[Scottish Parliament, 14.06.2024] Highlands and Islands MSP and Convener of the Cross-Party Group on Islands Jamie Halcro Johnston questioned the Scottish Government on road safety across the Highlands and Islands in today’s Portfolio Questions on Net Zero and Energy, and Transport in the Scottish Parliament.
Mr Halcro Johnston asked the following question and supplementary question:
QUESTION: To ask the Scottish Government how it is informing tourists and other visitors of how to use roads across the Highlands and Islands safely.
SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION: The summer months see an increase in visitors using either roads or vehicles they’re unfamiliar with.
The potential from tourists – and others unfamiliar with the road - using the A9 are well known. But across the Highlands and Islands, we see a proliferation of motor homes, many driven by people with no experience of driving one before, nor of the often difficult, and too often, pothole ridden roads they’re driving on.
And in Orkney and Shetland, there has been an increase in visitors touring our islands on ebikes provided by the cruise ships they’ve just come off. Many won’t have ridden one before, and they’re using roads simply not suitable for large – slow moving - groups of cyclists who can be more focused on the scenery than the road and other traffic. Something I’ve seen for myself.
So can I ask the Cabinet Secretary/Minister what concerns she/he has of the potential risks these situations are creating. And how the Scottish Government can support the Police and local councils in addressing them?
Speaking afterwards, Mr Halcro Johnston said:
“Tourism is a vital sector for Orkney and Shetland, and those who chose to visit our islands are always very welcome.
“However, there has been an increase in visitors touring our islands on ebikes provided by the cruise ships they’ve just come off, with many of them inexperienced users who are also using roads they don’t know and which are simply not suitable for large, but slow moving, groups of cyclists who can be more focused on the scenery than the road and other traffic.
“As I have experienced myself, I’m sure many local residents will have found themselves stuck behind large groups of ebikes and simply unable to pass safely. As well as extremely frustrating, potentially doubling journey times, I cannot believe this is safe.
“I know that the Police and Orkney Island Council have acted to reduce the size of groups and provide more advice to users, and I understand similar calls have been made in Shetland as well.
“But I am disappointed that the Cabinet Secretary was not able to lay out in more detail how SNP ministers in Edinburgh are supporting local initiatives to address what is a growing problem”.
ENDS
Notes to editor
The video recording of Jamie Halcro Johnston MSP’s question is available here: https://www.scottishparliament.tv/meeting/meeting-of-the-parliament-continued-june-13-2024?clip_start=14:20:30&clip_end=14:23:14
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