Project Update

📣 Project update!

We are delighted to announce that we have completed Stage 2 of the Killearn Active Travel Project. 🚴‍♂️🦼🛴🚶‍♀️ This involved, among other things, creating concept designs for the proposed paths and liaising with landowners.

We have submitted our application for the next stage of funding for Stages 3-4 to Sustrans, and we will find out if we are successful with this application around June/July.

If we are, the next stage will see us further develop the route concepts and incorporate technical details. We will also identify travel interventions, test the implications, and engage with the community, asking for your feedback on the routes and activities along the way.

Watch this space as we continue to share our progress with the community, and sign up for our mailing list at the link below for more updates.

Contact

We look forward to receiving your valuable feedback, so please do get in touch or let us know if you’d like to get involved with the project.

Killearn Active Travel Paths Project Update

We started 2024 on the Killearn Active Travel Path Project by welcoming some new faces to the working group.  They will be helping progress both this and the Killearn to Balfron Active Path. We’d like to thank Kenneth Alexander who is retiring from the Killearn to Balfron project, for all his hard work.

What is an active path? A path that provides the ability for people to walk, cycle or wheel (mobility scooters, prams, etc.) from A to B.

Both the Killearn Active Travel Path project and the Killearn to Balfron Active Path project are at Sustrans stages 0-2. We will continue to work with Sustrans on meeting their deliverables, and we hope to hold a further consultation with the village. Both projects will be coming to the end of stages 0-2 this year, and we would like to be able to take them to the next stage.

Last year, an advisory meeting of local businesses and groups was held and further meetings will take place this year. The Killearn Active Travel event was held in September.

Community feedback is always important. Let us know If you have any comments on the project or would like to get involved.

Written by Caroline Carrick

Cycling, Wheeling and Walking event, Killearn Courier Article – November 23

On one of the last glorious sunny days in September, residents of Killearn came together with a shared eagerness to learn about active travel in Killearn. From nursery and primary school kids to community members and local groups, from local businesses to Stirling Council, everyone shared a curiosity for active travel, making this event fruitful and fun.

The first part of the event took place at Killearn Primary School, where the P1 and P6 children were invited to share their active travel experiences. It was a delight to see so many bikes and scooters in all shapes and colours parked outside the school, as those pupils who were able to scooted or biked to school.

In the classroom, the children had an opportunity to share what they liked and disliked about the journey to school, followed by a lively discussion on how we can improve the area to make the trip more pleasant and safe.

Outside, the children had great fun pedalling to make delicious and healthy smoothies on the famous smoothie bike and got creative by decorating their bikes and helmets with colourful stickers and other bike decorations. It was a fantastic and engaging afternoon, and the kids shared some clever and creative ideas that can help shape the Killearn Active Project and the School Travel Plan.

The second part of the event started in the evening at our beautiful village hall. Local groups involved in active travel showcased their projects and invited the community to try an e-bike or learn more about Alba Nordic Walks or Local Place Plans. Also featured was a Dr Bike session with Country Cycles, cargo bike trial sessions, the smoothie bike, kids activities, a fabulous display of photographs, short quotes, and colouring-in pictures from the nursery kids, all accompanied by free tea and cake.

It was also a chance to learn more about the Killearn Active Travel Project and the proposed routes (which are only very early discussions). There is currently no safe active travel route for walking, biking or wheeling between the growing community to the south of Killearn and Killearn village. Parking in Killearn village, particularly around the primary school where congestion is a big problem, is minimal. There is no public transport to link the two areas or for those south of Killearn to travel further afield, as buses run from Killearn village.

An attractive, safe off-road route between the south of Killearn and Killearn village would link these two areas of Killearn. A fit-for-purpose path will encourage more regular walking, biking, and wheeling for everyday journeys for the growing community. The Killearn Active Travel project is working towards the realisation of this change. This proposed path can significantly foster wheeling, cycling and walking, especially for everyday journeys to school, work or the shops. It creates many benefits not only for those
involved in active travel but also for the Killearn community by decreasing traffic congestion, helping tackle the climate emergency, and improving mental and physical health and happiness.

During the event, we asked the participants to give their thoughts on the project, the proposed route and traffic calming measures. Overall, people are very supportive of the proposed path as an alternative to Station Road and see this as a priority. It was also clear that the majority of the respondents would like to see speed reduction in Killearn. Some measurements, such as speed cushions, have strong support, while others are less popular, such as speed bumps.

This project envisions welcoming and safe paths for all everyday journeys, including school runs. We hope to make this happen so that young and old and everyone in between can enjoy active travel in wider Killearn.

Many thanks to everyone who joined the event. Your support and enthusiasm made it a fantastic gathering!

Caroline Carrick, a member of the Killearn Community Council, said:
“It was great to see such a big turn out to the active travel event with so many people participating and interested in leaving feedback on how we can improve walking, cycling, and wheeling in the village. A big thank you to everyone who came along and all those who helped make it a success.”

Thank you to: Cycling Killearn, Country Cycles, Alba Nordic Walks, Killearn Path & Heritage Group, Stirling Council, Killearn Driving School, Killearn Tennis Club, Killearn Community Council and Killearn Primary School.

This Article appeared in The Courier (November 23 Edition) Please sign-up here https://killearnactivetravel.blog/contact/ and opt in for communications to receive further details on the project as it progresses.

Nursery school children join the Killearn Active Travel Event!

One of the children at the Killearn Nursery said

“I like cycling to school and the park and cycling to tennis. It’s good exercise, it keeps you healthy”

A generation ago, 70% of British children walked to school. Unfortunately, this number has declined drastically and less than half of the children now walk to school regularly.

It’s such a shame as walking, cycling and wheeling to school is good for you AND the environment, and it’s fun – chatting and laughing with your friends as you go!

Instilling a love of cycling, wheeling or walking in little people could have long-lasting benefits and inspire them to have good habits in adult life, too.

So, we asked the nurseries to join us at the Cycling Wheeling and Walking Event. Mulberry Bush Montessori joined our big pedal colouring competition. Killearn Primary School talked with the kids about active travel and created a lovely display with quotes and pictures of the children.

Both nurseries received a voucher from Country Cycles for their excellent work!

This project envisions welcoming and safe paths for all for everyday journeys, including school runs.

Let’s make this happen so our young people can enjoy active travel!