City Region/City Deal

Clyde Mission Masterplan

Big money regeneration project with scope from Dunoon to Lanark. Glasgow City Region says about Clyde Mission: “its purpose is to add value by helping to unlock barriers to development, and align and facilitate activity across boundaries”. The main focus is on economic development and climate issues like flood prevention and district heating. However, active travel seems to be included under ‘Connectivity’. The Clyde Mission themes diagram shows dozens of specific sites (but misses a few like Clyde Cycle Park, Cambuslang). There are 20 ‘Signature Locations’ – towns or areas on the river/firth and a few just outside it (like Carstairs Junction). Each location features in the survey so if you can comment on connections, or lack of them, in the local area (and skip other questions if you want). National active travel funding is still in limbo after the election so this regional investment could be an important alternative; especially for cross-boundary projects.

Links: Clyde Mission article, Clyde Mission StoryMap, and Clyde Mission Masterplan survey.

Deadline: 21 July 2026.

Glasgow City

North Laurieston Masterplan (draft)

Further regeneration for North Laurieston beyond the Avenues Plus program on South Portland Street (works were due to complete this month). S Portland St would be the main north-south active travel route. Its new cycletrack would extend south, through former Skills Academy site, with a link on Bedford St to South City Way at Gorbals St (near Citizen’s Theatre). Seems the Glasgow Bridge protected cycletrack would only connect onto Carlton Place. The main east-west route would be the south bank of the Clyde and Carlton Place (hopefully with a smoother surface!). See the ‘Movement Strategy’ (in Part 2, p60 onwards). Inspiration comes from Barcelona’s ‘Superblocks’ to re-route through traffic away from residential streets. There’s a lot worth supporting in the masterplan but a few questions to be asked about some of the details.

Links: North Laurieston Masterplan (parts 1 & 2), N Laurieston Masterplan article (April 2026) and N Laurieston Masterplan survey.

Deadline: 4 August 2026.

Argyle & Bute

Helensburgh Waterfront consultation

Proposal about selling off an empty site to develop a local supermarket/shops, car parking and skatepark. The Common Good land seems to be where the old swimming pool was, before the new leisure centre was built. This is part of a wider Helensburgh Waterfront Development.

Links: Helensburgh Waterfront consultation article, Helensburgh Waterfront Q&A and Helensburgh Waterfront survey.

Deadline: Monday 10 August 2026 (12 noon).

East Ayrshire

Local Development Plan 3 (LDP3)

As well as their road condition survey, below, East Ayrshire are developing their next development plan. Latest papers cover environment, economy and derelict land.

Links: East Ayrshire LDP3 Hub.

Deadline: No obvious deadline.

East Renfrewshire

Local Transport Strategy

East Ren say the LTS: “has been developed in response to key transport challenges and sets out our approach for decision making and investment. This survey provides an opportunity to share your views on the Strategy. It aims to understand whether we have identified the correct approach and what areas may need improved.”

Links: Local Transport Strategy survey (for registered users), LTS online summary.

Deadline: 15 July 2026 (deadline extended).

Transport Delivery Framework

A call for ideas, using a form in the council’s consultation website. The Walking, wheeling and cycling section already has an idea about cycling hubs and an anti-cycling/wheeling comment.

Links: East Ren Transport Delivery Framework.

Deadline: 24 July 2026.

Strathclyde

Road & Footpath Condition surveys

The Scotland Roads Survey is published by the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) and Scottish Collaboration of Transport Specialists (SCOTS). According to Ayrshire Roads Alliance: “Each survey is designed to collect information on the public perception of the roads and footpaths throughout each local authority.”
Apparently: “the questions in this survey relate to local public, council adopted roads only but excluding trunk roads and motorways”.
Below are links to all the area surveys that seem to be available.

Links: Road surveys article (Ayrshire Roads Alliance).

• East Ayrshire survey
• Inverclyde survey
• North Ayrshire survey
• North Lanarkshire survey
• Renfrewshire survey
• South Ayrshire survey
• South Lanarkshire survey
• West Dunbartonshire survey

Deadline: No obvious deadline.

Our longest ride of the year will be to Edinburgh via Bathgate. Previously, we have done rides to Edinburgh starting in Airdrie, but this one will be cycling all the way. We will set out via the East End of Glasgow, climb steadily up to Coatbridge and Airdrie, and then join the railway path to Bathgate.

After lunch in Bathgate, we will continue eastwards, skirting Livingston, to join the Union Canal through Ratho, then leave it to head into Edinburgh through the western suburbs, and onwards into the City Centre. Finishing at Waverley Station for a train home.
52 miles, on a mix of paths, quiet roads and some busier roads in places. Options to return from other stations, including Bathgate (32 miles).

Meet, as usual, on the north bank of the River Clyde, at the SEC, just to the east of Bell’s Bridge, at 10:00 hrs on Sunday 05 July.

For more information about GoBike rides, see here

On Sunday 07 June, 5 of us set off on our ride to the sea. Out through Govan on roads some of which were new to us and then we joined the cycle route as we got nearer to Paisley. The rain started just short of Lochwinnoch, making it a good time to get into the cafe.

Back on the bikes we continued westward, keeping on the cycle route, with the rain starting again just a bit too far away from our destination. We kept going and finally arrived, in the wind and rain, right out at the shore in Irvine.

Then, realising that a train back to the city was almost due, we raced back to the station, with the wind behind us and just managed to get on the train at the back – bliss!

Here’s a link to the route: https://www.plotaroute.com/route/3343364?units=km which was 37.76 miles, as I recorded it.
If you should be downloading it, ignore the wee section right at the end – my hands and my phone were so wet just as we got on the train that I couldn’t stop the recording – hence it showing a maximum speed of 41.7mph – ScotRail assisted, of course!

July’s ride, 05 July, is longer still, east to Edinburgh, again with an option to cut it short and get a train back from Bathgate

Renfrewshire

Elderslie For Everyone

A further update and event for this project about a section of Main Road, Elderslie – one of the few road sections on this part of National Cycle Network routes 7/75 (and EuroVelo 1). Draft plans included a bi-directional cycletrack on the northern side of the road to link between the paths. To the west are Johnstone and Lochwinnoch and to the east the path goes to Paisley Canal station (and beyond to Glasgow). There was a previous event in 2024 and an updated plan in 2025.

Drop-in event: Wednesday 10 June, 3-6pm,
Elderslie Village Hall, Stoddard Square, Elderslie PA5 9AS.

Links: Elderslie For Everyone public event page on the Elderslie For Everyone Commonplace website.

East Renfrewshire

Transport Delivery Framework

This is a strand of East Ren Council’s Local Transport Strategy. It’s a call for ideas, using a form in the council’s consultation website. The Walking, wheeling and cycling section already has an idea about cycling hubs and an anti-cycling/wheeling comment.

Links: East Ren Transport Delivery Framework.

TDF Deadline: 24 July 2026 / LTS Deadline: 10 July 2026

This ride will go out through Govan and Paisley to join the NCN route 7 to Irvine, much of which is railway path. We will stop at Lochwinnoch for lunch at Castle Semple Country Park, or in the town. Once we arrive in Irvine we will visit the beach, before returning to Glasgow by train

38 miles, largely on paths and quieter roads, and most of the hill climbing is around Dalry. Option to return from Lochwinnoch station (20 miles).

We will meet at the SEC, just to the east of the north end of Bell’s Bridge at 10:00

For more information on GoBike rides, please see here

Seven of us set off, some weeks ago now, from the SEC and made our way north through Kelvingrove Park, North Woodside, Firhill, Possilpark, Parkhouse, skirting Milton and then Bishopbriggs to reach the Forth and Clyde canal.

A few miles along the canal towpath brought us to Kirkintilloch for a refreshment/toilet break, before we turned off the canal path towards Milton of Campsie, cycling past hordes of bluebells and wild garlic.

We continued past Lennoxtown to reach Strathblane. Then it was the major hill up to Mugdock Country Park – not many bikes there, but lots of cars in the carparks – these people don’t know what they are missing.

Lunch at the cafe was followed by a mainly downhill journey back through the park past the Mugdock Loch and then it was past the Mugdock Reservoir to Milngavie, on to the Bears Way. We cut through Bearsden and into the Glasgow University grounds before the official end of the ride with the choice of getting back into the city along the Kelvin Walkway or the busier Maryhill Road.

It’s almost time for the next GoBike ride, out to the west, next Sunday, 07 June – details to follow (or see the website)!

In the past year or so, the city centre has had a lot more roadworks than usual. Many of the streets affected are in the Avenues project. These seem to all come at once after delays due to Covid-19, procurement issues and extra consultation.

However, other events have made the situation worse. Obviously, the Union St fire next to Glasgow Central station has closed the junction and Gordon St. The M8 viaduct works had already affected Garscube Rd and the Underline (New City Rd). Works on a collapsed sewer on Cathedral St and a burst water main on Cowcaddens Rd have just added to the pain.

Despite all that, new protected lanes are appearing. Glasgow City Council has an Avenues dashboard to update on progress. The following photos were taken in March/April as a snapshot of some of the current projects.

St George’s Road

Works started: 17 March 2025 (St George’s Rd article).
Progress: Part of Connecting Woodside programme. Works have been progressing north from Charing Cross with a mostly complete 2-way lane. Also, further work was underway around Clarendon Pl and Woodside Library heading north-east.
Connections: Charing Cross/Sauchiehall St at southern end. Northern end links to Garscube Rd.
Completion due: Was early 2026?

Cowcaddens Road/Dobbies Loan

Works started: 18 February 2025. (Cowcaddens Rd/Dobbies Loan article).
Progress: Avenues Plus project in ‘Block S’. Lane and planting beds mostly installed (complete with trees!). Each has had lane closures and 1-ways during works.
Connections: N Hanover St/Kyle St to east (and Sighthill Bridge beyond).
Completion due: Was meant to be April 2026 (but sinkhole repairs did delay work on Cowcaddens Rd). Revised to May 2026.

Argyle Street (West)

Works started: 13 May 2024 (Argyle St W article).
Progress: Last year I wrote: “Large parts of it are in place but unfinished, apart from the earlier phase in front of the JPMorgan Chase building.” Overall that’s still true but the western end, past Kentigern House, is much more complete. Work has moved a lot further east but there’s still a closed section of Argyle St around the Radisson Hotel. Apparently this is to do with water getting into the Low Level tunnels near Glasgow Central.
Connections: Crossings at western end to path under Kingston Bridge (link to Clyde Walkway/NCN7 and major developments near Daily Record building). Eastern end will link to Argyle St East (plans were in a recent TRO).
Completion due: It was December 2025 – revised to March and then May 2026.

George Square

Works started: May 2025 (was originally meant to be January – George Sq article).
Progress: Boards have closed off the square for a while. Statues were removed and the column has scaffolding. Road closures on the north side of the square for major roadworks (causing disruption for bus routes and access to Queen St station).
Connections: Avenue on N Hanover St. Protected lanes going in at north side should eventually link to George St Avenue (but it was put back by City Deal spending review).
Completion due: Still meant to be August 2026 (just after the Commonwealth Games).

North Hanover Street/Kyle Street 

Works started: 26 May 2025 (N Hanover St/Kyle St article).
Progress: Most work seems to have been on pavements – not much on the road so far.
Connections: George Sq at south, Dobbie’s Loan/Cowcaddens Rd to west and Sighthill Bridge off Kyle St at northern end.
Completion due: November 2026.

South Portland Street

Works started: January 2025.
Progress: Lots of fencing and diversions but some lane kerbs visible and planting beds emerging (hopefully for trees to return).
Connections: At north onto suspension bridge to Clyde Walkway. South into Govanhill.
Completion due: Was May, now July 2026.

Duke Street/John Knox St/‘Barras North’

Works started: January 2025 (Duke St article).
Progress: Another Avenues Plus project. Large parts of Duke St northern pavement has been resurfaced but not completely finished. Duke St has been closed westbound at Bellgrove St for works to add cycle tracks and planting on southern side. Some work has started on John Knox St too. ‘Barras North’ works on Sydney St are mostly done except a few bits of snagging.
Connections: At east, path through future development of Meat Market sheds (off Duke St/Melbourne St). At the western end, future High St and George St Avenues. 
Completion due: Was April 2026! However, now September 2026.

Dumbreck Road

Works started: December 2025 (following Shields Rd works, according to councillor).
Progress: A former Spaces for People cycle lane between Pollok Country Park and Bellahouston Park being made permanent and extended. Areas fenced off at southern end with new crossing added. Looks like works will be moving north from there.
Connections: Southern end at the current South West City Way on St Andrews Dr. To north, the recently proposed Connecting Greater Govan Route 1.
Completion due: July 2026.

Completion

Shortly after last year’s update both George V bridge and Pitt St were completed with Sauchiehall Precinct mostly done a bit later. So, there has been new infrastructure to use.

Also, these photos were taken in March/April so there will have been some progress since then. They don’t even cover all works in the city (Byres Rd North and Yorkhill/Kelvingrove for example).

However, the overall theme is obviously a lot of delays and potential overruns. Duke St/John Knox St won’t be ready for the summer as originally planned. Probably not surprising based on recent experience and the scale of works overall (probably the most ambitious in Scotland).

However, the Commonwealth Games are only a few months away – there will need to be a big push to get the city into shape for hosting. If things go down to the wire the grumbling at the council is going to get an awful lot louder.

This frustration also increases the pressure for the new infra to deliver on what was promised; especially the Avenues project. Its price tag of £100+ million of City Deal investment also raises the stakes. So, usage figures could be under a lot of scrutiny. Many of us will want to have a look at the new lanes but it’s important we get more people to try cycling in the city centre.

One bright spot is the popularity of the Voi e-bikes. After the Union St fire, Voi had a surge of new customers using them as a stop gap for public transport. Let’s hope the Games can inspire similar usage levels to boost the city centre.

Then we will cycle along the path to Strathblane. We continue up to Mugdock Country Park for a lunch stop, then back into Glasgow along the Bears Way and Kelvin Walkway.

32 miles, mostly on paths and quieter roads, with a big climb up to Mugdock. Some unsealed paths within Mugdock Country Park.

We meet, as usual at 10am at the north end of Bell’s Bridge, Congress Road, Glasgow.

For more information about GoBike rides, see: https://www.gobike.org/about-us/cycle-rides

We have invited candidates from the main political parties to speak directly to voters about their vision for sustainable and active transport in Scotland. The event will give them a chance to outline their party’s priorities before taking part in a Q&A session with you.

Who Is Attending

We have contacted all 6 of the main political parties and the following will be attending:

• Scottish Lib Dems – Peter McLaughlin, candidate for Glasgow Cathcart and Pollok
• Scottish Greens – Holly Bruce, candidate for Glasgow Southside
• SNP – TBC
• Scottish Labour – TBC
• Reform – Graham Simpson, candidate for Airdrie
• Scottish Conservatives – Kyle Park, candidate for Glasgow Cathcart & Pollok 

Find out more about who you can vote for.

Venue, Date and Time

The event will take place at The Renfield Centre, 260 Bath Street, Glasgow G2 4JP in the Blythswood Hall on Tuesday 28 April.

• 630pm – venue opens, refreshments and networking 
• 700-830pm – hustings
• 830-9pm – final networking

Who We Are

Glasgow Eco Trust, GoBike Strathclyde Cycle Campaign, Cycling UK Scotland and Aye Cycle Glasgow represent the voices of those who walk, wheel or cycle in greater Glasgow and beyond and those who do not yet have the choice to do so.

Our supporters are commited to active travel and sustainable transport and it is a critical issue that they’d like to see the next Scottish Government deliver on. 

Glasgow Eco Trust

Community-led climate action – making a difference for people, place and planet. Glasgow Eco Trust is a local environmental charity and social enterprise based in west Glasgow that coordinates and delivers a range of environmental activities and services. Find out more at Glasgow Eco Trust

GoBike Strathclyde Cycle Campaign

Your voice for improving cycling in Glasgow and Strathclyde. GoBike campaigns for safer streets for all and making cycling a natural choice for all ages to get around. Find out more at GoBike

Cycling UK

Cycling UK enable and inspire people from all backgrounds and abilities to experience cycling’s joys and benefits. We speak up for all who cycle to make sure it’s a safe and easy choice for everyone to travel, explore and have fun. Ride with us for happier, healthier and greener lives. Find out more at Cycling UK Scotland

Aye Cycle Glasgow

Aye Cycle Glasgow is a one-stop shop website and network of community cycling organisations across the greater Glasgow area. Find out more at Aye Cycle Glasgow

Manifestoes

• Glasgow Eco Trust, GoBike and Cycling UK are three of more than 60 organisations that have signed up to the Joint Active Travel manifesto
• Cycling UK Making Cycling The Easy Choice  
• GoBike also supports the SUV Alliance manifesto https://www.suv-alliance.org.uk/

We cycled along and over the Govan Bridge, then continued west, into the wind and the hail and sleet started. Through Drumoyne and over the motorway towards Hillington – and under the motorway: decision time!
We turned around, into the snow and back towards the city. It was a joy to get into the Clyde Tunnel, where it was warm and dry.

Once north of the river again we made our way home, hoping that our next ride out, on Sunday 03 May, going north to Strathblane, will be pleasanter!