Rachael Ludlow-Williams and Claire Pollock from Sustrans with Department for Infrastructure Permanent Secretary Peter May on the Comber Greenway
Politicians and officials on the Comber Greenway at the launch of the One Path Initiative and widened greenway.
A walker and person cycling on Comber Greenway with the One Path ethos 'Share, Respect, Enjoy' stencilled on the path
Government officials and councillors joined us today to launch a series of activities to encourage the public to share a popular greenway route that runs from Belfast to Comber, in Co Down.
The One Path Initiative has been piloted on the Comber Greenway, a seven-mile stretch of shared path frequented by a wide range of people cycling, walking and running.
This is the second phase of the Initiative which has helped reduce conflict between different users, underlined by the motto ‘Share, Respect, Enjoy’. The Initiative was developed by us in partnership with the Department for Infrastructure (DfI), which owns the Comber Greenway, and the three Councils it traverses: Ards and North Down; Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council; and Belfast City Council.
Rachael Ludlow-Williams from Sustrans said: “We ran a series of engagement activities a year ago on the Comber Greenway to discuss behaviour and how people could share the path better without conflict. The first phase was very successful and we are repeating it over this summer, so look out for our schedule of events. The overall message which we are conveying through One Path is Share, Respect, Enjoy.”
The event today also celebrated recent work to widen the Greenway from 3 to 4 metres, which is of great benefit to everyone on the path and living locally.
Speaking today from the Greenway, Department for Infrastructure Permanent Secretary Peter May, said: “It is clear many more people are opting to walk or cycle and as a Department we are working to help people opt for sustainable and active travel, which is better for them and better for the environment.
“The Comber Greenway is a highly used traffic free route for many cyclists, walkers and runners, connecting east Belfast with Comber and I hope this investment of almost £600,000 will encourage many more people to consider active travel, especially during the better weather and as Bike Week approaches on 9 June.”
The improvement scheme has been jointly funded by the DfI and Department for Communities and carried out in close collaboration with Sustrans, Belfast City Council, Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, and Ards and North Down Borough Council. The Department is continuing with final works over the next few weeks.
Later this year the DfI will also be consulting on a lighting scheme for the area and ducting was laid as part of this improvement scheme, in preparation for a future lighting project subject to community support and available budget.