This Digest continues to promote the Commonplace maps, plus we have an interesting consultation on the Kingston Bridge and a copy of the GoBike submission for Pollok Park, where private cars are back parking irresponsibly.

Contents:

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. **NEW** Historic Environment Scotland, Kingston Bridge proposed to be a Listed Structure, closes 17 July
2. Glasgow City Council, Spaces for People Commonplace Map, YOUR views are required
3. East Renfrewshire Council, Spaces for People Commonplace Map, looking for YOUR views
4. Glasgow City Council, help shape the future of (Y)our City Centre Districts

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

Nil to report

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

1. Glasgow, Pollok Park Planning Application, GoBike submission
2. Glasgow, Queen Street Railway Station, new bike stands
3. Glasgow, London Road, East City Way, painted lines appearing
4. Glasgow, George Square, Implementation of Experimental Traffic Regulation Order
5. Glasgow, Stockingfield Road Canal Junction, bridge construction commencing any time now

Section 1: Current Consultation, in date order for responses

Omitted from this Digest are 2 consultation from the Scottish Parliament on the effects of Covid-19, the Impact on Equalities & Human Rights and on Scotland’s businesses, workers and the economy. Both are open long-term and, if you have not responded and you wish to, please see Digest 63, items 1.6 and 1.7

1.1 **NEW** Historic Environment Scotland, Kingston Bridge proposed to be a Listed Structure, closes 17 July

A GoBike member, alerted us to the proposal to list this massive bridge carrying cars, buses, vans, lorries over the River Clyde in Glasgow. Details are on the Historic Environment Scotland website here.
There is no doubt that there are far too many motor vehicles and that the dangers they pose are under-rated in society. If you are concerned about the proposed listing of the bridge do please have a look at the HES website and put your views in.

1.2 Glasgow City Council, Spaces for People Commonplace Map, YOUR views are required

This search for your views was in our last 2 Digests and here’s the link for your views. Do please get them in.

1.3 East Renfrewshire Council, Spaces for People Commonplace Map, looking for YOUR views

We informed you of the East Renfrewshire Commonplace map in Digest 63, Item 1.4 and in Digest 62. Here’s the link to the map. If you live, work or cycle in East Renfrewshire please do post your concerns, if any, on the map.

1.4 Glasgow City Council, help shape the future of (Y)our City Centre Districts

This third Commonplace map arrived just in time for our last Digest, but here’s the link again, so please upload your comments.

This update arrived on 30 June:

And this message arrived on 04 July:

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

Nothing on the horizon this time.

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

3.1 Glasgow, Pollok Park Planning Application, GoBike submission

In Digest 63, Item 1.2 we listed some items of concern/interest in the proposals and, with thanks to opinions and some vigorous discussion from several GoBike members, this letter of qualified objection to the Planning Application was submitted on 30 June.

We are delighted that private motor cars are to be prevented, by gates, from driving through the park, as they can at present. We also very much support the emphasis on public transport and active travel. However, we are not delighted with all the proposals.

GoBike objects to the proposal to allow private cars into the existing main car park, ie the one nearest the Burrell Collection, even though a new car park is to be constructed at the Haggs Road gate. To aid traffic to the existing car park, it is proposed to dual the access road from Haggs Road, which is pictured here, above and below, by constructing another carriageway to the left of the trees. We have objected to this proposed construction and consider that, if the car park at the Burrell is restricted to buses, coaches, blue badge holders and deliveries, this existing road, perhaps with passing places for large vehicles, will suffice.

We understand that now cars are allowed back in the park, the uncontrolled parking has resumed. One of our concerns with the application was the lack of control of motor vehicles.

3.2 Glasgow, Queen Street Railway Station, new bike stands

Back in December 2014, GoBike responded to the consultation on the redevelopment of Queen Street Station, see this short blog from the time. We were keen to see more cycle facilities and, would you believe it – the photo above shows cycle racks where it was envisaged to have none!

3.3 Glasgow, London Road, East City Way, painted lines appearing

In October last year there was public consultation on the proposals, see Digest 19, Item 1.1 , for a bi-directional cycle lane along London Road to Mount Vernon and beyond for a distance of 7km. GoBike’s preference would be for a uni-directional lane on each side and that is now what is being painted on the carriageway. The painted lines currently (as of Saturday 04 July) go from Fielden Street in the west to Helenvale Street in the east.

We do not know whether the plans are for some form of segregation; we hope so and as the following 2 photos show, irresponsible car parking is incompatible with comfortable cycling.
Currently the lanes stop short of each traffic light junction with cycle traffic exiting the cycle lane into a left-turning lane. This is obviously unsatisfactory for people who are cycling straight on but we have not been party to any of the plans so will have to wait and see what transpires.
Our third concern is what will happen at the junction with the bi-directional lane just to the east of Bridgeton Cross – again, it’s wait and see.

Segregation will help prevent parking but we do hope something is currently proposed to manage it.

3.4 Glasgow, George Square, Implementation of Experimental Traffic Regulation Order

Back in March this year GoBike responded positively to an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order issued by Glasgow City Council to very much reduce motor traffic in George Square. Our response was featured in Digest 57, issued 31 March.

Accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic, work has now been carried out in George Square to implement the Order.

An Experimental Traffic Regulation Order lasts for 18 months during which time its effects may be assessed and changes introduced with a permanent Traffic Regulation Order.

3.5 Glasgow, Stockingfield Road Canal Junction, bridge construction commencing anytime now

Almost 2 years ago, in Digest 17, Item 1.6, published 17 September 2018, we reported on public consultation events around the proposed construction of a bridge over the canal junction at Stockingfield.

GoBike member, Alasdair, has now informed us that there will be changes to the route for anyone cycling along the canal at Stockingfield, because work on the Stockingfield Bridge is to start this week. The towpath will be closed from the junction to Ruchill Church for some time. The steps down to Lochburn Road will remain open. We do not currently have any details of timescale.

Diversions are currently under active discussion but no specific route has yet been agreed, so if you are cycling, or walking, on the towpath in the area, do watch out for work starting. We will hopefully be able to report on the diversionary route in our next Digest in 2 weeks time.

The works will remove the detour via this canal underbridge – a welcome improvement.

_________________________________________________

Quite a short digest for you this time, perhaps because we are into the holiday season – with nowhere to go but a slightly longer cycle ride?

** UPDATE **

Since we last reported on this councillor tour, we have been contacted by a wonderfully proactive staff member at Sustrans who has highlighted that funding is in fact available, specifically for junction and roundabout improvements, such as at the key accident hotspot of the Auldhouse Roundabout. We have passed this information back to Bailie Kyle Thornton and would encourage you to also highlight this information to your local councillors.

The details are as follows:

Through the Community Links programme, Sustrans Scotland can offer funding specifically for junction and roundabout improvements. We can offer 100% funding for design (pre-construction) stage, followed by 70% funding for the construction stage. This means applicants only need to find 30% of construction costs. There is no limit on the amount of funding applicants can apply for and we encourage applicants to be ambitious.

Let’s hope we can build on this pot and have our councillors take action with it!

** UPDATE END **

Bob Downie took his local councillor on a tour of his ward this week, concentrating on the notorious Auldhouse Roundabout:

As everywhere in Glasgow, cycling in the Newlands/Auldburn Ward has its challenges, but none more so than the Auldhouse Roundabout. Bailie Kyle Thornton kindly agreed to join me in an examination of this location and this tour was therefore more a site-specific visit than a general excursion of the ward.

I specifically wanted to discuss this site as it is unfortunately has the highest concentration of cycle accidents in the whole of the City of Glasgow. It is going to take major engineering and change in mind set to effect change here and I was delighted that Kyle was open to learning about the issues and engaging in discussions about possible solutions.

We met in the Harriet Place carpark adjacent to the roundabout and conducted a short walking tour, crossing the four road entries to the roundabout. This gave us a chance to imagine ourselves as cyclists and to discuss the difficulties, both real and imagined, that the roundabout presents from all angles. We agreed that the roundabout was built to enable to drivers to transit the junction speedily and the design had made no allowance for cyclists. For right turns and going straight ahead, cyclists have to take the centre or right lanes of a 3-4 lane junction which can be very nerve-wracking, even for the experienced. I know of many cyclists that will never traverse this roundabout rendering it an effective block on cycle transit in the area.

We discussed the problems that eastward heading cyclists on Barrhead Rd have if they wish to turn left/north. If they wish to avoid cycling the roundabout, they currently have to negotiate a very circuitous route, where some of the paths/crossings are not technically “shared”. There is a clear need for a crossing on Barrhead Rd to allow cyclists and pedestrians to cross and join the path on the west side of Kilmarnock Rd.

A77: While didn’t visit, we had a discussion over pictures of the car-door cycle lanes, their dimensions, and their minimal separation from the parked cars. Their design totally ignores any guide lines. We also discussed the fact that they are inappropriate for use by children or inexperienced cyclists. The points were accepted but the problem of moving roadside parking was discussed. Does it trump cycling? Kyle was sympathetic but also concerned that stopping or relocating parking would impact on residents

Outcomes:

• Kyle was very receptive to the cycling problems presented by the Auldhouse Roundabout and the A77 cycle lanes, but as a councillor he lives in a world where problems are solved not just by people but by funding, the perennial issue.
• Kyle offered to follow up with Council officers, to engage them by asking what plans they have for the Auldhouse Roundabout and the A77. He indicated that he would report back on the responses he had from the officers.
• I made Kyle aware of the fact that cycle-friendly roundabouts can be constructed,  and that “Dutch-Style Roundabouts” could be considered here. There is plenty of space.
• I also made Kyle aware that East Renfrewshire Council are hoping to bring cycle ways down the A77 and Thornliebank Rd and are considering Dutch-Style Roundabouts where appropriate. He was interested in either he or GCC officers being in touch with East Ren officers to see if any route coordination could occur. Perhaps a meeting?
• Serendipitously, while outside the flats by the Auldhouse Roundabout, a cyclist exited. We took the opportunity to buttonhole him and ask his opinion of it. He gave Kyle little doubt that it is poor, “the worst in Glasgow”. That really reinforced the message that Auldhouse is not fit for cycles.

My thanks to Bailie Kyle Thornton for his time and his attention.

Bob Downie took his local councillor on a tour of his ward this week, concentrating on the notorious Auldhouse Roundabout:

As everywhere in Glasgow, cycling in the Newlands/Auldburn Ward has its challenges, but none more so than the Auldhouse Roundabout. Bailie Kyle Thornton kindly agreed to join me in an examination of this location and this tour was therefore more a site-specific visit than a general excursion of the ward.

I specifically wanted to discuss this site as it is unfortunately has the highest concentration of cycle accidents in the whole of the City of Glasgow. It is going to take major engineering and change in mind set to effect change here and I was delighted that Kyle was open to learning about the issues and engaging in discussions about possible solutions.

We met in the Harriet Place carpark adjacent to the roundabout and conducted a short walking tour, crossing the four road entries to the roundabout. This gave us a chance to imagine ourselves as cyclists and to discuss the difficulties, both real and imagined, that the roundabout presents from all angles. We agreed that the roundabout was built to enable to drivers to transit the junction speedily and the design had made no allowance for cyclists. For right turns and going straight ahead, cyclists have to take the centre or right lanes of a 3-4 lane junction which can be very nerve-wracking, even for the experienced. I know of many cyclists that will never traverse this roundabout rendering it an effective block on cycle transit in the area.

We discussed the problems that eastward heading cyclists on Barrhead Rd have if they wish to turn left/north. If they wish to avoid cycling the roundabout, they currently have to negotiate a very circuitous route, where some of the paths/crossings are not technically “shared”. There is a clear need for a crossing on Barrhead Rd to allow cyclists and pedestrians to cross and join the path on the west side of Kilmarnock Rd.

A77: While didn’t visit, we had a discussion over pictures of the car-door cycle lanes, their dimensions, and their minimal separation from the parked cars. Their design totally ignores any guide lines. We also discussed the fact that they are inappropriate for use by children or inexperienced cyclists. The points were accepted but the problem of moving roadside parking was discussed. Does it trump cycling? Kyle was sympathetic but also concerned that stopping or relocating parking would impact on residents

Outcomes:

• Kyle was very receptive to the cycling problems presented by the Auldhouse Roundabout and the A77 cycle lanes, but as a councillor he lives in a world where problems are solved not just by people but by funding, the perennial issue.
• Kyle offered to follow up with Council officers, to engage them by asking what plans they have for the Auldhouse Roundabout and the A77. He indicated that he would report back on the responses he had from the officers.
• I made Kyle aware of the fact that cycle-friendly roundabouts can be constructed,  and that “Dutch-Style Roundabouts” could be considered here. There is plenty of space.
• I also made Kyle aware that East Renfrewshire Council are hoping to bring cycle ways down the A77 and Thornliebank Rd and are considering Dutch-Style Roundabouts where appropriate. He was interested in either he or GCC officers being in touch with East Ren officers to see if any route coordination could occur. Perhaps a meeting?
• Serendipitously, while outside the flats by the Auldhouse Roundabout, a cyclist exited. We took the opportunity to buttonhole him and ask his opinion of it. He gave Kyle little doubt that it is poor, “the worst in Glasgow”. That really reinforced the message that Auldhouse is not fit for cycles.

My thanks to Bailie Kyle Thornton for his time and his attention.