Cycling success in Dublin!

 

Andrew Montague, ex-Lord Mayor of Dublin, gave an excellent opening presentation at the Cycling Scotland Conference at the Velodrome in Glasgow on Friday 14 November.  He spoke about the cycle hire scheme in Dublin, which has gone from success to success and the factors relevant in making the scheme a success included:

  • Andrew stuck to his guns, even in the face of strident criticism from a radio chat show host, who features on several slides, holding his hands up in horror.  This compares favourably with Councillor Alistair Watson of Glasgow City Council, Executive Member for Sustainability and Transport, who said recently that he still feels the pain from introducing bus lanes in the city 11 years ago!
  • Reduced speed limits.
  • HGVs diverted away from the city centre; a tunnel was constructed from the port to facilitate this.
  • No requirement for helmets; take-up in Dublin far exceeded that in Melbourne, Australia, a similar sized city, where helmets are compulsory.
  • Price; charges are relatively low.
  • Target market: Dubliners not tourists.
  • Hire stations relatively close together.

Glasgow and other Scottish cities could learn from this; it was a shame our leading councillors were not there.

GCC bus lanes: respond to the Review!

 

Go Bike has responded to GCC’s request to review their proposals to standardise the operation times of all bus lanes in the city, with 3 options: peak time only, 7am to 7pm or 24/7.  The latter is our preferred option.  The proposals and our response may be seen here on the website.  Please add your voice and give your views and preferences as requested in the GCC proposals; it is important that the views of cyclists are heard – as well as the powerful bus, taxi and private car lobbies!

GCC – Anderston to Finnieston Cycle Route “Enhancements”

 

Glasgow City Council propose to “enhance” the cycle routes in the area from Anderston to the SECC.  While these proposals include some welcome upgrades, Go Bike objects to the proposal to use the footway on the east side of Finnieston Street as a shared pedestrian and cycle path – it is only 2m wide in places and their proposals do little to improve the cycle route past the Hilton Garden Hotel.  You can see the proposals and the Go Bike letter, which is also copied to the councillors for the area here. Please write in to the Council and/or to your councillors if you have concerns about the proposals.

 

Connect 2, flagship Glasgow Cycle Route – look what’s happening!

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The flagship cycle route connecting Central Station with Kelvingrove Park in Glasgow hasn’t been open long and look what’s happening on Elderslie Street, between Houldsworth Street and St Vincent Street.  Yes, there’s a road coming out of the new flats and it’s now going right across the segregated cycle route!  Who will have priority here?  Was this done in conjunction with the cycling staff in the council?  Why wasn’t it done at the same time as the cycle route?  Why was this construction allowed?  Go Bike has today written to the councillors for the area, Anderston/City, to make them aware.  If you use this route you might also like to drop them a line.

Road Share – Protecting Vulnerable Road Users: rejected by the SNP!

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At the SNP conference in Perth on Friday the proposal to adopt the principle of Presumed Liability was rejected, see the Herald of Saturday 15 November.  This is particularly disappointing since Go Bike is a supporter of Road Share and we had an excellent presentation from Brenda Mitchell of the campaign at our AGM on Wednesday 12 November.  If you are a member of the SNP please raise this topic at your next Branch Meeting, or if you are not, please write to your councillors and MSPs, of any and every party to support the campaign.

 

GCC: Proposed Newlands to Silverburn Cycling & Walking Route

 

Go Bike members have considered Glasgow City Council’s proposals for this route, and while some parts of the proposals are acceptable the council fails to address the Auldhouse Roundabout.  Our letter to the council, principally one of objection, may be found here on our website.  You may wish to submit a similar letter of comment or objection, or to contact the councillors for the area with any concerns you have.