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Fife to get Scotland’s first outdoor dedicated cycling circuitFife Council logo

Fife to get Scotland’s first outdoor dedicated cycling circuit

Plans for a similar facility in Edinburgh had been dropped
by Alex Bowden
Wed, Mar 11, 2015 14:45
6

A closed loop cycle circuit is to be built in Fife following a £1m funding commitment from the council, reports The Courier. The circuit will be built on council land between Lochgelly High School and Lochore Meadows and will cater for everyone from toddlers on balance bikes to local clubs.

In the next two years, nearly £5m will be invested in cycling projects for Fife and councillor Mark Hood said it was a sensible investment.

“It’s important to focus on the long-term wins of investing in sport at a time when the council is facing increasingly tough budget pressures. The more we can do now to encourage people to get and stay active, the less the health spend in the future.

“Studies show that for every £1 invested in sport and physical activity, it saves around £3.20 in future health costs. That’s on top of the many other advantages it can bring people and communities.”

Hood anticipates that the circuit – which will also be suitable for running and cyclocross, with space for further developments – will cover its operating costs and even generate a surplus. He also emphasised the positive effect it would have on those who made use of it.

“Taking part in sport gives young people the chance to flourish – to develop routine, discipline, confidence and be a good team player. Investments like these contribute towards making it easier for all Fifers to be fitter and healthier. We can’t underestimate the positive impact this can have on people’s lives.”

The circuit will be the first in Scotland after plans to develop something similar in Edinburgh were dropped following objections. While Edinburgh City Council seems set to approve plans for a new outdoor velodrome, speedway course and BMX track on the site of the former Meadowbank velodrome, plans for a road cycling circuit were shelved due to concerns about loss of green space.

Fife
Mark Hood
Alex Bowden

Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.

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6 comments

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Andrewwd | 9 years ago
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JessieRae,

The swimming pool comment is reductio ad absurdum. You're not proving the case the for this facility with it.

The existence of a nearby MTB centre doesn't strengthen the case either. Maybe it even weakens it.

YMMV but my experience of Sustrans routes is that unpaved sections are generally not suitable for road bikes, particularly in bad weather.

I know its curmudgeonly to criticise this type of thing, but I think it's a mistake to assume all cycling money is money well spent.

You can say, 'we're doing something for cycling', without actually addressing the bigger problem of everyday opportunity for cycling and this is an example of that. This type of 'leisure cycling' focus appeals to councillors because they get no backlash from motorists.

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Andrewwd | 9 years ago
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Hi JessieRae

You are quite right; it's not intended to.

My point is that if I was spending a million quid on cycling infrastructure in a region with 0.5% mode share, it wouldn't be on a closed circuit in a field. Why not build opportunities for cycling into peoples actual everyday lives if, as the councillor says, this is about "making it easier for all Fifers to be fitter and healthier"

And if I was putting a leisure or sports type circuit in a field, I'd make a bmx or mtb track. You mention that the connecting NCN1 route isn't paved - so that rules out riding a road bike to this facility. I can see hardcore roadies training in the winter maybe, but then again if they have to share it with runners, that's ruled out as well.

What's the council really saying with this? 'We've given up on even pretending that cycling to school or the shops is appealing, so why not drive out to this field and cycle round in circles instead'?

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JessieRae replied to Andrewwd | 9 years ago
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> You mention that the connecting NCN1 route isn't paved - so that rules out riding a road bike to this facility.
Um, really?

>And if I was putting a leisure or sports type circuit in a field, I'd make a bmx or mtb track.
You mean like the one that's next door to this proposed facility? http://www.dmbins.com/developing/case-studies--3/lochore-meadows-country...

>What's the council really saying with this? 'We've given up on even pretending that cycling to school or the shops is appealing, so why not drive out to this field and cycle round in circles instead'?
I hear they build swimming pools that you can't even swim to...

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Andrewwd | 9 years ago
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Presumably folk still encouraged to travel by car to this facility.

Does nothing to improve the dire situation for everyday utility cycling.

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JessieRae replied to Andrewwd | 9 years ago
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>Presumably folk still encouraged to travel by car to this facility.
From NCN1 there's a cycle route link in through Blairadam Forest (not paved) and through Lochore Meadows (paved IIRC) - then just over 1 mile from there to the school on a B road (may even be a link to the school from the park). The school is 0.2 miles from Lochgelly station. I suspect some people will drive there [shakes fist at sky, etc].

>Does nothing to improve the dire situation for everyday utility cycling.
Is it intended to? Does it need to?

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Gkam84 | 9 years ago
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Hang on, Am I the only one who noticed the headline, then read the article and they don't add up....

DEDICATED cycling circuit.

Then "Hood anticipates that the circuit – which will also be suitable for running"

So not a dedicated cycling circuit then.

In that case, many venues throughout Scotland can claim to be dedicated cycling circuits, but are used by other sports 19 40

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