As our Digest enters not only its second half-century, but a new decade, this seems a good time to encourage any of you out there who are not yet GoBike members to join us. GoBike is only as strong as its members. We are people who recognise the need for good cycle infrastructure and so we campaign for it. We receive no public funding, have no paid employees, and are run entirely by volunteers, but we do have enthusiastic members who are pleased to get involved and/or pay our minimum fee of £5 per year (and many pay more). Do please join us but also read on for the news, including the long-awaited Byres Road TROs, we have for you.
We object to the permanent introduction of taxis to all 4 lanes of the Finnieston/Squinty/Clyde Arc Bridge – where is the active travel space? – and we learn that traffic calming schemes are a one-stage consultation with no Traffic Regulation Order. Plus, as desks are cleared for the holidays – a break for some – we have a stack of feedback for you.
Transport Scotland and the Scottish Government are looking for your views on the Second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2) plus other on-line surveys and a bit of controversy about taxis and priority at side street junctions on proposed segregated cycle lane. Do read on through this bumper bundle of current consultations as far as the feedback for Queen Margaret Drive.
Good news in this issue with the roll-out of 20mph in Glasgow, the National Cycle Route in Glasgow Green and the South West City Way, see Section 3, and we look forward to cycle lanes to Glasgow’s newest railway station at Robroyston, but do read on for lots, lots more with mention of South and North Lanarkshire, East Dunbartonshire and East Renfrewshire as well as the big city.
ANNOUNCEMENT Glasgow City Council have now placed GoBike on the Stage One List of Statutory Consultees. This means that we are provided with details of proposals that the City Council is considering for a future Traffic Regulation Order, but, if the reaction at this first stage is not supportive the Council might not proceed with it. This is very good news for GoBike but if does mean that we have to review our ways of working. We are not allowed to publicise the proposals until they proceed to the formal TRO stage and we are now working on a process for effective Stage One review.
So that is the good news from Glasgow City Council and the bad news is contained within Item 3.1, a Parking and One-Way Street issue, but do read on for our list of contents and the wide range of issues that we bring to you in this issue:
Permission has been granted to a film company for the closure of South Portland Street Suspension Bridge, on the morning of Tuesday 12th November, between 9am and 12 noon.
The original request was for the closure to begin at 8am, however the council required this to be moved to 9am, with the intention of minimising inconvenience to commuter cyclists.
Please plan an alternative route, Such as Glasgow Bridge or Victoria Bridge, if you were intending to be crossing the Clyde over the Suspension Bridge after 9am.
On a separate note, we in GoBike Towers believe that this is the longest bridge name in Glasgow. If however you can think of another, please send in your answers on the back of a postcard.
Our 2019 Public Meeting and AGM is only 1 week away, next Saturday, 16th November. This year we are extremely pleased that Councillor Lesley Macinnes, Convener Edinburgh City Council Transport and Environment Committee, will be our Guest Speaker. This will provide us with an opportunity to understand what is being planned for Edinburgh, the issues they are facing and what lesson could be learned for Glasgow.
Please make sure you spread the word that everybody is welcome to attend the whole event. To help us gauge numbers you can book tickets on here.
The agenda for the afternoon is:
14:00 Registration, Tea and Coffee
14:15 Open AGM – Co-convenors welcome, apologies, quorum – Approval of 2018 minutes – Nominations to the Committee
14:20 Treasurer’s report
14:30 Co-convenors review of the year
14:45 South City Way Campaign – Bob Downie
14:55 Members Motion – Pat Toms Motion Text: GoBike is concerned that GCC officers do not act consistently in accordance with council policy on Active Travel – with regards to new inappropriate facilities (South City Way, Sauchiehall Street and elsewhere) and inappropriate approval of a planning application (the recent University development for which there is inappropriate provision for increased traffic on University Avenue). The council is asked to investigate why there is recurring non-compliance, to identify changes that would ensure compliance and to take appropriate action. This meeting wishes this motion be presented to the Active Travel Forum, all councillors, be sent to the press with a press release and be sent to Glasgow’s Urbanist, who is being employed by GCC to consider officer skills in part.
15:05 AOB – Cycling for Scotland Event Cancelation – Jimmy Keenan
15:10 Close AGM
ShortComfort Break
15:20 Guest Speaker: Councillor Lesley Macinnes, Convener Edinburgh City Council Transport and Environment Committee
16:00 Q&A Panel Session
16:30 GoBike Public Meeting 2019 Closes
The AGM will be held at Bike for Good’s Community Space at their Victoria Road location.
