.

The creation of this fantastic community space was possible thanks to the collaboration of Sustrans, Clyde Gateway, Urban Roots, Nature Scot and Idverde landscaping services.

At the launch event we caught up with members of the local community and those responsible for bringing the project to fruition to hear about the positive impacts the regeneration has had on the area.

What is Malls Mire?

The Malls Mire Woodland Regeneration Project has created an urban oasis between Toryglen and Rutherglen in the southside of Glasgow.

What was once 15.7 hectares of derelict land is now home to a mixed-use park, wetland, nature reserve and woodland.

These features are all connected by a network of routes that run throughout the site.

The space offers both local and wider communities somewhere they can use for exercise, volunteering and education as well as unwinding in nature. 

Malls Mire was the first Community Woodland in Glasgow and became a Local Nature Reserve in 2015.

Inspiration behind the project

Connecting people with the natural world leaves them feeling happier and healthier.

In Toryglen, local people identified an opportunity to create a place where everyone could enjoy these benefits right on their doorstep.

This project has stemmed from many years of community and volunteer engagement to regenerate the land into a beautiful greenspace.

“This is a transformational regeneration area where there used to be old high-rise flats down to the east.

As the new housing developed there were spaces left, and with that came a big push to try and improve the greenspace.

If you only improve the housing but not the things in between it, you are potentially creating a problem and doing a disservice to the community”

Dougie Cameron, Project Manager, Clyde Gateway

Delivering Malls Mire

Urban Roots – a community led environmental charity working across the southside of Glasgow – have been involved with the project since 2009.

In 2018 they embarked on a Green Infrastructure Community Engagement Fund project called Growing Connections.

By working together with Sustrans, Clyde Gateway and Glasgow City Council this developed into a more ambitious vision for the area, including the design of an active travel strategy for North Toryglen.

The local community were involved at every stage of the project and inputted at a number of engagement events over the years.

Construction work began in November 2020 and completed a year later.

A lasting impact

Malls Mire officially opened to the public in June 2022 at an event that was attended by the local community, partners and politicians.

At the launch, community members were reflective about their memories of growing up in Toryglen.

Reflecting on how the area has changed, one local resident told us:

“When we were younger there was nothing for us to do except from hanging around the streets and causing trouble.

Now the kids have this opportunity so close to hand – in a scheme like this that had nothing back in the day.

It’s brilliant, brilliant – a big change!”

Local resident, Toryglen

Emily Gait, Grant Manager for Sustrans, was equally positive about the completed project, stating:

“We are so excited to see the completion of the new path network in the Malls Mire woodland, and to celebrate its opening with the local community who have supported us throughout the project.

These works have delivered an accessible space where everybody living in the area can safely enjoy being active and spending time outdoors.

Routes such as this are such an important step into empowering more people to walk, wheel, and cycle.”

Emily Gait, Grant Manager, Sustrans
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Case Studies Homepage Featured News News & Opinion Project/Department Filtering Street Design

Residents key to transformation of Dumfries neighbourhood

Dumfries Street Design

The Dumfries Neighbourhood Street Design project transformed a once-neglected part of Dumfries town centre into a vibrant and high-quality pedestrianised space for people to walk, wheel and cycle. 

Developed jointly by residents, Sustrans and Dumfries and Galloway Council, the project was delivered in response to longstanding concerns over traffic movement in the Queen Street neighbourhood of Dumfries.

From the outset, residents, businesses and schools were encouraged to help with the aspirations and inclusive design of the project.

People living and working in Queen Street, McLellan Street, Brooke Street and Cumberland Street closely guided the changes carried out in their neighbourhood from initial design ideas through to the construction process.

This resulted in the installation of innovative artwork, traditional Victorian street lighting, gateways and a touch of greenery in the form of trees and planters.

Trees in planters installed along Cumberland Street in Dumfries as a traffic-calming measure.

The project also saw changes made to the road layout of all four streets and the area outside Theatre Royal on Shakespeare Street, including the addition of raised tables, wider pavements and street furniture.

This helped make the streets safer and more attractive for people to walk, wheel and cycle.

Key people involved in the delivery of the Dumfries Neighbourhood Street Design project talk about how the project came to be and impact of it still has for the community.

A collaborative effort

The team at Sustrans worked closely with the local community at each stage of the project to deliver the community’s vision for their local area.

A variety of engagement methods were used, including competitions, workshops, on-street consultations, guided bike rides, pop-up installations, and a ‘Big Lunch.’ 

The activities were specifically designed to bring people together, to inspire long term interest in their neighbourhood, to strengthen social connection and empowerment, and to co-design solutions.

During the project, residents of the area decided to form a constituted community group, DG1 Neighbours, which continues to undertake neighbourhood improvements even after the initial project was itself completed, such as the creation of a community garden. 

DG1 Neighbours were awarded the Civic Champion prize at the Scottish Civic Trust ‘My Place’ awards in 2018 for their support to the Dumfries Street Design Project. 

Sustrans’ aim was to build up trust and learn about the community – getting people out of their houses, meeting their neighbours and bringing them together.

This approach achieves far more than better street design: it gives communities a sense of empowerment, momentum, and community cohesion.

Voices from the team

Paul Ruffles, Principal Designer at Sustrans Scotland said:

“This is a benchmark project for high quality collaborative design. This project showcases what can be achieved when communities and partners to work together to build ambition and implement visions for the places they live in.”

“As a result of this project the neighbourhood has become a greener, quieter space with a strong character that celebrates the areas heritage and actively encourages people to spend time in or walk, wheel or cycle through.”

Local community group DG1 Neighbours added:

“It’s great to see the positive changes that have taken place over the past few years in our neighbourhood and the celebration event helped to remind everyone of the transformation.”

“Thanks to Sustrans and Dumfries and Galloway Council for their determination to see the project through to the end. More residents are taking pride in the neighbourhood and they are even starting to adopt the on-street planters.”

“We now look forward to formalising our community group and building on the successful outcomes of this project.”  

The project was jointly funded by Dumfries and Galloway Council and Sustrans with funding from Transport Scotland.

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Engage • Inspire • Learn News News & Opinion PfE Places for Everyone

Places for Everyone Application Information Session – Community Groups

Final submissions for Places for Everyone Concept (Stages 0-2) applications are due by the end of August 23rd 2022.

Ahead of this, an information session was delivered to community-led organisations, which had received a successful Expression of Interest outcome. A small cohort of the Places for Everyone team provided an overview of the Application Guidance and supplementary guidance for community-led organisations and outlined the next steps in the process.

Key questions answered

  1. Are letters from stakeholders (for example, support letters) required?
    They aren’t required; however, they will support your application as evidence.
  2. How detailed should the estimated costs be, and do you have advice on what approach to take when calculating these figures?
    We don’t expect accurate figures, so provide your best guess at this stage.
  3. Is there guidance on existing project costs to refer to?
    Sustrans have not created guidance for this because it can vary significantly. It is a good idea to use the resources you have, and you can search online for comparable projects. The important part is evidencing why you have come to that conclusion. Transport Scotland has some guidance on their website on to arrive at estimation costs.
  4. Do you have a list of consultants and contacts that have been involved in similar work?
    We are unable to provide a list of consultants or to provide recommendations taking in to account it is public funding.
  5. Is it possible to arrange an appointment with a Grant Advisor before submitting the full application?
    We can arrange individual appointments for those who would find this beneficial and have received a successful Expression of Interest outcome. To arrange this, please email PlacesForEveryone@sustrans.org.uk with suggestions of dates/times that are convenient for you.
  6. Is it okay to have an overlap in the delivery team e.g., Community Engagement Lead and Communications Lead to be the same person?An overlap in the delivery team is acceptable.
  7. Is an email sufficient evidence of support from local authorities?
    Yes, if it is clear and it has a signature with their name, job title and organisation.

Full slides from the session can be downloaded below:

Community Group Information Session slides
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Engage • Inspire • Learn News News & Opinion PfE Places for Everyone

Places for Everyone Application Information Session – All Partners

20 mph painted on road

Final submissions for Places for Everyone Concept (Stages 0-2) applications are due by the end of August 23rd 2022.

Ahead of this, Heads of Programme Chiquita Elvin and Simon Strain outline the key changes to the Places for Everyone application process and answer a number of questions from applicants.

Key questions answered

  1. How essential is it for local authorities to submit Expressions of Interest for new projects?
    Expressions of Interest allow applicants to receive a quick response on whether their project proposal aligns with the aim of Places for Everyone, thereby reducing the time expended on a full application for a project proposal that is not eligible.
  2. If a project is being delivered as a trial within a calendar year, what stage should this be submitted to: 0-2, 3-4, 5-7?
    We consider trials from stages 0 to 4, therefore it would be 100% funded. If you’re needing to run trials to decide on a preferred option, then we’re happy to discuss this with you to determine which stage the trial would be most appropriate.
  3. Will Sustrans consider retrospectively funding projects?
    For consistency and transparency, we’ll be looking to only be funding work into the future or yet to happen.
  4. If your Expression of Interest is unsuccessful, can you make amendments to your proposal and still apply through the portal?
    Yes, Places for Everyone can provide feedback on why the project was considered ineligible. Changes can then be made in response to this feedback and a second expression of interest submitted to reassess eligibility.
  5. Is the fund open to local authorities only or can community councils/groups apply if they have a proposal?
    The fund is open to applications from community organisations including community councils, development trusts and more. We would encourage interested parties to read the guidance for community organisations.
  6. If we have undertaken Concept (Stages 0-2) with another agency, should we still submit our expression of interest?
    Yes, the expression of interest assesses the project’s eligibility for funding. Please refer to the deliverables for stages 0-2 to assess if all deliverables have been sufficiently met by the previous agency.
  7. Have you increased your standards (i.e. paths should be a minimum of 3 metres in width)?
    Working to the standards specified in Cycling By Design, the width of paths in our projects should be appropriate for the estimated levels of usage. The benefits of a wider path enable improved comfort, travelling side-by-side, social experiences, and more robust infrastructure. However, we recognise there are barriers to development, such as width constraints, geological constraints, and land ownership. We promote a width of at least 3 metres wherever possible.
  8. Is there support available to go over draft applications ahead of submission?
    This service is not currently available, though we wish to organise this in future – recruitment is ongoing. Currently, we can offer technical support for all applicants, and additional application support for community groups.
  9. Due to heritage constraints, it’s not easy to build cycle infrastructure (e.g. cycle lanes on setted streets). Will this type of project be scored lower or will this be something that is taken into consideration?
    Scoring for this type of project would not be affected. We would encourage consideration of alternate routes that utilise streets that are un-setted, safer or more suitable.
  10. Is there any additional support for community groups with the application?
    We have organised three Applicant Information Sessions for community organisations during week commencing Monday 15th August 2022, which are available to community organisations who have submitted an expression of interest and were successful at this stage.

Full slides from the session can be downloaded below:

All Partners Information Session slides
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News News & Opinion Places for Everyone

Applications now open for Places for Everyone funding

Following the Covid-19 pandemic, the Places for Everyone fund is open to Concept (Stages 0-2) project applications.

Funded by the Scottish Government, Places for Everyone aims to create safer, more attractive, healthier, and inclusive places by increasing and diversifying the number of trips made by walking, wheeling, or cycling for everyday journeys.

Concept (Stages 0-2) projects are the first step in delivering high quality active travel infrastructure, serving to define the scope of a project, its desired outcomes and helping to develop a final project concept design.

What does this mean for you?

Both new and existing partners, big and small, are invited to apply for funding, from large statutory organisations like local authorities to smaller community organisations and development trusts.

Major urban active travel projects, such as the South City Way in Glasgow are currently being delivered using Places for Everyone funding. ©2019, John Linton, all rights reserved.

We can award 100% of design costs and 70% of construction costs and will work with you to identify any match funding needed.

All our Places for Everyone partners can also look forward to receiving tailored support and guidance from Sustrans to ensure every project achieves the best possible outcome.

“Delivering high quality and accessible walking, wheeling, and cycling infrastructure has always been of the utmost importance to us. From multi-million-pound city transformations to new rural community active travel links, the Places for Everyone fund has allowed us to work closely with partners all across Scotland. We look forward to continuing to support more active travel projects to becoming a reality”.

Karen McGregor, Scotland Director, Sustrans
Rural community-led projects, such as the All Abilities Path at Kinloch Rannoch, have used funding to create accessible local path networks. ©2022, Perth & Kinross Community Trust, all rights reserved.

“Sustained investment in walking, wheeling, and cycling infrastructure is crucial in helping to build a more active nation. With the Places for Everyone fund now open to new applications, supported by record funding here in Scotland for active travel, we will continue to enable our villages, towns and cities to build the right kind of transformative infrastructure in the right places – making active travel easier for shorter everyday journeys.”

Patrick Harvie, Minister for Active Travel, Scottish Government

What are the key dates?

All of our key upcoming dates, including those for other upcoming stage groupings, can be found below:

Stage 0-2 Applications Open
Stage 0-2 Application Deadline
Stage 0-2 Panel

Stage 3-4 Applications Open
Stage 3-4 Application Deadline
Stage 3-4 Panel

Stage 5-7 Applications Open
Stage 5-7 Application Deadline
Stage 5-7 Panel

25 July 2022
23 August 2022
31 October 2022

19 September 2022
18 October 2022
19 December 2022

31 October 2022
29 November 2022
6 February 2023

How can I apply?

If you are interested in receiving funding for your project, you can submit a short Expression of Interest application to outline your proposal.

If this is successful, you will then be invited to submit a Full Application through our Project Portal.

Our new and updated application guidance for all partners and community groups is available below to help in creating your application

All partners
Concept (Stages 0-2)
Appendix Concept (Stage 0-2)
Community organisations

Applications to the programme will remain open for 4 weeks until 23rd August 2022.

For further information about the Places for Everyone scheme, visit our dedicated partner Places for Everyone page or contact the team at PlacesForEveryone@sustrans.org.uk

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News News & Opinion Places for Everyone

Places for Everyone fund update

We are reopening!

After more than a year away, the Places for Everyone fund is set to open again to new and existing project applications for Concept (Stages 0-2) from 25th July 2022.

To prepare for this, our team are working hard to ensure that updated Application Guidance is made available to partners as soon as possible.

This updated guidance will be made available to all partners on 11th July 2022.

In the meantime, partners can use our existing guidance or refer to Cycling by Design.

From the opening date of 25th July 2022, partners will then have four weeks to submit their applications for the deadline of 23rd August 2022.

A Decision Making Panel will be held on 31st October 2022.

Updated programme aim

We have brought our programme aim up to date to emphasise that projects which receive Places for Everyone funding should be truly for everyone.

All Places for Everyone projects must deliver capital infrastructure which helps to achieve this aim to:

Create safer, more attractive, healthier, and inclusive places which are enjoyed equitably by increasing and diversifying the number of trips made by walking, wheeling or cycling for everyday journeys.  

Examples of the types of projects Places for Everyone is able to fund can be found on the Our Projects page.

New Expression of Interest

We will be launching an online Expression of Interest form via our partner-facing Places for Everyone page on 11th July 2022.

A new shorter Expression of Interest form will allow partners to submit a basic project proposal to Places for Everyone and receive a response within one week as to whether the proposed project is something Places for Everyone can fund.

Whilst submitting an Expression of Interest is not mandatory, it is strongly recommended and will help us to process your Full Application more quickly.

The only information required from an Expression of Interest proposal will be the contact details of your organisation and a basic description of the project proposed, including it’s aims and which Stage(s) funding is being applied for.

If your Expression of Interest is successful, you will be invited to submit a Full Application via the Project Portal.

There are three separate project applications groupings which can be applied for through Places for Everyone. Concept (Stages 0-2); Design (Stages 3-4); and Construction (5-7).

Clearer eligibility for community organisations

To support community organisations to understand whether they are eligible we will be launching a quick and anonymous Eligibility Assessment on Monday 11th July 2022.  

This Eligibility Assessment will ask community groups to complete a short set of ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ questions and receive an immediate response on whether they are eligible to apply for funding.

Eligible community organisations will then be invited to submit an Expression of Interest form, provided they already have a project vision in mind.

The Eligibility Assessment will consider the following requirements:

  • Ability to manage long-term financial obligations
  • Possession of Public Liability Insurance
  • Support from relevant local authority
  • Understanding of CDM regulations
  • Possession of a signed constitution
  • Required number of board members in accordance with constitution

Key dates

Applications, Deadlines and Panels

  • Applications for new and existing Concept (Stage 0-2) projects open on July 25th 2022.
  • Updated guidance will be made available on 11th July 2022.
  • The application deadline for Concept (Stage 0-2) projects is 23rd August 2022.
  • A Decision Making Panel will be held on 31st October 2022.

Expressions of Interest

  • An online version of our Expression of Interest form will launch for all partners on 11th July 2022.

Eligibility

  • An Eligibility Assessment for community organisations will launch on 11th July 2022.

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us if you have any questions.

You may contact your project officer or PlacesforEveryone@sustrans.org.uk directly.

Categories
Engage • Inspire • Learn News PfE Places for Everyone

Active Travel in Europe

The event poster for the Active Travel in Europe webinar series
The event poster for the Active Travel in Europe webinar series

Introduction

We hear from a fantastic line up of speakers who present and share experiences of the increase of temporary active travel interventions and strategies during the pandemic in Europe, and how these can shape the way for future long-term measures and solutions. By coming together and learning from each other, it may be possible to keep this momentum going – to transform temporary solutions into more permanent implementations and accelerate the development of sustainable active travel infrastructure across Europe.

The event poster for the Active Travel in Europe webinar series
The event poster for the Active Travel in Europe webinar series

Paris

Clotilde Imbert, Director of Copenhagenize France, presents case studies from Paris, a city that has seen an increase in temporary cycle paths but also a high increase in cycling since the beginning of the pandemic. In addition, the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, has an ambitious strategy, ‘Plan Vélo’ to transform Paris into a cycle-friendly city.

According to European Cyclists’ Federation, since the pandemic, France has added €300m in funding for the country’s cycling infrastructure. In the opinion column, ‘A unique opportunity to speed up the implementation of bicycle plans‘ on Copenhagenize’s website, Clotilde expands on her view of the possibilities and strategies that she believes should take place as a next step in creating permanent active travel infrastructure in France.

Brussels

Florine Cuignet, Policy Officer of GRACQ, shares how GRACQ represents cyclists and promotes cycling in the french-speaking parts of Belgium. According to European Cyclists’ Federation, Brussels is one of the cities that implemented the most cycle lanes during the pandemic in Europe. In addition, the country added almost €480m in their cycling infrastructure budget in response to the pandemic.

Last year the Belgian federal government, for the first time, published a cycling action plan for the country. The plan consists of 52 action points that will facilitate and promote cycling, which will be implemented by 2024.

GRACQ PresentationDownload

EuroVelo

Ed Lancaster, Director of EuroVelo at the independent non-profit association European Cyclists’ Federation, presents case studies from rural areas in Europe. EuroVelo (European cycle route network) is a cooperation between different national and regional partners. The aim is to ensure that there are very high quality European-grade cycle routes and networks across Europe.

In January, EuroVelo presented the news that cycling on the EuroVelo routes have continued rising since the pandemic. In addition, ECF is also partner for the cross-border BIGIMUGI project that ‘aims at developing cycling mobility for all in rural areas situated along EuroVelo 3’.

EuroVelo PresentationDownload

Berlin

Ragnhild Sørensen shares more about work that the Berlin-based organisation, Changing Cities, do. As many other cities, Berlin has created pop-up cycle lanes during the pandemic, something that has not been appreciated by all political parties. The pop-up cycle lanes were monitored and developed according to feedback. The organisation has also launched the campaign Kiezblocks in Berlin, where more than 50 local initiatives want to limit the permeability of the road network for motorised individual transport (MIT) while prioritising walking and cycling on non-arterial streets. Kiezblock is a strategy for transformational urban adaptation, initiated by locals.

Panel Session

In this panel session, we welcome back all keynote speakers to answer pre-submitted and unanswered questions. The panel session will also include discussion around key themes identified throughout the series, including:

– Shared learning

– Behaviour and culture

– Opportunities and constraints