Four active travel routes linking St Ninians, Glasgow Road, Bannockburn, and Burghmuir Road to Stirling City Centre have been put to the people of Stirling as the council extends efforts in facilitating active travel.
The cycling, walking, and wheeling routes would branch across the city to connect communities whilst promoting active travel and low emissions, helping to drive the area towards 2045 Net Zero targets.
The council has launched a survey to gather feedback on the current early-stage proposals.
Stirling’s Current Active Travel Routes: Walk, Cycle, Live Stirling
The south Stirling active travel route would be linked to the recently opened Walk, Cycle, Live Stirling routes, which opened in April 2025.
Approximately 6.5 km of cycling and walking corridors link the University of Stirling to the train station, and Forth Valley College to the city centre.
At £11 million, Walk, Cycle, Live Stirling forms a key element of the Stirling and Clackmannshire City Region deal – a £214 million partnership involving both councils, the University of Stirling, and the UK and Scottish governments.
Considering South of Stirling Housing Developments
The new active travel routes may also help link South Stirling Gateway to Stirling city centre.
Planning Permission in Principle was granted to the South Stirling Gateway development in 2022. The approved application included 800 homes, a new primary school, retail units, a golf facility, and a park-and-ride.
Phase One of the housing development was approved by Stirling Council’s Planning and Regulation Panel in October 2023, granting the go-ahead for Persimmon Homes to begin construction of 83 homes for sale and 25 homes for affordable housing.
Phase Two of the development was confirmed in November 2024, beginning the construction of 127 more homes.
If approved, the construction of cycle lanes will assist in taking the additional cars off the road, helping to reduce traffic flow through the city.
The People’s Response
Jim Riach, the Active Travel Officer for Loch Lomond & The Trossachs Countryside Trust, commented on Stirling Council’s social media post that:
“While these seem like a welcome addition to an active travel network, why do we never see any progress on routes to connect communities through the Carse of Stirling Partnership area and onwards into the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, which has millions of visitors per year? None of the gateway communities of Drymen, Aberfoyle or Callander are connected to Stirling Council’s main centre of Stirling or even to neighbouring communities by a safe path network, not to mention an affordable and efficient public transport service.
“The Doune to Callander connection has seen zero progress for many years.”
Brig asked Stirling residents what they thought of the proposed active travel route.
One local person commented on concerns over road accidents:
“[The route] isn’t really monitored, and there are lots of speeding and accidents in the school area.”
Others responded more optimistically, with a focus on the connection to the rest of the city:
“It’ll be better to connect more residential areas with the town to promote cycle to work schemes.”
Another local person agreed with this sentiment, stating that:
“It’ll be good to have primary schools on this route! It’s easier for parents who don’t drive.”
Stirling resident and student Martha, 20, commented on the impact of the Walk, Cycle, Live Stirling active travel routes as she commutes to the university:
“I like knowing that I have the option to cycle. The designated cycle lanes make me feel a lot safer on the roads, and I like knowing that I’m avoiding a carbon footprint on my way to class.”
You can keep up to date on Brig’s reporting of Stirling Council here.
Featured Image Credit: Alice Pollard
Journalism student at the University of Stirling & BRAW Magazine editor 24/25 and 25/26 🙂
You can see my portfolio here: https://www.clippings.me/alicepollard
