Glossary: Arterial Routes

Arterial Routes - Arterial routes serve as the main transport corridors into and out of Belfast City Centre. They are main radial roads which connect the Belfast City Centre to the surrounding suburban residential areas, have historically functioned, not only as principal transportation corridors but also, as retail and service centres providing important social, commercial, shopping and leisure functions for the communities which live along the routes. In general, the routes are characterised by linear neighbourhood shopping and commercial areas. The scale and vitality of each linear area varies considerably but in every case there is a mix of small local shops, retail services, local offices and other commercial uses. All these areas are on bus routes into the city centre and are well served by public transport.