Category: GoBike

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Conservatives and Greens confer in Glasgow – let’s get the Active Travel message to them.

 

The Scottish Conservative & Unionist Party is meeting in Glasgow, at the SECC on Friday 03 and Saturday 04 March, see: http://www.scottishconservatives.com/get-involved/conference-2017/ and the Scottish Greens will be meeting the following week at Maryhill Burgh Hall, see: https://greens.scot/conference from 10:00 – 5:30 so let’s try to get the Walk, Cycle, Vote message to them.

We want, and need, better cycling facilities and a better environment for walking and cycling and the candidates, and campaigners, for the council elections in May will be at these conferences, so we need to get the message to them.  We have Walk, Cycle, Vote flyers, and GoBike flyers and we now need volunteers to meet up and hand them out.  Please come and join us!  Meet up as below:

Conservatives: just outside the SECC, meet up to the left, the river side, of the main entrance at 12:45 on both days (03 and 04 March) and we will flyer from 1-2pm as delegates come out at lunch time.

Greens: meet up outside the Burgh Hall, on Maryhill Road, at 09:30 (on 11 March) and we will flyer until just after 10:00 and we will meet again at 12:45 to give out our leaflets over the lunch break.

Please e-mail convenor@gobike.org if you can to confirm your attendance.

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GoBike meets the Transport Minister

On Tuesday this week, 21 February, Tricia Fort and Bob Downie met Humza Yousaf, MSP, Minister for Transport and the Islands at Victoria Quay in Edinburgh.  We spent the best part of an hour talking to him about our concerns to improve the environment for cycling.  The 4 main topics we raised were:

  1. Urban 20mph speed limit as a default, with exceptions for higher speeds.  We feel this, if correctly managed, is “low hanging fruit” and would quickly, and cheaply, improve the environment for active travel.
  2. Use of evidence when deciding on urban cycle facilities.  Too many cycle facilities take little or no cognisance of where people cycle – and evidence of where people cycle is readily available (though apparently not in cycle infrastructure design offices!).  Too many cycle facilities are discontinuous, yet accident data tells us that junctions and roundabouts are hazardous for cyclists – and isn’t this just where cycle lanes stop?
  3. Space reallocation: we need our space on the main roads where we currently cycle.
  4. Presumed Liability: we support the Road Share campaign for Presumed Liability and a change in civil law to bring in Presumed Liability will be a big improvement for cyclists and pedestrians who are injured on our roads.

The Minister was interested in what we had to say, particularly the evidence of where people currently cycle and although we do not agree on all points, progress has been made.

The full text of the information we gave to the Minister and the text of the press release we issued yesterday are given here: GoBike Press Release 22_02_17 part A and GoBike Press Release 22_02_17 part B

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You can help shape investment in walking and cycling for Scotland!

 

You can help influence greater investment in walking and cycling by responding to this Transport Scotland survey on its priorities for the next twenty years. If you think that cycling should be given more investment (especially in monetary and infrastructure terms), make sure to fill in the survey before it closes on 31 March.

With thanks to Cycling UK Scotland for alerting us to this survey.

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CHANGE OF DATE: Bikes and big vehicles – keeping safe, Free Research event, Tuesday 21 March 13:30 – 16:00

 

THE ORGANISERS HAVE CHANGED THE DATE!  It is now 1 week earlier than previously advised.

GoBike has been made aware of this event by one of our members:

Staying Awesome: where next for cycling safety and large vehicles?

by Dr Caroline Brown

Tue, Mar 21, 2017 at 12:30 PM | Eventbrite, FREE event  

 Organised by academics from Heriot-Watt University, this ‘Staying Awesome’ research event discusses where next for cycle safety and large vehicles.

The purpose of the event is to draw together existing knowledge, and consider where things could and should go next. Participants from all sides are encourage to attend: cyclists, cycle campaign groups, bus operators, truck and haulage stakeholders, local authority operations, safety managers and relevant regulators.

Register at:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/staying-awesome-where-next-for-cycling-safety-and-large-vehicles-tickets-31255320505?invite=&err=29&referrer=&discount=&affiliate=&eventpassword=

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Correction to previous post: Glasgow’s STRATEGIC PLAN FOR CYCLING (2016 -2025) – 2016 Action Plan Review

GoBikers!  We have been sent, late on 14 February, the following e-mail and this attachment, 2016 -2025 Action Plan – February 2017 update – R03 B&W version (the coloured version is too large for our web domain, but please e-mail convenor@gobike.org if you need a copy)

“GLASGOW CITY COUNCIL CYCLING FORUM REPRESENTATIVES

Please find attached colour and B&W versions of the draft 2016 Action Plan Review. The final version will be placed on the Council’s cycling webpages later this month.

A report was submitted to the Sustainability and Environment Committee on 01 February 2017, visit http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/councillorsandcommittees/viewSelectedDocument.asp?c=P62AFQDNDN0GZ3Z3NT.

Kind regards, Allan

Allan Maclean

Project Officer, Technical Services, Land & Environmental Services

Glasgow City Council, 231 George Street, GLASGOW G1 1RX

Phone 0141 287 9038

allan.maclean@glasgow.gov.uk

www.glasgow.gov.uk  ”

Note: 1. The photos are Glasgow City Council’s – the one above is from the Strategic Plan for Cycling – GoBike does not know where all this cycle route kilometrage is.  2. GoBike is the organisation that initially proposed that Glasgow City Council start a Cycling Forum.  3.  We were not consulted on the Review; it was conducted internally with all the departments involved submitting their updates and it is intended that a review will be carried out annually.  4. The last meeting of the Cycling Forum was held on 24 August 2016 – the minutes are not yet available – and the date of the next meeting has not yet been determined.

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Glasgow’s STRATEGIC PLAN FOR CYCLING (2016 -2025) – 2016 Action Plan Review

GoBikers!  We have been sent, late on 14 February, the following e-mail:

“GLASGOW CITY COUNCIL CYCLING FORUM REPRESENTATIVES

Please find attached colour and B&W versions of the draft 2016 Action Plan Review. The final version will be placed on the Council’s cycling webpages later this month.

A report was submitted to the Sustainability and Environment Committee on 01 February 2017, visit http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/councillorsandcommittees/viewSelectedDocument.asp?c=P62AFQDNDN0GZ3Z3NT.

Kind regards, Allan

Allan Maclean

Project Officer, Technical Services, Land & Environmental Services

Glasgow City Council, 231 George Street, GLASGOW G1 1RX

Phone 0141 287 9038

allan.maclean@glasgow.gov.uk

www.glasgow.gov.uk  ”

Note: 1. The photos are Glasgow City Council’s – the one above is from the Strategic Plan for Cycling – GoBike does not know where all this cycle route kilometrage is.  2. GoBike is the organisation that initially proposed that Glasgow City Council start a Cycling Forum.  3.  We were not consulted on the Review; it was conducted internally with all the departments involved submitting their updates and it is intended that a review will be carried out annually.  4. The last meeting of the Cycling Forum was held on 24 August 2016 – the minutes are not yet available – and the date of the next meeting has not yet been determined.

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Byres Road, Glasgow – changes afoot: Consultation event 23 February, Partick Burgh Halls

 

We have been sent an e-mail with the following message about the proposed redevelopment of Byres Road, with an invitation to attend the consultation event on 23 February:

“There’s a new Byres Road coming….

Funding of £9m has been allocated through the Glasgow City Region Deal to make Byres Road better for people. This means improvements for walking, cycling, air and noise pollution, business and community activity. And there will be still be room for buses, cars and delivery vehicles.

Consultation and design work are starting now. Construction will take place from autumn 2018. Yes, it really will happen! 

You are warmly invited to a public launch workshop on Thursday 23 February at 7pm (Hillhead Library) (now in PARTICK BURGH HALL) where we will ask people to re-imagine how the street could be.  Then, more detailed public engagement to design each section of the street will follow over the next 18 months.
Everyone is welcome to the launch.  Please circulate the attached poster and email!

The Council’s media release from 24 January 2017 contains more information: https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=20609

Our dedicated Facebook page will have updates throughout the project: www.facebook.com/ByresRoadCorners

Any questions, please contact me via nick@nickwrightplanning.co.uk or 07900 334110.”
Byres Road is used by lots of people cycling and it has quite a high accident rate, so it’s clear something needs to be done.  Here’s our chance to get involved.  Make your voice heard!
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Cycling and the Law, free event, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Thursday, February 23, 2017 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Here’s another hospital to visit, and learn about cycling and the law.  Register at Eventbrite for this second, free, lunchtime talk from Cycle Law Scotland:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cycling-and-the-law-tickets-30853587912?utm-medium=discovery&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&aff=esfb&utm-source=fb&utm-term=listing

Jodi Gordon, Senior Solicitor at Cycle Law Scotland, Scotland’s award-winning legal service dedicated to representing injured cyclists, will discuss real case studies, case law, video footage, common cycling accidents and what to do in the event of a collision. She will also talk about why she believes presumed liability should be introduced for road traffic collisions in Civil Law. You will have an opportunity to ask questions and there will be time for general debate and discussion.

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Cycling and the Law – Cycle Law Scotland presentation 22 February QEUH, Glasgow 13:00hrs

If you missed the excellent Cycle Law Presentation at our AGM in November 2014, or you wish to get up-to-date with protecting cyclists on the road, and you are able to get to a daytime meeting, then get along to this free event, a talk by Brenda Mitchell of Cycle Law Scotland:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cycling-and-the-law-tickets-30950929062?invite=&err=29&referrer=&discount=&affiliate=&eventpassword=

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Sauchiehall Street Avenue – or is it? Consultation documents out now

So, the long awaited plans for the Sauchiehall Street avenue, with its two way cycle lane, are now out for consultation, see: https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=18127 – but, hold on.  There’s no mention of the separated cycle lane in the advert and the key does not have a colour code for what looks to be this facility.  We have looked at the drawings and here’s the wording of the e-mail sent to Glasgow City Council requesting clarification.  We will keep you updated on progress:

Subject: Re: Sauchiehall Street Traffic Regulation Order
Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2017 15:37:11 +0000
From: GoBike! (Convenor) <convenor@gobike.org>
To: Hubbert, Brian (LES) <Brian.Hubbert@glasgow.gov.uk>
CC: McDonagh, Stephen (LES) <Stephen.McDonagh@glasgow.gov.uk>

Brian, hello,

Many thanks for forwarding the drawings etc for this long-awaited scheme!  We have heard so much about the Avenue concept, and the Sauchiehall Street avenue in particular, that it is good to have confirmation that there is progress.

However, having looked at the drawings, we have concerns, which I hope you can alleviate; they include:

  • The key does not appear to match the drawings: for example, there is coloured shading on Elmbank Street for which there is no explanation in the key.
  • There is what looks like, and we were led to expect would be, a two-way cycle lane on the north side of Sauchiehall Street, but there is no mention of it in the advert and the edging colour looks very like that of a parking area.
  • What are the access arrangements for cycles coming from the west of Charing Cross to join what we hope is a two-way cycle lane?
  • What are the access arrangements for cycles from Woodlands Road and St Georges Road to join what we hope is a two-way cycle lane?
  • What arrangements are there for all the cyclists who travel from Woodlands Road and St Georges Road to continue down Newton Street?
  • You state that Elmbank Street is to become one-way?  In line with Glasgow City Council’s Strategic Plan for Cycling and your chosed Design Guide, the default position is to allow for contraflow cycling on such streets.  The arrangements for this are not clear on the drawing.

To provide clarity could you please:

  1. Re-issue the drawings showing the missing detail, including the key for all the colours and symbols used and compliance with the Strategic Plan and Cycling by Design?
  2. Hold a meeting between the design staff responsible for this scheme and members of the GoBike committee to explain and discuss your proposals?

We are very keen to see the very ambitious ambition for Sauchiehall Street that we have been led to expect become a reality and we would not like to see it fail because of ambiguity of the plans and/or misunderstanding of your intentions.

I look forward to hearing from you soon,

With best wishes,

Tricia Fort

Convenor, GoBike! Strathclyde Cycle Campaign, www.gobike.org