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BBC News – Woman Sexually Assaulted on Pedestrian/Cycle Route at George V Bridge Glasgow

 

Our post this morning referred to this very busy, but inadequate, route being closed.  Here is what the BBC has reported this morning about the incident:

“A woman has been sexually assaulted on a path beside the River Clyde in Glasgow.

The attack took place on Monday afternoon.

Police officers sealed off a stretch of the walkway beside the Broomielaw shortly before 18:00.

A police spokeswoman said: “On Monday, April 10, officers received a report of a sexual assault at the river walkway near Broomielaw at King George V bridge.

“The area is cordoned off and officers are carrying out extensive inquires to establish more details and the exact circumstances surrounding this incident.””

This is a route that many of us use on a regular basis.  It does not, as a cycle route, meet the minimum standards set out in the design guide “Cycling by Design” and it’s about time there was a proper walking and cycling route under this bridge – and other dark bridges in the city.  If you wish to complain about this cycle route then e-mail les@glasgow.gov.uk

 

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Hustings, 19 April, LibDem candidate, Robert Brown, South Lanarkshire

Robert Brown is an existing Liberal Democrat councillor on South Lanarkshire council and is standing for election on 04 May 2017.  Here is the text that he sent us:

“Robert Brown is a Liberal Democrat Council Councillor on South Lanarkshire Council. He was MSP for Glasgow Region (1999 to 2011) and Deputy Minister for Education and Young People (2005-2007). He was spokesperson on social justice and housing, and later justice and civil liberties. HE fought Glasgow Region and Rutherglen constituency for the Liberal Democrats in the 2016 Scottish Parliament elections.

A solicitor by profession, he worked as a Procurator Fiscal Depute and latter became senior civil partner with a large Glasgow firm.

He was a longstanding Policy Convener of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, and served on the Steel Commission and the Campbell Commission which set out the Liberal Democrat vision for Scottish Home Rule within a federal United Kingdom.

He is currently Liberal Democrat council candidate for Rutherglen South Ward in the forthcoming council elections.”

Robert was the first candidate to forward information to us; details of the 4 further candidates will be published over the next 4 days.

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Busy City Centre cycle route closed – Police Incident

 

The busy, but very inadequate, cycle and pedestrian route under the George V, Caledonian Railway and Glasgow Bridges on the north bank of the Clyde was closed at approximately 6pm yesterday evening (10 April) and by 08:15 this morning no alternative route had been provided for the very many commuters and others who use this route.

According to the police on site the incident is in the hands of CID and it is not known how long the route will be closed.  However, they are aware that this is a very heavily cycled area and, hopefully they will get some tape to cordon off a safe route from the Broomielaw to Clyde Street for both people walking and on bikes.

In the meantime, do take care, particularly when crossing Glasgow Bridge/Bridge Street.

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Pedal on Parliament comes to Glasgow, Sunday 23 April, 1pm

With POP now in its sixth year, and the Scottish local authority elections looming, we’re ringing the changes with four mass rides in four of Scotland’s cities: on Saturday 22nd April there will be simultaneous rides in Edinburgh, Inverness and Aberdeen, and on Sunday 23rd April we take to the streets of Glasgow.

The ride will be from Glasgow Green to George Square on entirely closed roads, and will be a family-friendly demonstration suitable for all cyclists of all ages. Meet at Glasgow Green for a 1pm start.

View the route

GoBike is a supporter of POP and the above is taken from their website: http://pedalonparliament.org/

POP Glasgow is just 4 days after GoBike’s Hustings, so get yourself into election mode.  Get yourself informed about who to vote for.

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Local Government Elections – Questions to ask at our Hustings, 19 April

Interesting article in the Herald today (31 March) about power in our local councils.  it’s worth reading to get a view on what we will be voting for on 04 May and perhaps a question to ask at our Hustings on 19 April, 7:30pm in the Admiral Bar on Waterloo Street in Glasgow.  Here’s our flyer for the event: May2017 GB! Hustings flyer

Here’s the information we sent to the 5 candidates, who will be on our Hustings Panel, which might also help you frame your question:

“GoBike, as perhaps you know, is a campaigning group of people who cycle in the Strathclyde area, with most of our support in the Glasgow travel to work area.  Our main focus is on good cycle infrastructure and on 21 February we met with the Transport Minister, Humza Yousaf, to present these 4 important aims:

1. 20mph Speeds in Urban Areas

  • Multiple benefits of safety, environment and air quality agreed by central/local governments, residents, road safety groups and cyclists. Change from urban 30mph to 20mph is in progress.
  • Implementation rates are slow due to budgetary constraints and perceived requirement for complex and expensive traffic calming. Cities risk developing a confusing patchwork of 20mph islands in a 30mph sea.

Action requested: That Holyrood make Scotland a better place by passing legislation to expedite 20mph as the default urban speed limit, except on specified non-residential arterial roads

2. Use of Evidence When Specifying Location and Design of Urban Cycle Facilities

  • Most existing cycle facilities suffer from two main failings: they are discontinuous and their positioning takes little cognisance of the preferred routes that cyclists use (cycle desire lines). They tend to be installed where local authorities see un-utilised road space, rather than from an assessment of cyclists’ needs.
  • Data concerning cycle desire lines is becoming abundantly available and shows that urban cyclists in Scotland substantially travel on direct (radial) main road routes that connect the suburbs with city centre. Cycle desire lines frequently cross local authority boundaries.

Action requested: That Holyrood preferentially promotes and funds cycle facilities that are based upon evidence of cyclists’ needs, such as directness and continuity of route, and those which allow connection between local authority areas

3. Space Reallocation

  • Evidence shows that cyclists tend to travel in straight and continuous paths from suburban areas into urban centres, preferentially using the main roads, where cycle speeds are faster than on back road routes.
  • Unless the desire by cyclists to use these direct main road routes is satisfied, then further spending on back-street cycle facilities will be largely wasted. The desire for cyclists to use main roads means that due consideration must be given to providing space on these.

Actions requested: 1) Holyrood mandates new build roads and renovated roads must have cycle facilities as a primary design criterion. 2) Prioritises facilities on faster/direct main road routes

4. Presumed Liability

  • It is a well-established legal principle that anyone who uses a dangerous instrument should be presumed to be liable in the event of death or injury as a consequence of its use. 
  • It is therefore unfortunate that insurance companies generally take an adversarial position when vehicles come into collision with unprotected road users such as cyclists and pedestrians. Compensation may be delayed or denied as result.
  • At present, the UK is one of only five European countries (along with Cyprus, Malta, Romania and Ireland) that do not operate some form of strict liability law for vulnerable road users.

Action requested: That Holyrood makes Scotland a better place by enacting presumed liability legislation between motorists, cyclists and pedestrians

GoBike is one of the founder members of Walk,Cycle,Vote  the pan-Scotland active travel grouping and the 3 common aims for the councils that will be elected on 04 May are:

  • Investment: Provide sustained, long term investment in both cycling and walking, reaching 10% of the transport budget
  • Infrastructure: Build and maintain dedicated cycling infrastructure suitable for people of all ages and abilities
  • Local Action: To solve the main local barriers to active travel, as identified by residents and businesses”

We do hope that you will be able to get along on 19 April but should you be unable to, you may submit a question by e-mail to hustings2017@gobike.org

 

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Join GoBike for a ride out to Kilsyth and Colzium Estate, Sunday 02 April 2017

 

Sunday 2 April – Kilsyth & Colzium Estate
This ride will head out of Glasgow via Glasgow Green, Hogganfield Park and Kirkintilloch’s Merkland Nature Reserve before joining the Forth & Clyde Canal to Twechar, followed by various paths to Kilsyth. After a café lunch, we will take a brief tour around the Colzium Estate, followed by a return to Glasgow along the Forth & Clyde Canal. Some of the paths may be unsurfaced.
Meet 10am Bell’s Bridge, Congress Road, Glasgow.

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Consultations – Govan Cross and a late response to the Active Travel Task Force

Glasgow City Council is planning further improvements to the public realm at Govan Cross, with initial details here: Public Space Improvements Flyer Reading View and we have submitted a positive response welcoming the changes, see our letter: GoBike Govan Cross support and comments 280317

We have, though, pointed out some concerns, such as the advisory cycle lanes on Langlands Road, which are used as linear car parks and the need for a link through to the west to the northern boundary of the hospital grounds.  That said, the proposals look forward to the new Govan-Partick bridge and provide a link from the bridge south through Govan for bikes.

This initial consultation closes on Friday, 31 March, so if you have views please get them in now.  Contact details are on the Public Space Improvements Flyer.

 

We have also sent in a late submission to the Scottish Government’s Active Travel Task Force.  You may remember that we met the Transport Minister, Humza Yousaf, on 21 February and we discussed with him our 4 “asks”: “20mph speed in urban areas, Use of evidence when specifying design and location of urban cycle facilities, space reallocation and the introduction of Presumed Liability, as summarised here: Minister meeting 21_02_17 V3 Summary

Although we missed the closing date for initial submissions (10 March) we hope that our submission and follow-up information sent to the Minister was forwarded to the Task Force and we look forward to further contact.

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Local Election Hustings, Wednesday 19 April

 

Local elections for the councillors who decide on our cycle facilities are being held on Thursday 04 May and GoBike is holding a hustings on Wednesday 19 April at the Admiral Bar, Waterloo Street, Glasgow.  Doors open at 7pm and the event starts at 7:30 with candidates from the 5 main parties, from Glasgow, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire and South Lanarkshire  to answer your questions.

Here’s our flyer for the event: May2017 GB! Hustings flyer

Please come along to this event, bring your friends, so that you can decide how to vote to maximise the chances of us getting good cycle infrastructure on the routes we use.

More details to follow, so watch this space!

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SNP Glasgow pledge 10% of transport budget for Active Travel

 

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/15150845.SNP_pledge_extra_cash_for_active_travel_scheme/

Susan Aitken, leader of the SNP group on Glasgow City Council has pledged to increase spending on walking and cycling to 10% of the transport budget if the SNP take control of the City Council in the May elections.

Come to the GoBike hustings on 19 April to check out what all the parties will spend across the Strathclyde area.

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Walk Cycle Vote – GoBike meets the Greens

GoBike committee members Joel, Peter and Tricia were at the Scottish Greens’ conference venue, Maryhill Burgh Hall, Glasgow today to impress on them the 3 Walk Cycle Vote asks for the Local Elections in May:

  • Investment: Provide sustained, long term investment in both cycling and walking, reaching 10% of the transport budget
  • Infrastructure: Build and maintain dedicated cycling infrastructure suitable for people of all ages and abilities
  • Local action: To solve the main local barriers to active travel, as identified by residents and businesses

The first photo includes MSP Alison Johnstone (in the white jacket) and, next to her Glasgow Councillor Martha Wardrop.  The second photo shows us with the Green candidates for Glasgow City Council for the May elections, including Glasgow Councillor Martin Bartos in the back row.

If you have the opportunity to meet any of your candidates, please ask them their views on the 3 asks!