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Merry Christmas and a happy cycling New Year

GoBike wishes all its members and supporters a good Christmas and New Year – and let’s start cycling with the start of the New Year!  The pictures above and below show some of the people on our December ride to the parks on the south side of Glasgow, at the new park at Cuningar Loop.  It was gloriously sunny, if a bit chilly.  But read on for January …..

January’s ride, and the GoBike rides are always on the first Sunday of the month, is on Sunday 01 January – time to clear the head!  Check out the infrastructure our councils are providing …..

Sunday 1 January 2017 – Northern Delights Infrastructure Safari
For our annual tour of cycle infrastructure we will take a tour of the northern parts of Glasgow, as well as venturing into Bishopbriggs, to see some of the lesser spotted bike lanes and paths, as well as viewing future developments. Firstly we will head over to Sauchiehall Street to see and discuss the proposed “Avenue” works, before passing another large redevelopment at Sighthill. We will look at some local links in the contrasting residential areas around the outskirts and suburbs of Glasgow, and see how well they join up. We will end our tour back in the West End at the University, where large scale works are proposed on the former Western Infirmary site.
Meet 10am Bell’s Bridge, Congress Road, Glasgow.
Ride on paths Ride on quiet roads Ride on canal towpaths Ride on busy roads Moderate hill climbing
Rated: Go Bike star rating Go Bike star rating

For a ride further afield, have a look at our Rides page: https://www.gobike.org/about-us/cycle-rides and our end-of-April-start-of-May weekend ride, the Way of the Roses, from Morecambe to Bridlington.

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London’s done it, now it’s about time Scotland had a full-time Cycling Commissioner

 

Just in – London hires first full-time Cycling Commissioner, see: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-38376672

£770million over six years is about 3 times the annual outlay on cycling in Scotland, distributed via Sustrans.  Given that London has about twice the population, the per capita annual expenditure is about 50% greater.

Cities and towns in Scotland need that same rate of expenditure!

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Edinburgh West to East cycle route approved – and Transport Minister’s Task Force

 

On Friday, 16 December, City of Edinburgh Council gave approval for the detailed design and construction of the cycle route along Roseburn Terrace, past Haymarket and along to Leith Walk to go ahead.  This was reported in the press at the weekend, and it was stated that the views of the opponents to the scheme had been noted.

This is  a notable achievement given the removal of the cycle lane on Holmston Road in Ayr and the setback to the Bears Way phase 2, and it augurs well for the Transport Minister’s Active Travel Task Force.

Humza Yousaf, the Transport Minister, has written to GoBike (and probably other active travel groups) and states that he was disappointed by some recent decisions.  His letter goes on to say: “ I have written to CoSLA, the Regional Transport Partnerships, the Society of Chief Officers of Transportation in Scotland (SCOTS) and the Active Travel Alliance, asking for a representative from each of their organisations to sit on the Task Force, which will be chaired by Roy Brannen, CEO of Transport Scotland.  The first meeting will be on 8 February 2017, where the Task Force will agree its own remit, the scope of the issues it will address and a timeline during 2017 for reporting back to me with recommendations.  However, I have asked it to look particularly at the TRO process, how local consultation is carried out and how the benefits of active travel are communicated to decision makers and local communities, and how these could be improved with the help of Scottish Government, Transport Scotland and other key stakeholders.  
I anticipate that your organisation will be asked to contribute to the work of the Task Force and therefore wanted to update you with progress with the development of our plans. I do hope you will be forthright and honest if asked to contribute and that this important piece of work will enable us to identify practical steps that we can take to help us achieve our vision for active travel.”  

We will report on any contact made.

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Glasgow Bus Lanes all go part-time?: Please object now.

 

Late last month Glasgow City Council published a Traffic Regulation Order proposing that all bus lanes in the city will operate from only 7am to 7pm.  While this is an increase for some, for others it is a reduction from 24 hour operation.

Why is this important for those of us who cycle?  Because Glasgow City Council have the audacity to include not only bus lanes but bus corridors (ie the main routes travelled by buses) in the 310km they claim in their Strategic Plan for Cycling to be part of the “Cycle Network”!  See Glasgow Cycleman’s blog, https://glasgowcycleman.wordpress.com/2016/12/02/a-slap-in-the-face/ for an excellent commentary on this.

We have thus objected to the proposal, see: GoBike Glasgow Bus Lanes Objection 16Dec16 and as a minimum we consider that all bus lanes should operate for 24 hours each day and the City Council should be realistic in how it measures cycle routes in the city.  Our response to the review of the operation of bus/cycle/taxi lanes carried out in 2014 is here: Go Bike GCC Bus,Cycle.Taxi Lane Review 191114

Sorry this is short notice but please use the information given to put in an objection – comments close on Thursday 22 December.  Please write in if you live in Glasgow and if you cycle into Glasgow on one of the  routes affected.  Thank you.

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GoBike ride to the very new Cuningar Loop Bridge, this Sunday 04 December

 

Sunday 4 December – Southern Park Loop
The final ride of the year will be a 20 mile tour of some of the parks across the South Side of Glasgow, East Renfrewshire and South Lanarkshire, including one of the newest, the Cuningar Loop park in Rutherglen, and its newly opened bridge across the River Clyde. We will then return to Glasgow Green in time for lunch. As always, there will be a mix of cycle facilities and routes to see along the way.
Meet 10am Bell’s Bridge, Congress Road, Glasgow.
Ride on paths Ride on quiet roads Moderate hill climbing
Rated: Go Bike star rating Go Bike star rating

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Glasgow City Region City Deal – let’s get active travel in there

city-deal

Below is the text about City Deal proposals in the Renfrew/Paisley/Yoker areas that might encourage you to attend the public meetings AND to make constructive proposals to advance
cycling and walking. The cycling infrastructure on the north bank of the Clyde will not be
hugely affected, but, there is a downstream river crossing, which makes accessing
paths on both sides much easier.
On the Paisley/Renfrew side, there will be substantial road improvements which
will potentially benefit cyclists and walkers and, if it creates more jobs, then there is scope for
walking, cycling and bussing across the river from the Glasgow side. Clydebank
and Yoker both suffer from high unemployment and this could be a wee stimulus
for the people in these areas.
There will be potential traffic congestion issues in Yoker.
In addition to the Bridge and roads leading to the Airport, an aspect of the plan is
about creating much better public access to the White Cart – for a couple of
hundred years the river has been almost completely barred to the people of both
towns. This should lead to improvements in the ambience of both towns and create
Something of a public realm/greenspace.
Your opportunity to input again on major infrastructure projects.Following the initial round of consultation with local communities which we undertook in May and June of this year, local people and businesses are being invited to further engagement events for two of our City Deal projects in early December 2016. Visit our website for more details of these events.
The two projects which will be the primary focus of those events are:The Clyde Waterfront and Renfrew Riverside (CWRR): a new ‘opening’ bridge across the Clyde linking the communities of Renfrew, Yoker and Clydebank. Proposals also include new roads and cycle routes.

The Glasgow Airport Investment Area (GAIA): new infrastructure including the realignment of Abbotsinch Road, a new bridge across the White Cart, and new and improved cycle routes aimed at improving connections between the Westway, Inchinnan and Airport Business Parks.

You can meet the team, see the plans and discuss how these projects will develop in your area at the following events;
Mon 5 December 11am to 7pm – Yoker Community Campus

Tue 6 December 11am to 7pm – Paisley Town Hall

Wed 7 December 11am to 7pm – Renfrew Town Hall

Thu 8 December 11am to 7pm – Clydebank Town Hall
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GoBike AGM tomorrow! Hope to see you there – Wednesday 23 November

Yes, it’s our AGM tomorrow.  Please don’t forget; we look forward to seeing you there and building our campaigning for 2017.  Members, non-members and friends all welcome.

Doors open 7pm for the AGM at 7:30 and then our Public Meeting with Councillor Martin McElroy at 8pm, in the Admiral Bar, 72a Waterloo Street in Glasgow, with a NextBike hire stand and bike parking almost right outside.

agm

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GoBike AGM, 2 weeks to go!

agm

Yes, it’s just 2 weeks to go until the GoBike AGM and public meeting.  You’ll be able to hear what we have been doing over the year – and it’s quite a bit – and you can volunteer, if you wish, for either the main committee or one of our working groups.

The main attraction at the public meeting will be Councillor Martin McElroy, of the Labour group on Glasgow City Council discussing the implementation of the Council’s Strategic Plan for Cycling and there will be the opportunity to ask questions – you can even start the discussion in our Facebook group  Not on Facebook?  You can e-mail your questions to the Convenor, convenor@gobike.org, particularly if you won’t be able to attend on the 23rd.

The AGM is an opportunity for your to join GoBike, or renew your membership.  Our only income is from our members, so don’t be shy!  You will also be able to buy one of our t-shirts, only £10:

2014-08-20 05.28.24

So, where and when?

The Admiral Bar, 72a Waterloo Street, Glasgow

Wednesday 23 November

Doors open 7pm, AGM 7:30 and Public Meeting 8pm

 

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Transport Minister: Cycling Task Force to be established!

 

Transport Minister, Humza Yousaf, announced the plans for a taskforce, the main aim of which will be to drive forward ambitious cycling infrastructure such as segregated cycle paths, at the Active Travel Summit in Stirling today – see the link for the full text of the Transport Scotland press release:

http://www.transport.gov.scot/news/minister-puts-segregated-cycling-road-success

Good news!

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Fastlink lanes on the Broomielaw – closed to buses!

fastlink

The Herald reports today (02 November) that the Fastlink lanes on the Broomielaw in Glasgow have been closed to buses since 16 October following 2 pedestrians being knocked down, see: http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/14836667.Fastlink_busway_closed_amid_fears_over_safety_of__pedestrians_using_smartphones_/

Of course, the pedestrians are being blamed, for wandering onto this empty carriageway using their mobile phones!  Glasgow City Council’s answer? To close this ill-designed road and to consider erecting railings!  When has any road been closed because a pedestrian has been knocked down?  This must be a first.  Why is the Council’s immediate response to think of railings?

Glasgow City Council has refused to allow bikes onto this section of Fastlink – and now the lanes are empty!