Strathclyde Cycle Campaign
Join in and let’s make this the biggest Pedal on Parliament to date! There are full details on the PoP website and the details of the feeder ride from Glasgow are on the West Coast Velo meetup site. There are plenty of trains going through and you can either take your bike with you or just walk and add to the crowd.
Let’s make sure our elected representatives are aware that we want a better Scotland. It’s just a couple of weeks until voting day for Holyrood.
Glasgow City Centre propose to introduce parking controls in streets adjacent to Helen Street in Govan and in the City Centre. We support these moves but ask why, with the proposal for Govan, parking is allowed at any junction in the city? How are people expected to cross streets when there are cars in the way? We have also supported the introduction of a 20mph zone in part of Pollokshields, but have repeated our view that 20mph should be the default speed limit for the city. Introducing small 20mph zones is time consuming and expensive.
Our letters may be seen on our Consultations page. Please add your support by writing to the Council.
You may remember that last year people from GoBike met council staff and one of the Govan Councillors, Fariha Thomas, to look at the access, or lack of it, to the new hospital site, now that so many people are commuting there by bike. We have not heard of anything happening to resolve the atrocious exit from the southbound Clyde Tunnel but next month work is to be done to install signals at the Moss Road / Peninver Drive Junction (just behind the yellow signage for a well-known supermarket) to ease access to the northbound tunnel. The full text of the e-mail sent to Councillors (and forwarded to GoBike by Councillor Thomas) is repeated below:
“From: LESMLU
Sent: 12 April 2016 16:36
To: Adams, James (Cllr); Dornan, Stephen (Councillor); Kane, John (Cllr); Thomas, Fariha (Councillor)
Cc: Gilmour, Suzanne; MacGrain, Fiona; Tannock, Janette; Wilson, Gayle; McDougall, Elaine (Councillor)
Subject: Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Bus Route Improvement Phase 2
MESSAGE SENT ON BEHALF OF ANDY WADDELL
HEAD OF INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES, LAND AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
Dear Member
I am writing to advise you of the impending start of works in your Ward as a part of the above scheme. As part of the project, the signalising on Moss Road/Peninver Drive will take place to assist pedestrians and cyclists entering and exiting the new entrance of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. During these works, carriageway and footway resurfacing will also be undertaken.
A contract has been awarded to MacLay Civil Engineering Contractors to carry out the works on site. It is anticipated that work will start in this area during the week commencing 16th May 2016 with completion in approximately 3 weeks.
Andy Waddell
Head of Infrastructure Services
Land and Environmental Services
Glasgow – UK Council of the Year 2015“
Four items, among others, have been discussed at the Glasgow Cycling Forum over the years and we have now written to Councillor Martin McElroy and Andy Waddell, Head of Infrastructure Services, Land & Environmental Services to ask for updates on:
Plus, one of our members, who commutes along the Broomielaw, has written in to the Council to propose making the Fastlink bus lane closest to the Clyde a two-way cycle lane, moving the westbound buses from this lane to the eastbound lane and for the eastbound buses to stay on the main carriageway from the Clyde Arc (Squinty) Bridge to the city centre. Since the current pedestrian/cycle way is very busy and the bus lanes are not busy, we think this is eminently sensible. We have voiced our support for this in our letter, which may also be found on the Glasgow Cycling Forum page of our website: GoBike Open Letter to GCC 150416
We await a response!
Here’s a message we are passing on from Glasgow City Council:
European Cycle Challenge 2016 – May 1st – 31st.
MAKE GLASGOW A CYCLING CITY!
PRESS LAUNCH / PHOTO CALL
You are invited to participate in the photocall for the launch of Glasgow’s participation in the European Cycling Challenge.
When: 9.30am for 10.00am, Wednesday, 13 April 2016
Location: Anderston Bridge (previously known as the Bridge to Nowhere), by the cycle counter on the Argyle St side of the bridge. Please note, the bridge spans between Waterloo Street and Argyle Street, Anderston.
Details: Local cyclists and cycling representatives from various organisations including Police Scotland and Glasgow City Council come together to show their support for Team Glasgow as the city takes part in its first European Cycle Challenge. Glasgow is the only city in Scotland to have signed up for the challenge.
All those who attend and sign up for the challenge at the launch event will receive a promotional saddle cover and a Glasgow city cycle map bandana, courtesy of Glasgow City Council.
Download the cycling365 app available for all platforms and track your journeys.
Further information on the European Cycle Challenge is available at:
How does it work and which cycle journeys count?
Each individual will be asked to register their cycle journeys, the more distance pedalled, the better the city will do. All cycle journeys will be tracked through the cycling365 phone app which you can download at: http://www.cyclingchallenge.eu/ecc2016-cycling365
Commuting, business travel by bike, leisure cycling, even training rides count. Only competitive sporting events and static bike miles aren’t included.
The information is used to create a live European wide ‘heat map’ to show where everyone, throughout Europe is cycling. The app also generates individual heat maps with stats on how far and how often you have cycled.
How can you help?
Your support will help encourage widespread participation. The more people who participate in the launch and event as a whole, the more useful the data provided will be.
At the end of the May, the city with the highest number of registered cycled kilometres will be declared the winner.
There are also excellent prizes donated by the leaders in cycling. Details of these will be available on the www.glasgow.gov.uk/cycling web page shortly.
Additional Info.
Social media
During the challenge GCC will have an ongoing promotion via social media and will be using the hashtags #glasgowcycling and #ecc2016
A banner is attached. Please feel free to circulate this or add to your website.
Contacts:
Glasgow City Council Land and Environmental Services Communications
Julianne.McGinley@glasgow.gov.uk
0141 287 9460
Glasgow City Council Land and Environmental Services Project Management
0141 287 9483
Regards
Collin
When responding to a recent consultation, GoBike members identified an opportunity for a new off road cycle route that would:
The route follows part of the old Caledonian Railway line. This stretch went from Blockairn Junction to Dalmarnock. There are three railway bridges that cross the route: Gadie Street, Cumbernauld Road and Edinburgh Road.
Unfortunately the Gadie Street bridge is currently being used as a dumping ground.
However looking south, over the rubbish, the potential can almost be seen.
This potential becomes more visible continues as you follow the railway line. Looking South from the bridge that crosses the Cumbernauld Road a well worn track can already be seen.
The bridge that carries the 6 lanes of Edinburgh Road also shows promise.
While turning around from the point the picture was taken above the flat surface of the old railway line stands out.
There would be a great deal of work to be done to turn this into a viable off road cycle track, taking cyclists away from the traffic on the Edinburgh and Cumbernauld Roads. However, the potential is there and is waiting to be exploited. This is something GoBike will continue to explore and discuss with the Council. We will keep you updated on developments
The Google Map above shows the Cycle Path in context of Alexandra Park, Hogarth Park, Glasgow Kelvin College and the Forge Shopping Areas.
Excellent article in the Herald today (29 March) about bikes on trains and the reduction in bike spaces on the West Highland Line (Glasgow to Oban, Fort William and Mallaig) raising the threat to tourism.
Also, Ewan Jeffrey, from our sister organisation in the east, Spokes, was on Radio Scotland’s phone in programme, 09:00 – 10:00 this morning. It was a very pro-bike, pro-tourism programme with, unfortunately, no-one from Transport Scotland appearing to defend their decision on the West Highland Line to cut the bookable bike spaces from 6 to 2.
Note: the photo above is just to catch your eye – this is not the way to transport bikes, or people, at speeds of 70mph or more.
Regular users of Glasgow City Council’s flagship cycle route Connect 2 along Waterloo Street may be aware of the building works going on just where the route becomes shared with pedestrians, but all should be aware. It is at times shared not just with pedestrians, but with coned-off excavations and construction vehicles. Obviously the council department supervising these works is not aware of the council’s desire to encourage more of us to walk and cycle.
GoBike has notified GCC of concern.
Excellent article in the Herald yesterday on 20mph by Iain Macwhirter and a superb response from GoBike committee member Peter Hayman in today’s issue. We are delighted that Glasgow City Council is introducing 20mph but why only for the city centre? Why not for our further out busy streets and shopping areas?
Also in today’s issue, on page 3, a rebuke to plans for demolition of the Admiral Bar, the venue we use for our public meetings.
Yesterday evening’s Hustings was deemed a success by organisers, the audience and, importantly, the speakers and our compere! A good evening was had by all with questions and discussion on Presumed Liability, potholes, pollution, parking, the budget for cycling, the responsibility of government vis-a-vis local authorities, 20mph, segregated cycleways, the cost of public transport, bikes on trains – it was a busy 90 minutes.
The Election for our MSPs is exactly 7 weeks away so there is still time to ask your candidates their views on active travel. The health of our nation depends on us getting out of our cars, reducing pollution and getting active – and we need our MSPs to take action.