Month: May 2017

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GoBike ride Sunday 04 June – over the hills to Lochwinnoch, but flatter on the return!

 

All welcome to join this ride, which will take us out of Glasgow via the Dams2Darnley Country Park, then via a hilly route through to Dunlop and Beith, before arriving in the Castle Semple Visitors Centre at Lochwinnoch. After lunch, a flatter return to Glasgow via NCN 7 through Paisley. Some of the route is on an off-road hill path and a forestry track, so will be unsuitable for skinny tyre bikes. However, most of the route will be on asphalt.
Meet 10am Bell’s Bridge, Congress Road, Glasgow.
Ride on paths Ride on quiet roads Ride on rough tracks Significant hill climbing Gate or stile en route
Rated: Go Bike star rating Go Bike star rating Go Bike star rating Go Bike star rating

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South Lanarkshire Cycling Partnership under threat – but safe for now – good news

Further to this bad news we have been told by Councillor Robert Brown, LibDem, that the Cycling Partnership is safe – for now – but we need to be vigilant and oppose any further attempt.

South Lanarkshire Council have for some time had a Cycling Partnership to promote and progress cycling issues within the area covered by the local authority.  GoBike has been represented on this Partnership. The new council, elected on 04 May, now propose to merge it into the Sustainability Partnership!

If we are going to get anything like 10% of journeys by bike by 2020, which is still the Scottish Government’s aim, then cycling must be given more prominence, not less. This is a backward move.

The council document, dated 10 May, which is going to be discussed tomorrow, 18 May, is here: South Lan bodies  and the relevant clause, 10.3 is reproduced here:

“10.3. In advance of the new Council, the list has been reviewed by the lead organisations. In terms of the South Lanarkshire Cycling Partnership, it is proposed that it be discontinued and its remit incorporated into that for the Sustainability Partnership. The Council is asked, as a matter of priority, to approve nominations to the joint committees/boards, statutory and partnership bodies detailed in Appendix 4. These are necessary to enable the respective organisations to formally re-establish themselves following the local government elections.”

If you live in South Lanarkshire please e-mail your councillors and ask them not to proceed with this regressive move.  You can find the councillors for your ward here  but do include Councillor Robert Brown in your list of addressees.  He has been prominent in support of cycling and active travel in South Lanarkshire and spoke at our Hustings last month.

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Proposed Restricted Roads (20mph Limit) (Scotland) Bill – please give your views

This is the survey we have been waiting for – Mark Ruskell’s bill on reducing the default speed limit for restricted roads in Scotland to 20mph.  Mark is the Green MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife and the Scottish Parliament’s survey is here: http://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/20mphSpeedLimits/

You can read more about Mark Ruskell here: Mark Ruskell MSP

Mark’s proposed bill is an important one in that it covers all of Scotland and will, if implemented, lead to a consistent approach across the country.  When GoBike met the Transport Minister, Humza Yousaf, in February this year, we were told that the Government would not put any obstacles in the way of the bill.  So we are very hopeful that it will go through – but it needs as much support as it can get.  PLEASE DO COMPLETE THE SURVEY! There are 11 questions but there is the option to save and return to it.

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Glasgow City Centre – give your views!

Glasgow City Council is looking at improvements to the City Centre – not before time, do I hear you say?  They have employed consultants to consider the 9 areas of the city centre and they are proactively looking at cycling, walking, reallocation of space away from motor traffic and the reduction of pollution.  So do respond to the consultation and try to attend one or more of the future events.  The information below is from the consultants:

“We have just launched (Y)our Ideas map, register and help map the challenges and opportunities for positive change in the next 10 years for Broomielaw, St Enoch, Central and Blythswood.

https://yourcitycentre.commonplace.is/

We are looking for ideas big and small, for the short, medium and long term. However, if you have immediate comments or complaints. please report it here  ”

There is more information on the website: https://www.glasgowcitycentrestrategy.com/city-centre-districts

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This weekend: GoBike ride to Drumpellier Park, but also lots to do in the city

 

Sunday 7 May – Drumpellier Country Park
The route of this ride will head out of Glasgow via new cycle improvements at the Port Dundas Basin and in Balornock, and then onto country lanes in the Auchinloch area, before joining the Strathkelvin Railway Path to Glenboig. We will then head to Drumpellier Country Park for lunch, before returning into Glasgow to view some of the recent developments on main roads in the east and southeast of the city area, including Cambuslang and Rutherglen, and ending up on the South Bank cycle route. The ride includes some unsurfaced paths, one of which is quite rough.
Meet 10am Bell’s Bridge, Congress Road, Glasgow.
Ride on paths Ride on quiet roads Ride on canal towpaths Ride on rough tracks Ride on busy roads Moderate hill climbing
Rated: Go Bike star rating Go Bike star rating Go Bike star rating

If you don’t fancy going so far, then there are events on in the city (information provided by Glasgow City Council::

Saturday 6th May – THIS WEEKEND!!!

Saturday 6th May  Cycling Family Fun Day – Free – Starts 10:00 AM  Glasgow Green

Stunt Bike Riders Show, Bike Maintenance Workshop, Dr Bike , Bike Marking and security advice by Police Scotland, Led rides for all ages and levels of experience, Play on Pedals, Bike tuition, Horse and Dray rides, Cycling information from Glasgow City Council, Sustrans, Bike Station Glasgow, Free Wheel North, SoulRiders Scotland, South West Community Cycles, Cycling Uk and much, much more!

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Saturday 6th May,  Dr Bike. 12 – 2pm  Priesthill Church car park, Glasgow G53 6LL

Get your bike checked and set up by the South West Community Cycles team.

For more details contact: http://southwestcommunitycycles.co.uk/

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Sunday 7th May,  Play on Pedals drop in session. 12:30-2:30  Free Wheel North, Glasgow Green, Templeton St, Glasgow G40 1AT

Free Cycle training for pre-schoolers. Get your kids on a balance bike and help them get cycling from an early age!

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Sunday 7th May,  Play on Pedals drop in session. 10:45-11:30  Drumchapel Sports Centre with Drumchapel Cycle Hub

Cycle training for pre-schoolers. Get your kids on a balance bike and help them get cycling from an early age! £1 to support hall hire.

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Tuesday 9th May,  Led Ride – Beginners / Intermediate – 10.30-12.30pm  South West Community Cycles, 2092 Pollokshaws Rd, Glasgow G43 1AT

Right to Routes Diabetes group.  Gentle Guided Ride/Training

For more details contact: http://southwestcommunitycycles.co.uk/

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Thursday 11th May,  Led Ride – Beginners / Intermediate – 10.00-12.00pm  South West Community Cycles, 2092 Pollokshaws Rd, Glasgow G43 1AT

Wheel Being group.  Gentle Guided Ride/Training

For more details contact: http://southwestcommunitycycles.co.uk/

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Thursday 11th May,  Bike Breakfast – 7:30 – 9:30 AM  Balshagray Crescent, G14. Near South Bound Entrance to Clyde Tunnel.

De’ils on Wheels are providing a free Breakfast and Dr Bike check ups , Cycling Info, Freebies

For more details contact: http://www.deilsonwheels.org.uk

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Closure to cycle route, south side of Clyde, NCN756, for repair, until 10 May

We have been informed today, 04 May, by Glasgow City Council of this short term closure:

“Please note that a small section of NCN756 River Clyde South Bank route between Waterside Street and Kings Bridge is currently closed.

Remediation works are underway to deal with localised subsidence on the path. The path will be closed until Wednesday May 10th 2017.

Suggested diversion route on image.”

Information from email address: SustainableTransport@glasgow.gov.uk