Access for Disabled People in Scotland
Introduction
Welcome to the Sustrans Scotland 'Access for Disabled People' web pages. These pages contain the results of a research project entitled 'National Cycle Network in Scotland: Auditing Access for Disabled People' undertaken by Sustrans in 2003-4 and funded by the Scottish Executive. As part of this project, all traffic-free sections of the National Cycle Network in Scotland were audited for accessibility. This amounted to 178 path sections, and over 315 miles of paths. The audit was conducted between January and April 2004. From this audit data, information on those paths over 2 miles in length was published and analysed.
Information for disabled path users - overview leaflet
There are three main 'tiers' of information available to path users. The first is an overview leaflet and map which shows the location of selected traffic-free sections of the National Cycle Network in Scotland. Each route is graded according to how its physical characteristics affect accesssibility. The leaflet, entitled 'National Cycle Network in Scotland - Access for Disabled people', can be ordered free from the Sustrans information line on 0845 113 0065 or downloaded (1.83Mb pdf).
Path accessibility information sheets
More detailed information on each of the paths featured in the overview map are available in the next 'tier' of information: accessibility information sheets. These are available to download as pdf files, and cover the following areas:
Sheet 1: Highlands and Aberdeenshire (337Kb pdf)
Sheet 2: Dundee, Fife, Perth (305Kb pdf)
Sheet 3: West Glasgow, Loch Lomond (422Kb pdf)
Sheet 4: Glasgow, Inverclyde (1.53Mb pdf)
Sheet 5: Lothians and Airdrie - Bathgate (1.62Mb pdf)
Sheet 6: Ayrshire and South of Scotland (1.28Mb pdf)
Audit data
For those who require very detailed information about any traffic-free section of the National Cycle Network in Scotland, electronic versions of the audit data sheets, along with guidance on how to interpret them, can be downloaded here.
Other information
The following documents, which are aimed at local authorities, other path providers and those concerned with the provision of access for disabled people, are also available to download:
'Auditing Access for Disabled People - Final report' (2.4Mb pdf)
The final report includes an introduction to the Disability Discrimination Act (1995) and how it affects path providers; a description of the Sustrans audit including the audit methodology and lessons learned; analysis and grading of the routes and recommendations for further action.
Making traffic-free paths more accessible - FF42 (1.6Mb pdf)
This leaflet is aimed at path providers, whether they are local authorities, statutory bodies or private landowners. It aims to give advice on how to improve accessibility for disabled path users, and on the implications of the Disability Discrimination Act (1995), in particular part 3, which came into force on 1 October 2004.
Disclaimer
The audit was carried out between January and April 2004, and every care has been taken to ensure that the route information is accurate. However, if you find any errors or omissions in any of the data, we welcome your comments. In addition, it is Sustrans' policy to continually endeavour to upgrade the National Cycle Network in order to make it more accessible. The latest information on progress to upgrade the routes is available on our 'Route development news' page: here.
Contact
If you have any questions or feedback about this project, or if you encounter information which is out of date, please contact scotland@sustrans.org.uk or tel 0131 539 8122.