How to encourage cycling and walking in Moray?
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A plan to help Moray people ditch their cars in favour of walking and cycling will go before councillors next week.
An increase in cycling and walking has been seen across the region since the start of the pandemic.
Fixed counters have shown that cycle and pedestrian journeys on the Speyside Way between Craigellachie and Carron have more than doubled.
This increase has also been mirrored along some sections of the River Lossie cycle route.
Members of the economic development and infrastructure committee will be asked on Tuesday to approve a new draft active travel and action plan to help folk stay fit and well.
They will also be asked to agree a 12-week public consultation on the document that is expected to begin in January.
In her report transportation manager Nicola Moss set out how encouraging people to stay fit can reduce pressures on the NHS and protect the environment.
She said: "By helping to improve people’s physical and mental health, this can help to reduce the impact on our health services, which over the last two years have seen more pressure than ever before.
"With the importance of our need both locally and internationally to combat climate change and reduce our carbon emissions, active travel can also help make the shift from private car use to walking and cycling for short every day journeys."
The plan will be central to Moray Council’s climate change strategy that aims to reach net zero emissions by 2030.
Around 37% of greenhouse gas emissions in Scotland come from transport.
