For our themed December ride, we will be taking a spiral tour of Glasgow, taking in a number of new, rebuilt, and other modern bridges. These include new cycle bridges, railway bridges, motorway bridges, and river and canal bridges.

So expect there to be variety to the ride. Some will be big bridges, others small. Along the way we will use the South West City Way and Byres Road cycleways, and visit several parks. The finish will be around lunchtime in Townhead.
18 miles, with occasional climbs along the way.

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

Contents

Section 1: Current Consultation

1. Transport Scotland, Second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2), CLOSES THIS FRIDAY, 10 JANUARY
2. Law Commission, Highly Automated Road Passenger Services, HARPS, public consultation, closes 16 January
3. Glasgow, City Centre Strategic Development Framework, closes 17 January
4. Glasgow, South West City Way, St Andrews Drive extension on-line consultation, closes 03 February
5. Glasgow, Central District Regeneration Framework, closes 14 February
6. **NEW** Glasgow, Byres Road, 3 TROs now published on Glasgow City Council’s website, close 14 February

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

1. Glasgow, South West City Way, St Andrews Drive extension, consultation event 22 January

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

1. GoBike ride 05 January, to see what has been done and how much more is needed.

Section 1: Current Consultations, in date order for responses

1.1 Transport Scotland, Second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2), CLOSES THIS FRIDAY, 10 JANUARY

This is important, setting the tone for what comes next. If you haven’t responded to this on-line consultation yet, please do so by 5pm on Friday afternoon. Here’s the link to the survey and here’s the letter that GoBike has also submitted. The survey is easy to do, but do remember to be ambitious; Scotland needs transport systems to match its scenery, ie superb.

1.2 Law Commission, Highly Automated Road Passenger Services, HARPS, public consultation, closes 16 January

This consultation finally closes next Thursday; we’ve been publicising it since Digest 46, Item 1.9 back at the end of October. Here’s the link to the consultation and here’s the letter we have written in to voice concern. It’s almost a fantasy world to expect automated vehicles to improve conditions on our roads but do have a look at the consultation for yourself.

1.3 Glasgow, City Centre Strategic Development Framework, closes 17 January

This high-level document was first featured in Digest 48, Item 1.11 and here is the link to the City Council’s consultation page. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find this one.
GoBike has submitted this letter outlining our views. Do please add your voice to the consultation.

1.4 Glasgow, South West City Way, St Andrews Drive extension on-line consultation, closes 03 February

This on-line consultation first featured in Digest 49, Item 1.13 and, as you can see from the screenshot above, there is plenty of room for cycle lanes for a route running from the city centre to Pollok Park. Do please get your views in – the link to the City Council’s consultation page is here (scroll down to find this one) – although you might wish to wait until after the consultation event on Wednesday 22nd Jan (see Item 2.1 below) to respond.

1.5 Glasgow, Central District Regeneration Framework, closes 14 February

This is a consultation that was confused with Item 1.3, sorry about that, but we featured it in Digest 50, Item 1.7 and here is the link, again, to the City Council’s consultation page. This consultation is the second item on page 1.

Previously we responded to the Broomielaw District Regeneration Framework with this letter in April 2019 and the St Enoch District Regeneration Framework in September 2019 with this letter. The response to this latest consultation will be along similar lines.

1.6 **NEW** Glasgow, Byres Road, 3 TROs now published on Glasgow City Council’s website, close 14 February

We’ve just found out that the TROs for Byres Road, proposed parking changes, cycle lanes and 20mph are now all on the City Council’s website, see: https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/proposedtro
We’ll be having a close look at these over the next couple of weeks.

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

2.1 Glasgow, South West City Way, St Andrews Drive extension, consultation event 22 January

As mentioned in Item 1.4 above and in our Consultation Extra of 29 November, there will be a consultation event at St Albert’s Primary School, 36 Maxwell Drive on Wednesday 22 January from 3:30 to 7pm. You may see details of the proposals at this link.

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

3.1 GoBike ride 05 January, to see what has been done and how much more is needed.

This is the route of the 15 miles or so of the GoBike ride on Sunday plus a wee bit from Glasgow Green to the start at the SEC.

Much of the infrastructure that we travelled on has been the topic of consultation and that is shown in bold – search on our website at www.gobike.org to find details. From the SEC and travelling clockwise our journey covered:

• West City Way (consulted on and constructed before GoBike records were kept on our website)
• Woodside – recent and ongoing consultation
• Garscube Road – included in the Woodside consultation
• The Underline project – one of the Avenues projects connecting New City Road under the M8
• St George’s Road – to connect Woodside to Sauchiehall Street
• Sauchiehall Street – the first of the Avenues projects to be constructed, from Charing Cross to Rose Street
• Renfrew Street, Killermont Street and North Hanover Street – a further Avenues project to connect the Sauchiehall Street Avenue to the east of Queen Street Station
• South City Way from King Street via Bridgegate and Gorbals Street to Victoria Road and Queen’s Park – under construction
• Muirend to Queen’s Park Quiet Way – advisory cycle lanes
• South West City Way – constructed from Commerce Street to St Andrew’s Drive and currently under consultation for continuation to Pollok Park
• National Cycle Route 756

Well, that was shorter than usual but do try to respond to the consultations listed – the more voices the authorities hear, the more they will listen. No doubt there will be more in Digest 52 in two weeks time.

Contents:

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. **NEW ** Cycling in Glasgow, on-line Survey by Aberdeen University Student, closes ??
2. **NEW** East Dunbartonshire, Main Issues Report, Local Development Plan 2, closes TODAY at 5pm
3. East Renfrewshire, Local Development Plan, closes 13 December
4. Glasgow, Dalmarnock West TRO parking restrictions, closes 13 December
5. Glasgow, Robroyston Station, parking restrictions, closes 13 December
6. East Dunbartonshire, proposed TRO Maxwell Avenue, traffic calming, closes 16 December
7. South Lanarkshire, Stewartfield Way proposed upgrade, closes 20 December
8. Glasgow Roads “APSE” on-line survey, closes 24 December
9. **NEW** Glasgow, Sighthill, Mandatory 20mph Limit Speed Zone, closes 27 December
10. Glasgow, Finnieston Bridge, taxis and authorised vehicles to use bus and cycle lanes TRO, closes 03 January 2020
11. **NEW** Transport Scotland, Second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2) closes 10 January 2020
12. Law Commission, Highly Automated Road Passenger Services, HARPS, public consultation, closes 17 January 2020
13. **NEW** Glasgow, South West City Way, St Andrews Drive extension on-line consultation, closes 03 February 2020
14. Glasgow, Central District Regeneration Framework, (previously City Centre Strategic Development Framework), closing date extended from 17 January to 14 February 2020

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

1. GoBike meets Glasgow City Council, 13 December
2. Glasgow, South West City Way, St Andrews Drive extension, consultation event 22 January 2020

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

1. Glasgow, Queen Margaret Drive, City Council response to GoBike letter

Section 1: Current Consultations, in date order for responses

Note: 5 of the consultations in this section were new in the last Digest, Digest 48, so, if you can, you might wish to open that issue in a separate tab for reference – saves it all being repeated in this issue.

1.1 **NEW ** Cycling in Glasgow, on-line Survey by Aberdeen University Student, closes ??

Here’s a short on-line survey for you, with some questions you probably haven’t been asked before! These are the details that Mohammad Alattar, a PhD student at Aberdeen University sent to GoBike on 04 December:

“Given that active travel (AT), which refers to any transport that includes physical activity (such as walking, cycling, using mobility aid) for all or part of a journey, improves individuals’ life quality as well as the community as a whole, this questionnaire forms a part of a PhD thesis on entitled “Towards Active Travel-Oriented Cities: Urban Spatial and Soundscape Analysis”. The aim of this project is to investigate various aspects of active travel such as the determinants of AT, reasons to AT, auditory information while ATing, built environment elements that influence AT and AT trips. Although this survey collects data about AT in the City of Glasgow, it is believed that data collected from this survey will help to better understand AT a wider scale.”

https://app.maptionnaire.com/en/6112/

Do please follow the link above and help Mohammad with his studies. We have no closing date, so perhaps do it before you forget?

1.2 **NEW** East Dunbartonshire, Main Issues Report, Local Development Plan 2, closes TODAY at 5pm

This is a new slant on the consultation that we last reported on at Item 1.1 of Digest 47 and we were reminded of it (perhaps we just hadn’t delved far enough?) on 04 December with this email:

“Good afternoon,
There is still time to have a say on the new Main Issues Report (MIR), a key step on the path towards an updated Local Development Plan. The MIR sets out key priorities and preferred options for future development throughout East Dunbartonshire. Consultation ends on Tuesday 10 December 2019 (5pm).
Visit the following webpage for full details: https://www.eastdunbarton.gov.uk/council/consultations/main-issues-report-consultation
Reference copies of the MIR and paper questionnaires are also available to view at Community Hubs and libraries.
Regards,
Land Planning Policy Team“

Here’s the GoBike response. Do please follow the link and complete the survey (at least this one, for the main issues, this afternoon – if you can.

1.3 East Renfrewshire, Local Development Plan, closes 13 December

The above is a proposal, done by GoBike member, Iain, for Spiersbridge Roundabout, when East Renfrewshire were looking at improving their roundabouts, see Digest 9, Item 1.1 and Digest 10, Item 1.2 (where the GoBike proposals for this and Eastwood Toll were shown). This was all back in May 2018 and we have heard nothing since.

East Renfrewshire are now consulting on their Local Development Plan 2 (LDP2), as detailed first in Digest 47, Item 1.5 and several GoBike members have been to local events to see the plans. They are, as many of these LDPs are, very general and don’t make mention of specifics such as improving hazardous roundabouts. You may see the proposals here. GoBike member Emily, with support from Thomas, has developed this letter of response that was submitted on 08 December. The letter comments on the generality of the documents but does go on to mention some specifics that need to be done if the active travel aims are to be realised.

Do write in to East Renfrewshire if you live, work or cycle in the area, to voice your concerns.

1.4 Glasgow, Dalmarnock West TRO parking restrictions, closes 13 December

The proposals to bring some order into the chaotic parking from Dalmarnock Station west to the new Police Scotland offices formed a new item in Digest 48, Item 1.5. We had responded to the Stage One proposals (and published them) in early autumn and we are fully supportive of these proposals. Our letter of support, mentioning the requirements for:

1. Good connections from the area to the riverside cycle and foot path (NCN 7) and
2. Liaison with South Lanarkshire Council to prevent parking on the cycle lanes on Shawfield Road/Glasgow Road just across the river from the police offices.

will be submitted before the end of the week.

This is an important one to support – the car-commuters will be out in strength to oppose these proposals.

1.5 Glasgow, Robroyston Station, parking restrictions, closes 13 December

Item 6 in Digest 48 gave the details for the proposed parking restrictions on the new road between the new Robroyston Station north-west to meet the roundabout at Junction 2 on the M80. GoBike will submit a letter of support for the proposals but we will point out the need for good cycle infrastructure from Robroyston itself along this new road to the station – why aren’t such things included from the outset?

1.6 East Dunbartonshire, proposed TRO Maxwell Avenue, traffic calming, closes 16 December

This was a new proposal in Digest 47, Item 1.6, although we had responded to the preliminary consultation on this back in Digest 27, Item 3.4 at the beginning of 2019. We are very concerned about the need to slow down motor traffic in this area near a railway station, a care home and a primary school and there is no doubt that more people would cycle here if there were good cycle facilities. GoBike will submit a letter of support, although we will express the concern that the speed tables, with just a 0.75m gap from the table to the kerb, are pushing bikes into the gutter.

1.7 South Lanarkshire, Stewartfield Way proposed upgrade, closes 20 December

This scheme was a new proposal in Digest 48, Item 1.8, to upgrade this major artery in East Kilbride and realise the economic potential of the area etc etc, and the details are here. There is a very short survey – please do complete it. It doesn’t take long to realise that the proposals are aimed to help the private motor user, so no surprise there, even though all the right words are used about the environment etc. GoBike has written in this letter of concern and objection.

Do please follow the link to the details of this scheme and the survey; there are no apparent active travel upgrades to the roundabouts and so how are we expected to negotiate them?

1.8 Glasgow, Association of Public Service Excellence (APSE) Roads Satisfaction Survey on-line survey, closes 24 December

Further to Item 1.1 in Digest 48, we now have confirmation that this survey is open for 2 more weeks, so do please complete it, if you haven’t already. We also know what “APSE” stands for! Here’s a reminder email that we received on 06 December from the City Council:

“The Association of Public Service Excellence (APSE) is undertaking a satisfaction survey of residents, visitors and workers of Glasgow in regards to Roads. You can provide your views by following the link below.

If you would also be able to distribute the survey to members/clients of your group it would be very helpful so that we can get a wide range of responses.

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/glasgow-city-2 “

It’s an easy and quick survey to do so please get your views in – and remember, if we had good roads (and good cycle facilities) then lots more people would be cycling on them!

1.9 **NEW** Glasgow, Sighthill, Mandatory 20mph Limit Speed Zone, closes 27 December

Sighthill, just to the north of the M8 and the city centre, is being redeveloped and now as the area is becoming quite well established, here’s a proposal to introduce a 20mph speed limit across the area. Just a few weeks ago, in Digest 46, Item 1.5 we published, in error as we now know, the Stage One proposals and we supported the move, with this letter.

The email we received from the City Council on 29 November is:

“MESSAGE SENT ON BEHALF OF CHRISTINE FRANCIS, HEAD OF TECHNICAL SERVICES, NEIGHBOURHOODS AND SUSTAINABILITY

Dear Sir or Madam,

THE GLASGOW CITY COUNCIL, (SIGHTHILL), (MANDATORY 20mph SPEED LIMIT ZONE) ORDER 201_

Further to my consultation email of 21^st October 2019 regarding the above named Traffic Regulation Order, and in accordance with statutory procedures, I now enclose a copy of the press notice of the proposed Order, relevant map, statement of reasons, detailed report.

Details of the proposals will also be available on the Glasgow City Council website at www.glasgow.gov.uk/proposedtro

As stated in the attached documentation, any person wishing to object to the proposed Order should send details of the grounds for objection in writing to Christine Francis, Head of Technical Services, Neighbourhoods and Sustainability, Exchange House, 231 George Street, Glasgow, G1 1RX or by e-mail to land@glasgow.gov.uk by 27^th December 2019.

Yours faithfully” etc

The documents referred to in the email are: Press Notice, Relevant Map, Statement of Reasons, Detailed Report and one we haven’t seen before, the Proposed Order.

We’ll be supporting this move and hoping that is it properly enforced and also that Sighthill looks as idyllic as the publicity photo above!

1.10 Glasgow, Finnieston Bridge, taxis and authorised vehicles to use bus and cycle lanes TRO, closes 03 January 2020

This proposal was Item 1.9 in Digest 48 and we are less than happy with it. The experimental TRO, issued in June 2018, had this as its objective: “The purpose of the Experimental Traffic Regulation Order is to determine the effect of permitting taxis to access the segregated section of the Finnieston Bridge and to determine the effect on the journey time of buses currently using the Fastlink infrastructure.“

Apparently there has been no detrimental effect on the journey time of buses, but this isn’t where the holdups are. The main holdup is on Lancefield Quay where there is no bus segregation and the secondary one is the traffic lights on the bridge itself, which don’t appear to give the buses any priority at all.

However, the influential taxi lobby is no doubt very pleased with this turn of events, whereas those of us who cycle continue to lose out on Fastlink. The whole scheme is a mish-mash of bits we are allowed on and bits we aren’t and, while the photo above shows someone cycling in the bus (and now taxi) lane over the bridge, there is no evidence that the traffic lights will give any priority to this active traveller.

We claimed before that the whole scheme needs reassessment and we’ll put this view forward again.

1.11 **NEW** Transport Scotland, Second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2) closes 10 January 2020

Jim, from Cycling Scotland UK – Scotland, told us about this last time, Digest 48, Item 2.1 and here it is. This is the email that GoBike received on 03 December:

“Subject: STPR2 – Online Survey

Hi,

Transport Scotland is conducting an online survey for the Second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2), a Scotland-wide review of the strategic transport network across all transport modes.

We are writing to all stakeholders that have attended or been invited to STPR2 events and other appropriate organisations to make them aware that this survey is now live.

STPR2 will inform transport investment in Scotland for the next twenty years and you and/or your organisation’s input will help Transport Scotland to deliver the vision, priorities and outcomes for transport set out in the draft National Transport Strategy (NTS2).

Further information and a link to the survey can be found at www.transport.gov.scot/stpr2

If you are aware of any other individuals and/or organisations that would wish to complete the survey, please do forward this email to them.

We will also be promoting the survey on Transport Scotland social media feeds and it would be appreciated if you could help spread the word by sharing this content on your own channels if it is appropriate to do so.  Our main accounts can be accessed below.

The survey, which is being undertaken on behalf of Transport Scotland by the STPR2 project teams at Jacobs and AECOM, will close at 5pm on Friday 10th January 2020.

For any further queries concerning STPR2, please contact   info@stpr2surveys.co.uk“

This is a good survey to do with room at the end for your personal views – and you only need to read these Digests to see that there is a lack of compliance with the Sustainable Transport Heirarchy: motor priority on side streets on cycle schemes, taxi priority on the Squinty Bridge, two-way cycling denied to provide more on-street car storage and on and on it goes!

1.12 Law Commission, Highly Automated Road Passenger Services, HARPS, public consultation, closes 17 January 2020

This topic chills the bones! It was first mentioned in Digest 46, Item 1.9 and the link to the consultation is here and we will hopefully have the GoBike response done soon.

1.13 **NEW** Glasgow, South West City Way, St Andrews Drive extension on-line consultation, closes 03 February 2020

In our Consultation Extra on 29 November, we told you about the consultation event on 22 January, see Item 2.2 below. This is an important addition to the City’s currently sparse network of cycling routes so do please have a look and complete the survey; here’s the link to the City Council website

Here’s the email that we received from the City Council on 29 November:

“MESSAGE SENT ON BEHALF, NEIGHBOURHOODS AND SUSTAINABILITY, SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT

Dear Go-Bike,

Neighbourhoods and Sustainability are seeking to gain the views and comments of the local community and wider public with regards proposals to extend the South-West City Way active travel route.  The proposals will link the existing route at Shields Road, along St Andrews Drive to Pollok Country Park.  Current proposals include a segregated cycle route, footway improvements, upgraded pedestrian crossings, improved Bus / Public Transport access as well as major junction works to improve active travel  journeys.

As part of this work an information gathering event is proposed at St Alberts Primary School,  36 Maxwell Drive, on Wednesday the 22nd of January 2020 between 3.30pm and 7pm, where the public will be able to view proposed designs for infrastructure upgrades and make comments on the proposals.

In addition to the event a webpage will be available from the 2nd of December 2019 for a period of 2 months. Visitors to this website can view drawings of the proposed design and provide comments through an online feedback process. The address for the Webpage is www.glasgow.gov.uk/swcw. This website will go live on the 2^nd of December 2019.  

I trust this information is of assistance.

Kind Regards.”

St Andrews Drive is a good, wide road with plenty of room for cycle lanes. GoBike is already compiling a response, but do please have a look at the information on-line, attend on the 22nd of next month if you can and do complete the survey

1.14 Glasgow, Central District Regeneration Framework, (previously City Centre Strategic Development Framework), closing date extended from 17 January to 14 February 2020

This was first mentioned in Digest 48, Item 1.11, the link to the document is here and we are working on the GoBike response. Note the change of date for responses.

The name has changed and so has the lead picture since 2 weeks ago. The link still works so do please have a look at what is proposed for the centre of Scotland’s largest city.

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

2.1 GoBike meets Glasgow City Council, 13 December

Yes, on Friday, Ali, Tricia and Brenda from GoBike are setting off to meet some of the people working on parking (motors not bikes) and traffic calming schemes at their new offices on London Road. We are hoping to discuss some of the issues of concern such as permeability for cycling and good street design. We’ll let you know how we get on.

2.2 Glasgow, South West City Way, St Andrews Drive extension, consultation event 22 January 2020

As per Item 1.13 above, there’s an information and consultation event on 22 January, and here’s the relevant extract from the City Council’s email of 29 November:

“As part of this work an information gathering event is proposed at St Alberts Primary School,  36 Maxwell Drive, on Wednesday the 22nd of January 2020 between 3.30pm and 7pm, where the public will be able to view proposed designs for infrastructure upgrades and make comments on the proposals.“

Do try and get along there if you can.

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

Note: this section has been reduced because of time constraints in producing this Digest but there will be more information in the next Digest – look for it on 24 December – just in time to put in your stocking for a good read on Christmas Day!

3.1 Glasgow, Queen Margaret Drive, City Council response to GoBike letter

GoBike submitted this response to the City Council’s consultation and details were in Digest 46, Item 1.7

On 04 December we received this email reply from the City Council:

“MESSAGE SENT ON BEHALF OF CHRISTINE FRANCIS, HEAD OF TECHNICAL SERVICES, NEIGHBOURHOODS AND SUSTAINABILITY

Dear Ms Fort

THE GLASGOW CITY COUNCIL, (QUEEN MARGARET DRIVE) (TRAFFIC, REGULATION) ORDER 201__

Thank you for your undernoted e-mail of 28^th October 2019 enclosing comment regarding the above Traffic Regulation Order (TRO).

Your support will be considered and included within the final report which will inform the decision. Once a decision has been taken with regard to these proposals I shall write to you again and advise of the outcome.

I have responded to your comments below. These have been noted as observations on the merits of the project design but cannot be considered as objections to the TRO as they do not relate to the proposed revisions to waiting and loading regulations, which are the basis of the TRO procedure.

1. Priority Junctions: The side road junction layout is intended to slow vehicular traffic as it makes the turning manoeuvre. The cycle lane will be marked across the side street junction at footway / cycle lane level, with the side road accessed from Queen Margaret Drive via a ramped kerb unit wherever practicable. The material crossing the side street will be contrasting to that on the main cycle lane, as it will also be for the pedestrians. It is intended to use cautionary signage informing Queen Margaret Drive traffic of the presence of the bi-directional cycle lane. However, cyclists do not have priority crossing side road junctions where the cycle lane is at footway level. This is based on guidance from Police Scotland at this time and is consistent with the Highway Code. It is noted that updated national design guidelines are under development and that this guidance may change at some point in the future. On Queen Margaret Drive, the Give Way marking on “exit only” streets will be placed behind the cycle lane to reduce the likelihood of vehicles blocking the cycle lane whilst waiting but the cycle lane will be marked with “Slow” markings advising the cyclist to exercise caution. On “entry only” streets the vehicle leaving the main carriageway has priority and the same “slow” markings will be applied. It is also considered that for the most part cyclists will be able to proceed across the side street unimpeded due to the low volumes of traffic.
2. Why is the Route Bi-directional? A bi-directional route was selected following the assessment of comments received at public consultation events. Constructing a bi-directional route on the west side of Queen Margaret Drive was also considered to be the most practicable solution whilst upgrading the pedestrian space and retaining parking and loading outside the shops on the east side in line with stakeholder requests.
3. Southbound Access to the Cycle Route Please note the drawing is a TRO drawing and as such does not show many design details. Northbound cycles will traverse the tactile paving at the school Toucan crossing and re-join the Queen Margaret Drive bus lane via a drop kerb. Southbound cycles can leave the road at a drop kerb at the end of the bus bay, immediately before the Toucan crossing, prior to then crossing the road at the school via the formal crossing point and then continuing on the cycle route.
4. Extension to Byres Road and Maryhill Road The current termination at Hamilton Road roundabout is temporary. In the short term, cyclists will re-join the road at the roundabout for onward travel. However, it is planned to extend the bi-directional route to Great Western Road where it will connect with proposals for Byres Road and the bus lanes on Great Western Road. Whilst these proposals are not included in the Queen Margaret Drive scheme it is hoped to develop them in parallel with the Byres Road project. At the north end the main cycle route will turn right along Kelvinside Avenue where cycles will be able to connect to Maryhill Road and the canal path. Cyclists will also have the option of re-joining the Queen Margaret Drive carriageway at the school crossing point and continuing on-road to the Maryhill Road / Bilsland Drive junction. There are no proposals to incorporate cycle facilities at this junction at this time.
5. Cycle Lane Width? The bi-directional cycle lane is as wide as is practicable within the confines of the existing road and other stakeholder requirements and will vary between 2.5m and 3.0m excluding the buffer strip and delineation kerb. At bus stops the cycle lane will be narrowed to a single lane to facilitate the safe boarding / alighting of buses. This arrangement is preferred on safety grounds to a non-descript multi-user space at these points – resulting in cyclists having to give way to oncoming cyclists. However as it is anticipated that demand will be largely tidal, it is not expected that this arrangement will have any real detrimental impact on cycle journey times.

I trust this of assistance.
Yours sincerely,” etc

Quite a bit of information is given in that reply but not much of it is reassuring. The concern continues about priority at side roads and why would the cycle lanes continue to give access to the canal path, but not the major artery of Maryhill Road?

_____________________________________________________________________________

Lots to think about in that reply in that last item but quite a few surveys for you to get your fingers tapping to. Particularly if the weather continues as it is today!
Digest 50 will be out on 24 December, for you to read after your Desperate Dan Annual!

“MESSAGE SENT ON BEHALF, NEIGHBOURHOODS AND SUSTAINABILITY, SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT

Dear Go-Bike,

Neighbourhoods and Sustainability are seeking to gain the views and comments of the local community and wider public with regards proposals to extend the South-West City Way active travel route.  The proposals will link the existing route at Shields Road, along St Andrews Drive to Pollok Country Park.  Current proposals include a segregated cycle route, footway improvements, upgraded pedestrian crossings, improved Bus / Public Transport access as well as major junction works to improve active travel  journeys.

As part of this work an information gathering event is proposed at St Alberts Primary School,  36 Maxwell Drive, on Wednesday the 22nd of January 2020 between 3.30pm and 7pm, where the public will be able to view proposed designs for infrastructure upgrades and make comments on the proposals.

In addition to the event a webpage will be available from the 2nd of December 2019 for a period of 2 months. Visitors to this website can view drawings of the proposed design and provide comments through an online feedback process. The address for the Webpage is www.glasgow.gov.uk/swcw. This website will go live on the 2^nd of December 2019.  

I trust this information is of assistance.

Kind Regards.”

Lots to look forward to – see you on the 22nd January.

“I wanted to make you aware of some works that will commence on Monday 2^nd September which will affect the cycleway on Clyde Place. As you know, Clyde Place is being Stopped Up and will be replaced by Public Realm. The permanent Stopping Up Order comes into effect on 1^st October 2019. The cycleway on Clyde Place needs to be temporarily diverted onto the Riverside Public Realm area to the north in order to facilitate works on Clyde Place.

The contractor plans to implement the diversion from Monday 2^nd September to allow for some advanced works to occur ahead of the Clyde Place Stopping Up Order permanently coming into effect in October.

Attached is a plan showing how the cycleway will be diverted. Cyclists and pedestrians will be segregated on the diversion route. The plan has been agreed with Glasgow City Council. The diversion will be in place until August 2020, at which time the new Public Realm area will be complete. “

Disappointing that Glasgow City Council didn’t make us aware of these changes but do be prepared for a slightly different route, closer to the river, on your commute or other journey next week.

Here’s the diagram in pdf format as originally sent.

Since our last update, the gritting on the lanes had been much improved and more effective, and we are thankful for the action on that. The repair action is now moving slowly. The first repair began on one of the Shields Road bus stops but was unfortunately then halted for five days with a full blockage of the cycle path remaining in place during that time. It seems that the understanding for the respect for our main commuting route from Glasgow City Council still has some way to go.

This work is now complete though, and we hope that the drainage will be improved there from now on. Elsewhere, near the other Shields Road bus stop, the flooding was drained but swiftly returned, demonstrating that a more permanent repair was required. We have been continuing to ensure that GCC are working on moving forward with the SWCW repairs, and have some of the following info to share with you:

To GCC from GoBike:

We’ve been sent on info from an FOI on the flooding on SWCW that suggests that the bridge would first need strengthening by Network Rail before the required resurfacing can take place. We would imagine that the timeline for this would actually be really significant, and so if this is indeed the case, we would like to suggest the requirement for a program of flooding maintenance at the site until this permanent repair can happen. We have also been made aware though, that heavy machinery such as (…..) vehicles have routinely been seen working on the bridge. Can you explain this?

The FOI also illustrates that there were 13 fault reports specifically on the flooding to the council over a period of a year and a half until the first investigative site visit happened in August 2018. Injuries have occurred at this site due to the neglect to attend to the repair timeously. This week repairs started at the other bus stop on Monday the 7th, which closed off the full cycle lane with barriers blocking cycle lane access, yet no signage and no diversion in place, just a ramp useful only to people with prams and wheelchairs. Work then ceased, incomplete, after the 7th, and the barriers still remain in place, now six days later. I attach an image to illustrate. Frankly, for a flagship route, one of the only truly safe routes we have in the city for people on bikes, the priority for it’s upkeep within the council is quite clearly insufficient.

To GoBike from GCC:

Thank you for your email regarding the South West City Way Cycle route.
 
We are currently investigating what options are available to resolve the issues with the surfacing on the bridge, taking account of the weight restrictions and  work operations that are permitted to be undertaken on the bridge due to its condition.  Vehicles should not be using the cycleway and thank you for bringing this to our attention.  I  will arrange for this issue to be raised with (….) at the next Roads Authorities and Utilies Committee (RAUC) meeting.  The Council is also currently reviewing how these initial complaints were initially dealt with.
 
I can confirm repairs at the bus stop south of the railway bridge started on site on 7^th January 2019. The works were to amend the drainage channel inlets, open them up to allow more flow of surface water and make future maintenance more accessible. The contractor has been made aware of the importance of maintaining the traffic management at all times and to resurface the ramp as a priority. I can only apologise it’s taken longer than expected.
 
The bus stop north (see image) of the railway bridge with the drainage issues has been investigated by LES and the contractor Mac Asphalt Ltd who were involved with the works to resolve the drainage. Due to the lack of existing drainage gullies on Shields Road a further investigation was undertaken on the existing gullies and manholes to allow for an additional 3No. gullies are to be installed within the cycle lane. Work is due to commence on site  on Monday 21st January 2019. The cycle lane from the start of Shields Road at St Andrews Drive to the railway bridge will be closed for 7 working days to allow for the drainage to be installed. An alternative route using the footway will be signposted.
 
I hope this is of assistance.

So that work is due to start today, which is positive. Please let us know whether the diversion is adequate.

Thanks again to the council for working to get this sorted although it is unfortunate that it took such action before anything was done, when the issue had been so widely reported. We have been sent details of just how many reports were made in this FOI sent in from a super helpful member which makes for very interesting reading. But we hope that from here, the council will appreciate the importance of keeping our safe cycling spaces (which as we know, are few and far between) clear, working, maintained, and well…. safe.

Perhaps next, we can look at the issue of parking in the segregated cycle lanes too eh? We will be watching the repairs unfold and wont be resting easy – we already have our next target in mind for the GoBike Board of Shame. Watch this space.