Happy Easter! Things are a bit dead, before numbers rise again after the election, so it’s a chance to bring back consultations that slipped through the net in the last few months. The 12 local authorities in the Strathclyde area don’t always let us know what they’re up to!

This issue features East Ayrshire and West Dunbartonshire for the first time in a while. North Ayrshire and Inverclyde still have consultations open. Also, regulars like Glasgow, East Renfrewshire and South Lanarkshire. The latter had a consultation that fell between Digest issues (see featured image, above) and sent a new update on NCN74.

Also, ahead of the local elections, check out Walk, Wheel, Cycle, Vote and consider a trip to Edinburgh for Pedal on Parliament‘s new route on 23 April (just after Earth Day).

Forthcoming consultation

Grassyards Road: Temporary cycle route extension (to MacKenzie Drive, Kilmarnock). Expected early May 2022 (presumably after the local elections).

Contents
(new/updated items in bold – link jumps to article)

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. City Centre Campus/‘Learning Quarter’ (People-First infrastructure)
2. Yorkhill to Anderston Liveable Neighbourhoods
3. Ardrossan Harbour Consultation
4. Drumchapel Local Development Framework
5. Greenock to Battery Park SfP lane

Section 2: Consultation Feedback

1. Foregate Square/James Shaw Lane, Kilmarnock (Temp. Pedestrian and Cycle Zone) TRO
2. Active & Sustainable Travel Strategy and Action Plan (ASTSAP), West Dunbartonshire
3. Churchill Ave route (& Cornwall St), East Kilbride
4. NCN74 Bothwell/Uddingston
5. East Renfrewshire Local Development Plan 2 formally adopted

Section 1: Current Consultations
(in date order for responses)

1.1: City Centre Campus/‘Learning Quarter’ (People-First infrastructure)

Organisation: Stantec on behalf of a partnership between University of Strathclyde, City of Glasgow College and Glasgow City Council.
Area: Townhead/Cathedral St area, north-east of city centre.
Subject: Consultation on the so-called ‘Learning Quarter’ where many streets are due to be in the city’s Avenues Project, including Cathedral St and North Hanover St. The campus project would link between those to the universities and college. Firstly, the Western Route includes steep Montrose St, as it goes past Strathclyde Uni’s ‘Heart of the Campus’ (Rottenrow Gardens). There’s another hill past City of Glasgow College towards Buchanan Bus Station. Secondly, the Eastern Route would connect to Rottenrow East and link to Avenues Plus routes on George St and John Knox St. Thirdly, the Northern Route goes from Cathedral St east of the college towards the new Sighthill Bridge. The survey asks about different options for streets on the routes. Stakeholder workshops will take place after Easter.
First featured: Digest 74, Item 2.1.
Website links: Public Engagement Web Hub.
Deadline: 8 May 2022.

1.2: Yorkhill to Anderston Liveable Neighbourhoods

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: From Yorkhill, Kelvinhaugh, Stobcross, Sandyford, Finnieston to Anderston.
Subject: The latest Liveable Neighbourhoods consultation covers the area between the River Clyde, River Kelvin, Kelvingrove Park and M8. Popular active travel infrastructure in the area includes NCN7/75 and the West City Way. Also, the (almost finished?) lanes funded by City Deal on Bunhouse Rd and Old Dumbarton Rd. Further segregated cyclepaths are due for Yorkhill and Kelvingrove Cycling Village. These include Minerva St and Haugh Rd (where Bike for Good have their West hub). However, there are still plenty of gaps, as shown when the riverbank was shut during COP26. A new bridge across the Clyde at the Riverside Museum is due to start construction. Meanwhile, the SEC’s redevelopment may close off the red ‘smartie tube’ bridge at Exhibition Centre station. The M8 motorway remains a barrier to destinations like the Mitchell Library and Anderston station.
First featured: Digest 107, Item 1.11.
Website links: Yorkhill to Anderston LN (Commonplace).
Deadline: June 2022.

1.3: Ardrossan Harbour Consultation

Council: North Ayrshire.
Subject: Ardrossan Harbour and ferry terminal redevelopment “…will improve the facilities and operations at Ardrossan to meet the additional capacity provided by the MV Glen Sannox.” The much-delayed ferry is due to enter service later in 2022. Part of the proposals are about active travel routes into the site. The consultation interface is 3D but the plans are squashed into slides from a presentation. There seem to be walking and cycling lanes into both the west side (Harbour Rd) and east side (behind the Housing Association building). The presentation also mentions cycle parking, which may be at the south-west corner of the terminal. However, the plans are very hard to read. The cycle lanes should link into the Ardrossan Connections project in the town. Despite some reaction against the project in the local paper and a petition, it has held consultation events in March/April.
First featured: Digest 109, Item 1.5.
Website links: Ardrossan Harbour Consultation page and Ardrossan Harbour survey.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

1.4: Drumchapel Local Development Framework

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: The latest framework consultation, following previous strategic ones for Glasgow North, ‘Inner East’, etc. Drumchapel is known as one of the ‘big four’ post-war council housing estates (along with Castlemilk, Easterhouse and Pollok). The Drumchapel Cycle Hub is based near the sports centre but there’s very little cycling infrastructure around the area. The map has made it past 25 comments.
First featured: Digest 102, Item 1.12.
Website links: Drumchapel Commonplace map, Drumchapel survey link and background.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

1.5: Greenock to Battery Park SfP lane

Council: Inverclyde.
Subject: A Spaces for People temporary route between Greenock town centre and a coastal park. A recent council vote was 9:2 in favour of keeping the lanes for another six months, with a further review in September. Photos in the consultation survey show a mixture of on-road ‘soft’ segregation and painted lanes on footways and across side roads. While some of the junction and bus stop treatments may not be ideal, there seem to be decent protected sections too.
Website links: Greenock Town Centre to Battery Park – Community Engagement and Inverclyde Now article on council vote.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

Section 2: Consultation Feedback

2.1: Foregate Square/James Shaw Lane, Kilmarnock (Temporary Pedestrian and Cycle Zone) TRO

Council: East Ayrshire (via Ayrshire Roads Alliance).
Subject: A TRO from a few months ago, which extends the previous Spaces for People scheme (which your author missed – apologies). James Shaw Lane has a taxi rank and car parking beside a multi-storey car park. It leads to Foregate Square at the Burns Mall Shopping Centre and the bus station (with links to pedestrianised King St). The Order bans general car traffic but allows Blue Badge holders, taxis and some loading. The council SfP page shows the painted treatment and signage at the tarmac end of James Shaw Ln. However, Google StreetView images (see above) suggest there’s an issue with enforcement. The multi-storey car park is due to be closed and demolished later this year. The new Order came into force on 24 February 2022.
Website links: Foregate Sq/James Shaw Ln TRO and Foregate Sq/James Shaw Ln plan.

2.2: Active & Sustainable Travel Strategy and Action Plan (ASTSAP), West Dunbartonshire

Council: West Dunbartonshire.
Subject: A new Active & Sustainable Travel Strategy consultation sadly finished in March. Unfortunately, GoBike don’t hear much from West Dunbartonshire Council (unlike East Dunbartonshire, where we’re Stage 1 consultees). The strategy’s website does mention networks of active travel routes but doesn’t mention standards like the revised Cycling by Design. As the graphic shows, there’s an emphasis on electric vehicles over active travel. However, it does at least mention an e-bike charging network. There is some good active travel infrastructure in West Dumbartonshire, like the Bowline. But, as in most council areas, they lack protected everyday routes outside the National Cycle Network. This includes tourist destinations like the car-centric Loch Lomond Shores. WDC share some transport and environmental functions with East Dunbartonshire and Inverclyde councils. Inverclyde recently posted a Shared Services update on behalf of the local authorities.
Website link: Active & Sustainable Travel Strategy and Action Plan site, Results of Strategy Consultation (Phase 1 PDF), ASTSAP Appendix A (Emissions PDF), ASTSAP Appendix B (Sustainable Travel. PDF).

2.3: Churchill Ave route (& Cornwall St), East Kilbride

Council: South Lanarkshire.
Subject: This consultation came up between Digests (with a deadline the day before the next one!). The route starts on Cornwall St and should solve some of the issues going east at the taxi rank. The segregated 2-way cycletracks go north on Churchill Avenue towards West Mains Rd and Aldi. The rest of the route goes south-east, where it links with an existing path towards South Lanarkshire College. An alternative route under the roundabout avoids the double road crossing but the new route doesn’t connect directly to it. Perhaps due to concerns about underpasses, from college students/staff at the consultation workshop. While the above route uses verges, it would change some kerblines and require roadworks. W Mains Rd’s Places for Everyone project drew criticism for that so there may be more flak to come. W Mains Rd is due further work to build a protected junction at Torrance Rd.
First featured: Digest 102, Item 1.4.
Website link: Churchill Ave proposal 1 (PDF), Churchill Ave proposal 2 (PDF), Churchill Ave proposal 3 (PDF) and EK town centre network phasing.

2.4: NCN74 Bothwell/Uddingston

Council: South Lanarkshire.
Subject: Also in South Lanarkshire, GoBike member Denny passed on a response from the council about re-routing NCN74 between the Raith Interchange and Uddingston. SLC said: “the proposed rerouting and improvement designs will shortly be going out to Public Consultation.” Also: “construction has started on an off-road section between North British Road and Bellshill Road. This path will now incorporate a 3m wide cycle lane accompanied by a 2m wide pedestrian pavement. It is anticipated that this work will be completed by 15 April 2022, weather depending.” This section was already a popular off-road path so the extra width should help avoid conflicts between people.

2.5: East Renfrewshire Local Development Plan 2 formally adopted

Council: East Renfrewshire.
Subject: East Ren’s new Local Development Plan finally made it over the finishing line. Following consultation, going to the Scottish Government Reporter, then Scottish Ministers (as we last heard in Digest 102, 2.5). ERC emailed: “As of 31st March 2022, the East Renfrewshire Local Development Plan 2 is now formally adopted.”
First featured: Digest 47, Item 1.5 (response: Digest 49, 1.3).
Website link: East Renfrewshire LDP2 page.

The Digest will take a break and return in May.

A handful of Traffic Regulation Orders in Glasgow plus campus routes and a Liveable Neighbourhood up for consultation. Also, an update on bike lights bagged by the Barclays site. North Lanarkshire’s plan goes to government. Consultations on the coasts of North Ayrshire and Inverclyde.

Contents
(new/updated items in bold – link jumps to article)

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. School Streets, Glasgow TRO (Merrylee/OLA)
2. Kelvin Way TRO
3. City Centre Campus/‘Learning Quarter’ (People-First infrastructure)
4. Yorkhill to Anderston Liveable Neighbourhoods
5. Ardrossan Harbour Consultation
6. Drumchapel Local Development Framework
7. Greenock to Battery Park SfP lane

Section 2: Consultation Feedback

1. Barclays, West St works – further update
2. Maryhill Road/North Woodside Road/Hopehill Road TRO
3. Nitshill Road, 40mph Speed limit (Amendment No.1) Order
4. Auldhouse Area (Traffic Management) Order 2022
5. North Lanarkshire Local Development Plan – Intention to Adopt

Section 1: Current Consultations
(in date order for responses)

1.1: School Streets, Glasgow TRO (Merrylee/OLA)

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: ‘Take 2’ of this School Streets Traffic Order. This one only covers two schools – the neighbouring Merrylee Primary School and Our Lady of the Annunciation Primary School near Langside Drive/Merrylee Rd. The boundary has been extended since the previous version of the TRO went out. It now includes parts of Cherrybank Rd and Glasserton Rd.
First featured: Digest 105, Item 1.2.
Website links: School Streets TRO – revised (combined PDF).
Deadline: 31 March 2022.

1.2: Kelvin Way TRO

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: Traffic Regulation Order to help make the temporary Spaces for People measures on Kelvin Way permanent. The street is filtered at either end. The southern end has a short 2-way protected bike lane next to 1-way access to Kelvingrove Museum. GoBike helped organise Car Free Day 2018 on Kelvin Way, which showed the potential now being realised with the current signs, paint and planters. It’s become a well-used street by people walking, cycling, running, scooting and skating. Also, it’s due to link to a wider network in the Yorkhill and Kelvingrove Cycling Village (see Yorkhill–Anderston LN post, below).
First featured: Glasgow Spaces for People blog post.
Website links: Kelvin Way TRO (combined PDF).
Deadline: 7 April.

1.3: City Centre Campus/‘Learning Quarter’ (People-First infrastructure)

Organisation: Stantec on behalf of a partnership between University of Strathclyde, City of Glasgow College and Glasgow City Council.
Area: Townhead/Cathedral St area of city centre.
Subject: Consultation on infrastructure around the universities and college north-east of the city centre (‘Learning Quarter’). Many streets nearby are already due to be part of the city’s Avenues Project, including Cathedral St and North Hanover St. This project would link between those to the uni/college campuses. Firstly, the Western Route includes steep Montrose St, as it goes past Strathclyde Uni’s ‘Heart of the Campus’ (Rottenrow Gardens). There’s another hill past City of Glasgow College towards Buchanan Bus Station. Secondly, the Eastern Route would connect to Rottenrow East and link to Avenues Plus routes on George St and John Knox St. Thirdly, the Northern Route goes from a lane east of CoGC up towards the new Sighthill Bridge. The survey asks about different options for streets on the routes. Also, the ‘web hub’ includes context and evidence about the benefits of active travel.
First featured: Digest 74, Item 2.1.
Website links: Public Engagement Web Hub.
Deadline: 8 May 2022.

1.4: Yorkhill to Anderston Liveable Neighbourhoods

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: From Yorkhill, Kelvinhaugh, Stobcross, Sandyford, Finnieston to Anderston.
Subject: The latest Liveable Neighbourhoods consultation covers the area between the River Clyde, River Kelvin, Kelvingrove Park and M8. Popular active travel infrastructure in the area includes NCN7/75 and the West City Way. Also, the (almost finished?) lanes funded by City Deal on Bunhouse Rd and Old Dumbarton Rd. Further segregated cyclepaths are due for Yorkhill and Kelvingrove Cycling Village. These include Minerva St and Haugh Rd (where Bike for Good have their West hub). However, there are still plenty of gaps, as shown when the riverbank was shut during COP26. A new bridge across the Clyde at the Riverside Museum is due to start construction. Meanwhile, the SEC’s redevelopment may close off the red ‘smartie tube’ bridge at Exhibition Centre station. The M8 motorway remains a barrier to destinations like the Mitchell Library and Anderston station.
First featured: Digest 107, Item 1.11.
Website links: Yorkhill to Anderston LN (Commonplace).
Deadline: June 2022.

1.5: Ardrossan Harbour Consultation

Council: North Ayrshire.
Subject: Ardrossan Harbour and ferry terminal redevelopment “…will improve the facilities and operations at Ardrossan to meet the additional capacity provided by the MV Glen Sannox.” The much-delayed ferry is due to enter service later in 2022. Part of the proposals are about active travel routes into the site. The consultation interface is 3D but the plans are squashed into slides from a presentation. There seem to be walking and cycling lanes into both the west side (Harbour Rd – see image, above) and east side (behind the Housing Association building). The presentation also mentions cycle parking, which may be at the south-west corner of the terminal. However, the plans are very hard to read. The cycle lanes should link into the Ardrossan Connections project in the town. Despite some reaction against the project in the local paper and a petition, its events continue into April.
Website links: Ardrossan Harbour Consultation page and Ardrossan Harbour survey.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

1.6: Drumchapel Local Development Framework

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: The latest framework consultation, following previous strategic ones for Glasgow North, ‘Inner East’, etc. Drumchapel is known as one of the ‘big four’ post-war council housing estates (along with Castlemilk, Easterhouse and Pollok). The Drumchapel Cycle Hub is based near the sports centre but there’s very little cycling infrastructure around the area. The map has made it past 25 comments.
First featured: Digest 102, Item 1.12.
Website links: Drumchapel Commonplace map, Drumchapel survey link and background.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

1.7: Greenock to Battery Park SfP lane

Council: Inverclyde.
Subject: A Spaces for People temporary route between Greenock town centre and a coastal park. A recent council vote was 9:2 in favour of keeping the lanes for another six months, with a further review in September. Photos in the consultation survey show a mixture of on-road ‘soft’ segregation and painted lanes on footways and across side roads. While some of the junction and bus stop treatments may not be ideal, there seem to be decent protected sections too.
Website links: Greenock Town Centre to Battery Park – Community Engagement and Inverclyde Now article on council vote.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

Section 2: Consultation Feedback

2.1: Barclays, West St works – further update

Organisation: Barclays.
Area: South West City Way at Barclays site.
Subject: GoBike convenor Thomas has followed up on Tor’s efforts in the last Digest. The barriers around the cycleway next to Barclays buildings on West St have been removed. However, the bike traffic lights remain covered up so there is no phase for bikes at the Kingston St junction. Apparently, it’s not scheduled to be fully open until May, despite many people already using it. Thomas asked about opening the junction or at least getting signs to warn it wasn’t yet operational. Barclays responded: “…this area is due to complete roughly in May We’re hoping this might be all sorted a little sooner, but they did mention this all depends on the weather. In terms of the signs, I have asked to see if this is something we can look into for you.”
First featured: SWCW/Barclays works blog post.
Website links: Twitter thread about West St SWCW junction.

2.2: Maryhill Road/North Woodside Road/Hopehill Road TRO

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: Prohibiting turns onto Maryhill Rd from North Woodside Rd cycle crossing. An attempt to deal with the potential problem of turning across pedestrian crossings when bike lights are at green and pedestrian green man is on at same time. The council have added a few cycle-only ‘Give ways’ since their previous plan. It’s hard to see how they’ll help if folk turn right from N Woodside Rd onto Maryhill Rd. Also, would they complicate access for people with a visual impairment? A protected junction, like the ones on Victoria Rd, may have been a better alternative. However, at least the diagonal crossing is direct for the most popular crossing. N Woodside Rd is currently under construction – an earlier visual of how the lanes might look appeared in Digest 28, Item 1.1 in 2018. The Order was made on 11 March 2022.
First featured: Digest 88, Item 1.2.
Website links: Maryhill Rd/N Woodside Rd TRO plan (PDF).

2.3: Nitshill Road, 40mph Speed limit (Amendment No.1) Order 2022

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: Traffic Order made on 18 March 2022 (amending a previous order from 2014 for Barrhead Road, Hurlet Road and Nitshill Road). This means moving 40mph signs slightly further down Nitshill Rd, past the entrance to a new development on a former church site. Apparently, a petrol station with shop, drive-thru and takeaway were approved for the site in 2018 (which is close to junction 3 of the M77). Also, it will include 52 car parking spaces, with a few disabled bays and electric vehicle charging points. The only active travel features seem to be a few mini-zebra crossings and 12 cycle parking spaces (perhaps for takeaway couriers?). If locals want to use the petrol station shop later at night, they’d have to cross five lanes of 40mph traffic. Recently, the Greens’ Cllr Christy Mearns has challenged the process of approving drive-thrus at a GCC Committee.
First featured: 
Website links: Nitshill TRO 40mph amendment plan (PDF) (related ReGlasgow article, planning application and proposed site plan).

2.4: Auldhouse Area (Traffic Management) Order 2022

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: Traffic restrictions in the triangle between Kilmarnock Rd, Auldhouse Rd and Nether Auldhouse Rd. The order was made on 18 March 2022 with one change from the consultation draft (July 2021). That is Mossgiel Road, from Kirkoswald Road to Alloway Road, is to remain two-way. While there are some back lanes to use for cycling there are no cycle contraflows, as discussed in Brenda’s recent blog. Other developments nearby include the redevelopment of Shawbridge Arcade on Ashtree Rd into affordable housing by Wheatley Group (perhaps in partnership with Connecting Pollokshaws and their Sustrans funding).
First featured: Digest 92, Item 1.8.
Website links: Auldhouse Area TRO 2022 (PDF).

2.5: North Lanarkshire Local Development Plan – Intention to Adopt

Council: North Lanarkshire.
Subject: NLC notified GoBike their Local Development Plan (LDP) is being submitted to the Scottish Government. The consultation for this document was three years ago. Digest 30, Item 1.5 details what little there was about active travel in the document at the time. Ministers have 28 days to ask NLC for any amendments. If they have no objections to the plan it will go on to be adopted by the council.
First featured: Digest 28, Item 1.7.
Website links: NLC LDP letter.

Traffic Orders in this issue include School Streets road restrictions and banned turns on Haggs Rd at Pollok Park. Glasgow’s Active Travel Strategy has gone through changes and council committee.

The first two Liveable Neighbourhoods areas, Langside–Toryglen and Ruchill–Cowlairs, have progressed to planning projects. The next two, Dennistoun–Cranhill and Govan–Kingston, are still online but there’s probably not much time if you want your suggestion included in the first lot of projects…

Contents
(new/updated items in bold – link jumps to article)

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. Braidcraft Road TRO
2. School Streets, Glasgow TRO
3. Glespin to Douglas pathway survey
4. Haggs Road TRO
5. Drumchapel Local Development Framework
6. Dennistoun to Cranhill Liveable Neighbourhoods
7. Govan to Kingston Liveable Neighbourhoods
8. Malls Mire survey
9. Ardrossan Connections Proposals
10. Raeberry St Quietway (Connecting Woodside)

Section 2: Consultation Feedback

1. Active Travel Strategy approved
2. Ruchill to Cowlairs Liveable Neighbourhoods – Stage 1 report
3. Langside to Toryglen Liveable Neighbourhoods – Stage 1 report
4. Glasgow Uni campus redevelopment newsletter

Section 1: Current Consultations
(in date order for responses)

1.1: Braidcraft Rd TRO

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: Braidcraft Rd, Pollok (west of Pollok Country Park).
Subject: Traffic Order to help make Spaces for People temporary infrastructure permanent. Previously out for consultation along with nearby Brockburn Rd. According to the council it’s come out again “due to a naming error” (possibly a mix up between Langton Terrace and Langton Crescent). Previously, there was a reaction against the lanes including a banner and a petition.
First featured: Digest 100, Item 1.6.
Website links: Braidcraft Rd TRO documents (combined PDF file).
Deadline: 7 February 2022.

1.2: School Streets, Glasgow TRO

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: Traffic Order covering streets near 19 primary schools across the city. Makes temporary road restrictions for School Streets permanent. These come into effect at the beginning and end of the school day (as shown in signs at St Anne’s Primary School at the top of this issue).
Website links: School Streets TRO documents (combined PDF file).
Deadline: 18 February 2022.

1.3: Glespin to Douglas pathway survey

Organisation: Community Action Lanarkshire (Rural Development Trust).
Area: Ayr Rd (A70) in rural South Lanarkshire, south of Lanark.
Subject: A consultation about potential routes west from the village of Douglas to the hamlet of Glespin. This came out of work for the Make Your Way project and would connect to the local primary school as well as other services. Also, it fits into strategic plans to link the River Ayr Walk in East Ayrshire with the Clyde Walkway in South Lanarkshire. However, a route on the eastern side of Douglas, on Ayr Rd towards NCN74, failed to win Sustrans funding in late 2021.
First featured: Digest 104, Item 1.3.
Website links: Glespin to Douglas survey and background about Make Your Way.
Deadline: 21 February 2022.

1.4: Haggs Road TRO

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: Haggs Rd by Pollok Park.
Subject: Changing a former one-way exit road from Pollok Park into a two-way entrance to the Burrell Collection (which reopens in Spring). Proposals would ban going straight on into the park from Shawmoss Rd and right turns from Haggs Rd. The council say anyone driving south on Haggs Rd, who wants to go into the park, will have to go past the entrance for about 3/4 of a mile to do a u-turn at a roundabout then drive back up to turn in to the left. It seems none of GoBike’s suggestions to an earlier consultation have been acted on. Issues included exemptions for cycling, allowing entry from Shawmoss Rd and a raised road table for the Haggs Rd shared path. See the following link for further details.
Website links: Haggs Rd TRO documents (PDF) and GoBike consultation response (PDF).
Deadline: 25 February 2022.

1.5: Drumchapel Local Development Framework

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: The latest framework consultation, following previous strategic ones for Glasgow North, ‘Inner East’, etc. Drumchapel is known as one of the ‘big four’ post-war council housing estates (along with Castlemilk, Easterhouse and Pollok). The Drumchapel Cycle Hub is based near the sports centre but there’s very little cycling infrastructure around the area. The map has now made it past 20 comments (thanks to any of you who commented after the last Digest).
First featured: Digest 102, Item 1.12.
Website links: Drumchapel Commonplace map, Drumchapel survey link and background.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

1.6: Dennistoun to Cranhill Liveable Neighbourhoods

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: From Dennistoun (including the Necropolis but not GRI), Milnbank, Haghill, Riddrie, Carntyne to Cranhill.
Subject: Transport links include roads like Duke St, Alexandra Parade, Cumbernauld Rd and Edinburgh Rd plus a few train stations. Apart from a few parks most big destinations are towards the city centre end – Necropolis, Tennents brewery and City Park offices. While Glasgow Royal Infirmary is just outside western edge of area. Dennistoun has held on to a few Spaces for People measures (from its failed LTN) but there’s very little infrastructure elsewhere. Consultation events were postponed – further events are due in February. Over 400 comments on the map so far.
First featured: Digest 100, Item 1.9.
Website links: Dennistoun to Cranhill LN Commonplace map, Dennistoun to Cranhill Place Standard survey.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

1.7: Govan to Kingston Liveable Neighbourhoods

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: From ‘Greater Govan’ (including Cessnock, Kinning Park, Plantation) and Ibrox to Kingston.
Subject: ‘Everyday journeys’ around major transport links including Govan bus station, subway stations, Paisley Road West, Clyde Tunnel, Squinty Bridge/Clyde Arc and the forthcoming footbridge. Major destinations include Ibrox Stadium and the Southern General/Queen Elizabeth Uni Hospital. There’s some cycling infrastructure around Festival Park/Pacific Quay but no proper links to major routes like the nearby South West City Way. There have been over 200 comments on the map so far.
First featured: Digest 100, Item 1.10.
Website links: Govan to Kingston LN Commonplace map, Govan to Kingston Place Standard survey.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

1.8: Malls Mire survey

Organisation: Urban Roots.
Area: Woodland park between Toryglen Asda, Polmadie Recycling Centre in Glasgow and Rutherglen Glencairn Football Club in South Lanarkshire.
Subject: An evaluation about the newly created park and paths. The site wraps around a regenerated housing estate, linking former wasteground with the woodland and ponds. Trails, outdoor play equipment and a bike pump track have been installed. Also, there are 3m wide shared paths to create a lit, mostly traffic-free route. It links Prospecthill Circus west to Polmadie Rd and east to the corner of Toryglen Rd/Pinkerton Ave in Rutherglen (about half a mile from Bike Town‘s workshop).
First featured: Digest 74, Item 3.4.
Website links: Malls Mire survey.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

1.9: Ardrossan Connections Proposals

Council: North Ayrshire Council.
Subject: The next stage of the Ardrossan Connections project following consultation last year. The draft proposals cover the town centre and link between NCN753, in the west, and NCN73 to the east. They include both 1-way and 2-way cycletracks plus some shared paths. Comments on the proposals page so far seem to be split between people welcoming the measures and others who think they’re unnecessary and affect car parking.
First featured: Digest 78, Item 1.2.
Website links: Ardrossan Connections proposals and online design workshops during late Jan/early Feb 2022.
Deadline: No obvious deadline (but plans are due to be finalised by Spring 2022).

1.10: Raeberry St Quietway (Connecting Woodside)

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: Raeberry St, North Woodside (west of Maryhill Rd).
Subject: Further project from Connecting Woodside with junction redesigns at either end of the street and new secure cycle parking. The Maryhill Rd end would be narrower and the crossing moved to make a direct link to Trossachs St (towards Garscube Rd and the canal). The new North Kelvinside/Woodside RPZ sets the car parking bays.
First featured: Digest 99, Item 1.12.
Website links: Raeberry St Quietway ‘storymap’, Raeberry St plans PDF, Raeberry St survey.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

Section 2: Consultation Feedback

2.1: Active Travel Strategy approved

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: The draft strategy from autumn last year has been amended and then approved by a council committee. While strategy documents come and go, not many adopt as many GoBike policies as this one. As well as a finalised document, there are reports about the City Network’s financing and delivery. The eye catching figure of £1.8bn of benefits comes from the former. The latter lays out some of the choices that will have to be made about road space and other issues. It remains to be seen what decisions are made and how the ATS gets on with its big brother, Glasgow’s Transport Strategy.
First featured: Digest 97, Item 1.5.
Website links: GCC Active Travel Strategy article, Glasgow Active Travel Strategy – final version (PDF), ATS Interim Delivery Plan (PDF), ATS Strategic Business Case (PDF) and ATS Consultation report.

2.2: Ruchill to Cowlairs Liveable Neighbourhoods – Stage 1 report

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: Consultation for Ruchill to Cowlairs (and Langside to Toryglen) Liveable Neighbourhoods started in late Sept/early Oct 2021. There was no closing date (and the Commonplace maps are still open). However, the council have announced the next stage of the process – a ‘Stage 1’ report split into two documents. The first document shows local history and background about Liveable Neighbourhoods. The second document shows the potential projects planned for the area. Ruchill to Cowlairs had fewer comments (86) than Langside to Toryglen (367). Despite that, both have a similar number of projects (13 projects versus 15). However, Ruchill–Cowlairs has further sub-projects within those on a wide range of things. Examples include the new Possilpoint Community Centre building, Routes to School maintenance and the ‘Milky Way’ between Borron St and Keppochhill Rd (near Graham’s Dairy).
First featured: Digest 96, Item 1.5.
Website links: Ruchill to Cowlairs LN – Stage 1 Report, Part 1 (background), Ruchill to Cowlairs LN – Stage 1 Report, Part 2 (projects) [24MB].

2.3: Langside to Toryglen Liveable Neighbourhoods – Stage 1 report

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: Langside to Toryglen LN also has a Stage 1 report of two halves, along the same lines as Ruchill to Cowlairs. There are some eye-catching projects in the second document, including pedestrianising part of the road around the Battle of Langside memorial. Also, there are a few things to make Cathcart Rd more bearable for cycling and walking, like the Letherby Triangle project.
First featured: Digest 96, Item 1.4.
Website links: Langside to Toryglen LN – Stage 1 Report, Part 1 (background), Langside to Toryglen LN – Stage 1 Report, Part 2 (projects) [32MB].

2.4: Glasgow Uni campus redevelopment newsletter

Organisation: Multiplex/University of Glasgow.
Subject: It seems Multiplex have got a bit behind with their U of G newsletters and we’ve had a few months without any (they may need to ask for an extension!). Their January newsletter has the latest about the campus buildings and demolitions. It doesn’t mention that the experience cycling uphill on University Avenue is even more stressful than usual just now due to roadworks.
Website links: Glasgow Uni campus newsletter January 2022 (PDF) (or see the Powerpoint version on Multiplex’s website).

This is the second Digest during the pre-election period so things are still a bit quiet. This Digest is mostly about Glasgow with a wee bit from North Ayrshire and East Dunbartonshire.

Again, this Digest features an update about recent infrastructure developments. This time focusing on Glasgow’s latest Spaces for People measures (following on from Howard St last time). A few new lanes are going in Pollok and some in the north east of the city. The city centre has some new planter boxes and should get another new lane (eventually).

Glasgow Spaces for People Update

• Braidcraft Rd plans.
• Brockburn Rd plans and GoBike’s response to ‘bikelash’ in Glasgow Times making front page news!
• Cambridge St plans which may not have started yet due to water main works (and the usual considerate parking).
• Planter boxes installed on Candleriggs, Merchant City (to make way for outdoor seating?). More on Bell Street, Wilson Street and Trongate.
• London Rd roadworks near Fielden St and more near Celtic Park (possibly to lay cable?). Missing zebras/armadillos have been replaced outside Celtic Park/Emirates and lane cleaned.
• Royston Rd plans.
• Wallacewell Rd plans.

Barriers Overload Update

Dawsholm Park barriers – three(!) sets added to new path.

Contents
(new consultations in bold – link jumps to article)

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. Ardrossan Connections – Design Festival (workshops 14/21 April)
2. Glasgow City Council – (Y)our City Centre Districts, (Y)our Ideas & Proposals Workshops (22/26 April)
3. East Dunbartonshire Council – Climate Conversation (online event 22 April)
4. Maryhill North Transformational Regeneration Area – Masterplan consultation (ends 23 April)
5. Glasgow Urban Sports – GUSM74 Urban Sports Sculpture Park survey

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

None this time.

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

1. Malls Mire newsletter – March 2021

Section 1: Current Consultations
(in date order for responses)

1.1: Ardrossan Connections – Design Festival

First covered in Digest 78 (1.2), Ardrossan Connections is about improving links and public spaces in the Ayrshire coastal town. See the webpage about the project or information boards for more background or view comments on the Ardrossan Commonplace map.

The latest phase of the project is a ‘Design Festival’ from 7–27 April. In other words, some design workshops (announced just after the last Digest). GoBike members will probably be more interested in the ‘Connections’ design workshops on 14 and 21 April. There are also ‘Placemaking’ workshops on 20 and 26 April. Each workshop is shown on the Design Festival page – click the one you want to go to its sign-up link.

Alternatively, if you can’t make any of the workshops, you might be able to use the Ardrossan ‘padlet’ to add a design idea as a pin on the map (zoom in – a lot!).

1.2: Glasgow City Council – (Y)our City Centre Districts, (Y)our Ideas & Proposals Workshops

The city centre districts projects have been featured several times, including Digest 74, 1.2. These are about major regeneration, with an emphasis on transport and community. The four districts being consulted on in this phase are Cowcaddens, Townhead, Merchant City and ‘Learning Quarter’ (Cathedral St, etc.). The districts Commonplace map is still open but the focus will be on the outcome of the latest workshops.

Proposals Workshops are coming up for Merchant City on 22 April and ‘Learning Quarter’ on 26 April. Timetables for each online event are on the City Centre Strategy workshops page.

Cowcaddens and Townhead have already had their workshops. The same webpage showcases the themes which came out of those. ‘(Y)our Ideas’, are numbered – clicking each takes you to a PDF summary about it. Underneath the themes is a button to a survey – it asks which ideas you see as highest priority.

In due course, a similar setup will probably appear for Merchant City/’Learning Quarter’ after their workshops.

1.3: East Dunbartonshire Council – Climate Conversation 

This initiative was first covered in Digest 82, Item 1.7. East Dunbartonshire Council didn’t apply for Spaces for People funding but sustainable transport is part of their Climate Conversation webpage. Subsequently, this will feed into three future consultations on the environment, including a new Active Travel Strategy.

The last of their Climate Conversation events is on 22 April (online, using MS Teams). The overall Climate Conversation itself will run until 2 May 2021.

1.4: Maryhill North Transformational Regeneration Area – Masterplan consultation 

As mentioned in Digest 83, Item 1.4, this regeneration project is looking at housing and public spaces in Gilshochill, south of Summerston train station.

There are many visualisations on the Maryhill North consultation page, most of which look promising. However, there are some very sharp angles in the zigzag paths, which don’t look very bike-friendly (as seen in the feature photo at the top of this Digest). Also, some of the realigned streets appear to be ‘shared space’, without any pavements. The theory behind shared space is that drivers pay more attention if pavements and markings are removed. However, the reality is often pedestrians get startled by cars and have to dart out the way (or in this case, dive into a hedge!).

If you want to comment on the TRA plans, you have to register first on the above page. Consultation closes on 23 April.

1.5: Glasgow Urban Sports – GUSM74 Urban Sports Sculpture Park survey

A few comments in the city centre districts Commonplace map ask about more space for skaters. GUS’s M74 skatepark project would provide that under a flyover near West St subway station. First covered in Digest 81, Item 1.9, the GUSM74 survey is still open for BMX riders, skaters, or their families, to have their say about the park.

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

None this time.

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

3.1: Malls Mire newsletter – March 2021

The first issue of this newsletter featured in Digest 74, Item 3.4. The Malls Mire project is creating play areas and woodland paths between Toryglen and Rutherglen.

The March 2021 newsletter covers the latest construction news about the bike pump track, playgrounds, landscaping and more. See further background about the project on Clyde Gateway’s Malls Mire webpage.

In this Digest there are consultation events for areas either side of the M8. There’s a return to pre-pandemic plans for a few City Ways. Also, adding paths and removing the precinct in Motherwell.

If you’re in the city, see Andy’s three infrastructure routes around Glasgow to take in Spaces for People infrastructure. He’s also started to inform GoBike about closures and diversions; if you hear of any please do let us know.

Looking further ahead towards spring, and an election, Pedal on Parliament have news about their events in April.

This Digest includes links in the Contents page so you can jump straight to a topic if you want to.

Contents
(new consultations in bold)

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. Glasgow City Council – (Y)our Districts Online Ideas Workshops – ‘Learning Quarter’, rescheduled online sessions Thursday 18th February
2. North Lanarkshire Council – Ravenscraig Active Travel Links – Friday 19 February
3. Queens Cross Housing Association – Woodside Making Places: updated masterplan and online public meeting – Thursday 25 February
4. Glasgow City Council – St Andrews Drive (Sustainable Transport Route) Order – Sunday 7 March
5. Glasgow City Council – East City Way Phase 1 (London Drive to Daldowie Road) Order – Friday 12 March
6. Glasgow City Council – London Road/Hamilton Road (30mph Speed Limit) Order – Friday 12 March

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

1. North Lanarkshire Council – Town Visions

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

1. Glasgow City Council – North Kelvin and North Woodside (Traffic Management & Parking Controls) Order
2. North Ayrshire Council – Ardrossan Connections

Section 1: Current Consultations
(in date order for responses)

1.1: Glasgow City Council – (Y)our Districts Online Ideas Workshops – ‘Learning Quarter’

GCC’s ongoing Districts consultations featured in Digest 78, including this one for the ‘Learning Quarter’. The rescheduled workshops are on Thursday 18th February. There’s an afternoon session (2–4pm) and an evening session (6–8pm) both online.

You can still comment on the Districts Commonplace map. Other relevant consultations about the wider area appeared in Digest 74, including Strathclyde Uni’s proposed active travel project. There’s also the Avenues Plus project for Duke St/John Knox St in a few years time.

1.2: North Lanarkshire Council – Ravenscraig Active Travel Links

An email from North Lanarkshire Council on 15 February is about a very short consultation period for active travel routes into part of the Ravenscraig site in Motherwell. It says:

“Proposals for new cycling and walking routes through Ravenscraig are being published for the public to give their views.

We are working with Sustrans and Ravenscraig Limited to improve connections between Ravenscraig and neighbouring communities and to expand the active travel network.

An online consultation, including a short survey, will run from Monday 8 February for two weeks. It is available at www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/regeneration-and-investment/ravenscraig-active-travel-links

The two key elements of the project are:

• a south-north link to connect Craigneuk, via “The Castings” housing development, off Meadowhead Road, with the Regional Sports Facility (RSF) and new public park, and
• an east-west link to connect Craigneuk, via “The Castings” housing development, to New College Lanarkshire Motherwell Campus.

It’s proposed the paths will have lighting, seating, landscaping with wildflower areas and woodland planting, play features along the route, fencing and CCTV where possible.

“As the Ravenscraig site develops with new housing, business, retail, schools and leisure, we want the area to be accessible for everyone for walking, cycling and wheeling,” said Jonathan Speed, Senior Project Manager at North Lanarkshire Council.

“These active travel routes will provide direct, off-road links from the south to the facilities within Ravenscraig, as well as connecting to a wider network of paths to Motherwell, Wishaw and Carfin.

“The project is an important part of the Ravenscraig masterplan, and we would like to hear from as many people as possible during our consultation to ensure the proposals meet the need of residents.”

The project is being funded by Transport Scotland and Sustrans, through their ‘Places for Everyone’ programme.

Feedback from the consultation will inform the final plans for the project, then the council will apply for planning permission. Subject to the necessary approvals and securing funding, it is anticipated work to construct the first of the two active travel routes would start later this year.”

This seems to have been taken over by the council from Central Scotland Green Network (CSGN) who started the project. While an active travel route is welcome, this only covers the south-east corner of a vast area. This route is in contrast to the Ravenscraig Access Infrastructure (RAI) Project from Digest 75, Item 1.2 – a dual carriageway with shared pavement. While there are road links in all directions there are no active travel links to the west of the site (behind Dalzell Works) towards the town centre. We can only hope something comes out of item 2.1, below, to improve the situation.

Deadline is this week, Friday 19 February. If you know the area at all, please fill in the survey.

1.3: Queens Cross Housing Association – Woodside Making Places: updated masterplan and online public meeting – 25 February

This featured in Digest 79 about the Woodside area, between Maryhill Rd and Garscube Rd. It could become an important link along N Woodside Rd and St George’s Rd to the segregated cycleway being completed on Garscube Rd (A81). The consultation map is on the updated Woodside Making Places website. There is an online public meeting on Thursday 25th February.

1.4: Glasgow City Council – St Andrews Drive (Sustainable Transport Route) Order – Sunday 7 March

GoBike first reported on plans for St Andrews Drive in a Consultation Extra in late November 2019. The route would extend the South West City Way (SWCW), the segregated cycleway along Shields Rd. It currently ends at a crossing on St Andrews Drive. The extension would roughly double the length of the SWCW and create a segregated route from the ‘Squiggly’ Bridge, all the way past Maxwell Park to Pollok Country Park.

Glasgow City Council have now announced a Traffic Regulation Order for the length of the St Andrews Dr route. There’s also a SAD notice, SAD report and SAD wee Statement of Reasons. These seem to deal with parking to clear the way for the route.

Further details are still available on the consultation website from late 2019/early 2020. It includes a long ‘Storymap’ and links to PDFs of technical plans for the route (starting at Shields Rd): sections 1–3, sections 4–6, sections 7–9, sections 10–12 and section 13 (Dumbreck/Haggs/Titwood Rd junction).

The existing South West City Way is 2-way (bi-directional) with both lanes on one side of the road. The extension would be the same but, instead of using kerbs as segregation, it would use black and white ‘cycle lane separators’ (also known as zebras/orcas/armadillos). These had already been used on Archerhill Rd, Knightswood. Since then we’ve become more used to seeing them on many of Glasgow’s Spaces for People routes during 2020.

A GoBike response to the SWCW extension plans was sent to Glasgow City Council in late January 2020. It covered points about the choice of route, side road junctions, design elements, 2-way provision, speed limits and implementation. It also gave detailed feedback about parts of the route, especially junctions, like at Dumbreck/Haggs/Titwood Road at Pollok Park.

It’s not clear whether GoBike’s points have been taken on board or if designs have been amended. Nor is there any detail about when construction might start. However, it could mean GCC are trying to do some of it during March, before the end of Financial Year. There’s a consultation period for the TRO with a deadline of 7 March. See the GCC website at www.glasgow.gov.uk/proposedtro.

1.5: Glasgow City Council – East City Way Phase 1 (London Drive to Daldowie Road) Order – Friday 12 March

East City Way, Phase 1 had a consultation event over two years ago, as mentioned in a Consultation Extra from October 2018. Preparations for work to begin on the ECW weren’t announced until March 2020 and were then halted by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, GoBike put in a response to the draft plans shortly afterwards. Work eventually started near Mount Vernon station in late summer 2020 (after a further delay which angered a local Tory councillor).

A new order from Glasgow City Council suggests Phase 1 might finally be completed soon. The TRO covers the section that’s been under construction between London Drive and Daldowie Road (next to the Dog’s Trust). An email to GoBike says:

“I now enclose a copy of the press notice of the proposed Order, relevant map, statement of reasons and 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 Group Manager, Technical Services, Neighbourhoods and Sustainability, Exchange House, 231 George Street, Glasgow, G1 1RX or email SustainableTransport@glasgow.gov.uk and it must be received by Friday 12th March 2021.”

Although it’s taken a long time, Phase 1 of the East City Way is welcome. It turns the former filter lane into 2-way bike lanes and should make the junction under the railway bridge safer for pedestrians as well as people cycling. While it’s a neat solution for the junction, it’s unfortunate that it doesn’t match up with the existing 1-way segregated lanes on Hamilton Rd. Some cyclists will have to cross over at the lights to continue their journey eastbound while others might choose to stay on the road all the way.

It remains to be seen if smooth new tarmac might tempt them into the cycle lane, away from London Road’s usual roughcast road surface. At the western end there are nearly 2 miles until you reach the Spaces for People lanes at the Shell petrol station. This stretch was traditionally a main route into Glasgow and had a higher speed limit to match. However, that is about to change…

1.6: Glasgow City Council – London Road/Hamilton Road (30mph Speed Limit) Order – Friday 12 March

Closely related to the previous item is this order to change the speed limit on a long stretch of London Rd and Hamilton Rd. Since the M74 extension was built, London Rd has become less well used as a trunk road (apart from on Celtic matchdays). The new limit starts near the Premier Inn on Hamilton Rd (A74/A721), goes past the Dog’s Trust and Mt Vernon then all the way along London Rd to join the current 30mph limit at Dewar’s distillery. It’s a distance of about 3.5 miles on a very rough road surface that isn’t very cycling friendly. While it’s unlikely to become heaven for cycling any time soon, it is a step in the right direction.

GoBike received an almost identical message to the London Rd/Hamilton Rd one, above, so it’s not worth repeating. Here’s the 30mph notice, 30mph map, 30mph report and 30mph Statement of Reasons.

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

2.1: North Lanarkshire Council – Town Visions

North Lanarkshire Council have been consulting about their town centres for a few years using various methods, including the Place Standard tool. During 2020, NLC rebranded these processes as ‘Town Visions’. This covers eight towns: Airdrie, Bellshill, Coatbridge, Cumbernauld, Kilsyth, Motherwell, Shotts and Wishaw.

The plans shown so far range from relatively minor changes in Shotts to demolishing large parts of Motherwell town centre and building a few new railway bridges (see image above). By the way, these are different ones to the demolitions and new railway ‘underbridge’ covered in Digest 75. The main issue driving these is economic development, since there will be less retail in town centres in future, but active travel is part of the mix too.

NLC have been consulting with local stakeholders ahead of further public consultation due later in the year. See the Town Visions webpage for links to PDFs of each current town plan.

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

3.1: Glasgow City Council – North Kelvin and North Woodside (Traffic Management & Parking Controls) Order

This order featured back in Digest 55 (Item 1.5). It covers a large area on the northern edge of the Woodside project featured above (Item 1.2) and west of Maryhill Rd. Along similar lines to previous schemes in Partick and other areas, it establishes a Restricted Parking Zone (RPZ). An RPZ marks car parking bays on roads throughout the area and charges for them both hourly through parking meters or annually through residents permits. However, all spaces are available on a ‘first come first served’ basis.

GoBike had commented on the draft plans and a few amendments were made by the council. To refresh your memory of the plans, see: relevant map A, relevant map B, relevant map C, statement of reasons, detailed report and frequently asked questions (FAQs).

GoBike’s response to these RPZ proposals was sent on 24 March 2020. On 8 February 2021 we received a reply:

“I note your comments regarding end-on and angled bay parking. During the design phase of the project parallel parking bays were preferred over end-on and angled bays. Where possible we have aimed to avoid end-on and angled bays with only a minimal amount included within the plans. Unfortunately the Council cannot control driving behaviours and preferences when it comes to parking.

I can confirm that another team in the Council is working on sustainable transport and cycle projects within the area, and I will pass on your noted comments for their consideration.

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

So, we can look forward to future correspondence on this one (on or before January 2022?).

3.2: North Ayrshire Council – Ardrossan Connections

GoBike have been sent a follow-up email after the initial Ardrossan Connections consultation finished earlier in the month. There’s an update on the project website, including a recording of parts of the launch event (with automatic subtitles if you want a laugh). Further online consultation events are due in March.

In this Digest there are two projects by housing associations to improve active travel connections. The South Lanarkshire, (Y)our Districts and Woodside consultations are each from a wider ongoing series of events but could play a big part in shaping the areas they cover. Lastly there’s a follow-up about East Renfrewshire and a few newsletters.

If you’re in the city, see Andy’s three infrastructure routes around Glasgow to take in new Spaces for People infrastructure. He’s also started to inform GoBike about closures and diversions; if you hear of any please do let us know.

This Digest includes links in the Contents page so you can jump straight to a topic if you want to.

Contents
(new consultations in bold)

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. North Ayrshire Council – Ardrossan Connections Project, closes 3 February
2. South Lanarkshire Council – Active travel online consultations, all close 8 February
3. Glasgow City Council – (Y)our Districts Online Ideas Workshops – ‘Learning Quarter’, rescheduled online sessions Thursday 18th February
4. Queens Cross Housing Association – Woodside Making Places: updated masterplan and online public meeting – 25 February

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

None

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

1. Fenwick Rd, East Refrewshire – online meeting follow-up
2. New Gorbals Housing Association – Planning application 20/03363/FUL
3. Sustrans – Glasgow Cycle Counters
4. Urban Roots – Malls Mire newsletter
5. Multiplex – Glasgow University campus newsletters
6. North Lanarkshire Council – Local Development Plan Progress Update

Section 1: Current Consultations
(in date order for responses)

1.1: North Ayrshire Council – Ardrossan Connections Project (closes 3 February)

As covered in Digest 78, Sustrans are running a Commonplace consultation about Ardrossan town centre for North Ayrshire Council and Ardrossan Community Development Trust. This project seems to focus on the on-road bit between NCN73 and NCN753. If you know the area, see the Ardrossan Connections Commonplace map. You’ll need to be quick as it closes tomorrow, 3 February.

1.2: South Lanarkshire Council – Active travel online consultations (all close 8 February)

Not one but three consultations, as covered in Digest 78. They’re for Blantyre/Bothwell/Uddingston; Larkhall and Strathaven/Stonehouse (and surrounding villages). NCN74 passes through these towns (except Strathaven) on a mixture of roads and shared paths. None have segregated cycleways for bikes only. What routes could be upgraded and added on to form a network? This is a great chance to ask for improvements.

Strathaven has a former rail line going east-west behind Sainsbury’s which could make a great cycle path. Most routes in Stonehouse are on road, including NCN74. The A71 cuts off part of its former rail line but it does have others towards Strathaven, Larkhall and Blackwood. In Larkhall, NCN74 moves onto shared paths from the back of the town centre towards Ferniegair and Chatelherault Country Park.

Blantyre currently has a section of NCN74 alongside the East Kilbride Expressway and Glasgow Rd. The latter could easily be widened before the section through Stonefield Park. It then links Station Rd, Blantyre via the David Livingstone Bridge over the River Clyde to Station Rd, Bothwell. The ‘Nature Trail’ here shows what can be done with a former rail line. A new section of NCN74 is due to link from the Raith Interchange to Laighlands Rd, Bothwell. This section currently features a hay bale acting as a filter to stop drivers using the shared path as a rat run!

NCN74 continues into Uddingston on Wilkie Rd, where a new toucan crossing on Bellshill Rd has improved the route. It also links to NCN75, which goes past the train station and Uddingston Grammar School. SLC have already drawn up a network plan for Cambuslang and Newton after a similar consultation. That raised the prospect of finally re-routing NCN75 to avoid the climb up Westburn Rd – a missing link in the Clyde Walkway route that would benefit many, including local school children. Equally, a segregated route along Glasgow Rd from Uddingston towards Glasgow would be very popular.

See SLC’s active travel consultations page for links to each survey/map. You’ve got less than a week to respond – deadline for all three is 8 February.

1.3: Glasgow City Council – (Y)our Districts Online Ideas Workshops – ‘Learning Quarter’

GCC’s ongoing Districts consultations were recently mentioned in Digest 78. The planned ‘Learning Quarter’ workshops were postponed with a new date to follow.

The new workshops have been announced for Thursday 18th February. There’s an afternoon session (2–4pm) and an evening session (6–8pm) both using Zoom. You can still comment on the Districts Commonplace map.

Other relevant consultations about the wider area appeared in Digest 74, including Strathclyde Uni’s proposed active travel project and the North Glasgow Strategic Development Plan.

1.4: Queens Cross Housing Association – Woodside Making Places: updated masterplan and online public meeting – 25 February

The Woodside Making Places project last appeared in Digest 65. It covers an area around St George’s Rd, between Maryhill Rd and Garscube Rd. These are mainly residential streets with large blocks of low, mid and high rise flats (plus a few tenements). As well as the new segregated cycleway on St George’s Rd, crossings will be added on N Woodside Rd and other measures include gardens and outdoor play areas (there are three schools nearby).

GoBike received an email from the Making Places team:

“Plans to transform the landscape of Woodside have been advancing since the last phase of community consultation in Summer 2020, and you can now see on the updated Woodside Making Places website how the masterplan has evolved in response to your comments, as well as consultations with stakeholders and statutory bodies. 

Please explore the updated masterplan design – which you can now zoom-in to and post additional comments directly onto. Your ongoing comments are valued, and will help us to further refine the design; you can see how we have responded to those submitted during the previous stage.”

The masterplan design is on an interactive map site called Placechangers (similar to Commonplace/Placecheck). Early comments seem to be from residents about anti-social behaviour and other concerns with the current environment, rather than the future plans. It should make for an interesting online public meeting on Thursday 25th February.

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

None this time.

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

3.1: Fenwick Rd, East Refrewshire – online meeting follow-up

Digest 78 covered the Fenwick Rd situation in Giffnock . This meeting took place on 18 January, right before its issue, and some local GoBike members took part. The meeting’s chair was Eastwood MSP Jackson Carlaw, whose background as a car salesman didn’t inspire confidence. However, it did represent active travel issues as mentioned in his email response:

“A number of reasonable concerns were expressed, not about the principle of the temporary secure route but more specifically about its width and appearance and how it might subsequently be extended beyond Church Road. I am grateful for the constructive comments and suggestions from active cyclists in the immediate area who have been able to engage with neighbours and others locally. Having previously lived immediately adjacent to this scheme for some twelve years with young children, I do appreciate the various views.”

He mentions meeting Lorraine Macmillan, East Renfrewshire Council’s Chief Executive:

“I did feed in the positive support for safer streets initiatives, preferably segregated where possible, but noted the views expressed that when the temporary arrangements at Fenwick Road end and when a more permanent scheme might be considered, that this learn from the experience gained and views of those locally. I also noted the need to ensure that any proposal to extend the scheme should not prejudice local trading but ensure that this is secured together with the interests of all users.

I also took the opportunity to note the considerably increased wider cycling and pedestrian use of local streets over the last year which we have all witnessed. Some key routes which attract many are frankly not currently as safe or suitable as they might be at present. Making them so should be an objective for the immediate future. Many years ago (I am reaching back to the late 1960s here!) I can recall sections of Mearns Road being equally unsuitable and a solution achieved then was for a strip of land on the other side of the previous pavement/hedge boundary to be secured for pedestrians and cyclists. This may be a way forward and worth exploring on certain popular routes now.”

While we might not be asking Mr Carlaw for design tips, at least it’s a fairly pragmatic response and not the one-sided view it might have been. It remains to be seen how the rest of the Spaces for People trial progresses and what happens when it’s removed. You can still have your say on that – see ERC Spaces for People surveys. 

3.2: New Gorbals Housing Association – Planning application 20/03363/FUL

This came in from Tricia via a former colleague who writes: “New Gorbals Housing Association has submitted designs to create a pedestrian link by opening up a railway arch between Laurieston Road and Cleland Lane. It’s part of a phased project aimed at improving pedestrian connections and public realm in the area, including turning adjacent greenspace into a park and reducing the width of four-lane Laurieston Road. Acting alongside Network Rail, which has planning permission to introduce commercial uses to a set of arches at Cleland Lane, the latest proposal will establish an east-west link to Gorbals Street, augmented at a later date with new paving and street crossings.”

The arch is just past the Five Ways junction (Brazen Head) on the South City Way. While the link isn’t strictly a cycle route there could be benefits for cycling between Laurieston and the Gorbals. There seems to have been a short consultation period, which unfortunately closed for comments on Tuesday 26 January. See the archway plans on GCC’s Planning portal, where you should be able to follow its progress.

3.3: Sustrans – Glasgow Cycle Counters

GoBike member Peter has been in touch with Sustrans about cycle counters over the past few months. Glasgow has had two public counters (with the digital numbers, etc.) for a number of years. The one at Glasgow Green (near Saltmarket) has been setting record-breaking figures throughout 2020. The other, at the spiral on the West City Way, hasn’t been counting anything for the past few years since it stopped working. The expectation was a new counter would appear elsewhere to replace it.

That is happening but we’re getting two new counters – one for the WCW counter and another to replace the current Glasgow Green counter. According to a reply from Sustrans:

“Further to your email below I can confirm that the two replacement cycle counters were installed in the following locations: 

1. NCN75 at St. Andrew’s Suspension Bridge 
2. NCN75 at Cuningar Loop Footbridge.”

Assuming the first location is on the north bank, that is a very busy path. However, not everyone would use it depending on where they were going in the East End. Whereas most of Glasgow cycled on the path near Saltmarket at one time or another last year.

The second location needs a bit of explaining. Cuningar Park (not officially a ‘Loop’ anymore) is on the Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire side of the Clyde. After the Commonwealth Games the footbridge linked it to the former Athletes Village in Dalmarnock. While more people discovered the park during lockdown in 2020 it’s still a bit obscure. A lot more people might use it if the bridge actually linked directly to NCN75 below it, but it doesn’t (although there is a way to get there round the houses, literally). If the counter is actually on the NCN/Clyde Walkway itself, near the bridge, then it makes a bit more sense.

If any of you have seen these in the wild, feel free to tweet/send in photos of how the figures are doing. Meanwhile, we wish the Glasgow Green/Saltmarket counter a well earned rest and a happy retirement!

3.4: Urban Roots – Malls Mire newsletter

We featured the first issue of the Malls Mire newsletter in Digest 74. The January 2021 issue has a rough timetable for the project with milestones to look forward to in spring and summer. The rest is about NatureScot (formerly Scottish Natural Heritage) and Urban Roots themselves. The area looks like it could shape up to be a nice link between Toryglen and Rutherglen.

3.5: Multiplex – Glasgow University campus newsletters

Your editor forgot to include Multiplex’s January newsletter (mainly about traffic management). So, it’s a double helping of Glasgow Uni campus news (four whole pages!). However, their February issue contains drainage works (from January) and a building named ARC (about 20 years after the Glasgow Caley ARC building). Where would we be without these West End avant garde types, eh?

3.6: North Lanarkshire Council – Local Development Plan Progress Update

GoBike received a brief update from North Lanarkshire Council:

“Our Local Development Plan – Modified Proposed Plan is currently progressing through the Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) examination process.

The DPEA have made a number of requests for further information. We are working to provide all information requested, meantime you can follow progress online.”

Just in case you were wondering how the plan was doing; now you know.

This Digest is within a week of Burns Night so it’s fitting that we have some news from Ayrshire. A few consultations have come in from East Renfrewshire and South Lanarkshire. Also, a last chance to comment on plans for North Glasgow. So, is 2021 starting to pick up slightly? As Burns said: “Hope springs exulting on triumphant wing.“

Since there have been a few breaks in the weather maybe there will be more chances to try some of Andy’s three infrastructure routes around Glasgow.

There’s still time to sign the petition for segregated cycle lanes at the Kelvin Way-University Avenue junction (until 28 January).

This Digest includes links in the Contents page so you can jump straight to a topic if you want to.

Contents
(new consultations in bold)

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. Glasgow City Council – North Glasgow Strategic Development Framework (SDF), closes 29 January 2021
2. North Ayrshire Council – Ardrossan Connections Project, closes 3 February
3. South Lanarkshire Council – Active travel online consultations, all close 8 February
4. East Refrewshire Council – Spaces for People A77 ‘Bike and Roll’ corridor

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

1. UPDATE: Glasgow City Council – (Y)our Districts Online Ideas Workshops – ‘Learning Quarter’

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

1. East Ayrshire Council – NCN Route 73, Crosshouse Bridge infill, Cycle Diversion

Section 1: Current Consultations
(in date order for responses)

1.1: Glasgow City Council – North Glasgow Strategic Development Framework (SDF),
(closes 29 January 2021)

It’s the last few weeks of this consultation, which first featured in Digest 74, Item 1.5 with the GoBike response written by Brenda. It covers a large area north of the M8 to Possil and from Maryhill Rd to Springburn. It’s been a while in the making, so much so that the Sighthill Bridge might be completed before the final report is published. However, it is due to cover the next few decades. See the North Glasgow SDF consultation on GCC’s website before 29 January.

1.2: North Ayrshire Council – Ardrossan Connections Project (closes 3 February)

GoBike’s monthly rides would occasionally make it to the Ayrshire coast and Ardrossan has a choice of train stations for the trip back (or a ferry to Arran). Sustrans are running a Commonplace consultation about the town for North Ayrshire Council and Ardrossan Community Development Trust (as spotted by our member Steph).

Ardrossan has coastal off-road paths running past the town – NCN73, from neighbouring Saltcoats, goes to the harbour. NCN753 heads north to the outskirts of West Kilbride. This project seems to focus on the on-road bit between them at the town centre. If you’ve visited or know the area, see the Ardrossan Connections Commonplace map. You’ve only got a few weeks until 3 February.

1.3: South Lanarkshire Council – Active travel online consultations (all close 8 February)

GoBike member Marc alerted us to a new round of active travel consultations in South Lanarkshire. Previous ones included East Kilbride, which had its first section of segregated cycleway laid last year. The next lot of active travel studies are being run by Aecom – these are for:

• Blantyre, Bothwell & Uddingston;
• Larkhall;
• Strathaven & Stonehouse (and surrounding villages).

Strathaven boasts a few cycling clubs and some old railway lines, which could still be used for cycle paths. Stonehouse and Larkhall are linked by on-road sections of NCN74. Blantyre is currently on NCN74 but it’s due to re-route through Strathclyde Park, once a new link is built from the Raith Interchange to Laighlands Rd, Bothwell. Uddingston is where NCN routes 74 and 75 meet. It’s separated from Glasgow by part of North Lanarkshire, where Aecom are also doing an active travel audit. If you’ve ever wanted a cycleway on the Lanarkshire side, to link to the city’s segregated section past the Dog’s Trust, this is a great opportunity to mention it! Especially since GCC are building a new 2-way cycleway on London Rd past Mount Vernon station.

Again, these consultations take the form of a survey and Placecheck map for each area. However, after the issues with petrolheads swamping the comments of the previous Hamilton map, the format has changed slightly. This time, you have to complete the survey before you access the map. See SLC’s active travel consultations page by 8 February.

1.4: East Refrewshire Council – Spaces for People A77 ‘Bike and Roll’ corridor

Since the last Digest there’s been a lot of attention on the Spaces for People measures on Fenwick Rd/A77 in Giffnock (first mentioned in a blog post about East Ren last summer). Or rather, there’s been noise about what they’re not going to be. A local business latched onto a draft plan on the council’s website and posted about the council removing car parking. Many angry posts about car parking and shops ensued on Facebook and in the consultation. In the midst of all this, you may have seen that GoBike member Iona updated one of our Evidence pages – Bike Lanes are Great for Business.

ERC quickly took down the draft document and added a statement to the consultation that it had been there in error and there were no current plans for Giffnock High St. A local Tory MSP later held an online event about the measures on 18 January, which some GoBikers took part in.

What is already in place on Fenwick Rd is ‘soft’ segregation on the outside lanes of a section of the dual carriageway between Berryhill Road and Church Road. It started off as cones before ‘wands’ were fixed down to replace them (upper photo in Twitter post, below). Further on, the current A77 cycle lanes were made mandatory and had cones added. However, some of the cones have been re-arranged by local drivers (lower photos in Twitter post, below)…

So, it seems we will hear more from East Ren on the age old debate about safe cycle lanes versus convenient car parking. If you know the area and want to comment on both these measures on the A77, see ERC Spaces for People surveys. The map is closed but the survey pages don’t seem to list a closing date, so this one could go on for a while.

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

2.1: Glasgow City Council – (Y)our Districts Online Ideas Workshops – ‘Learning Quarter’

UPDATE: Online workshops were due to take place for the next city centre ‘Districts’ in GCC’s ongoing series. Unfortunately, the Merchant City date has already passed. However, the planned ‘Learning Quarter’ workshops have been postponed with a new date to follow. These events should be along similar lines to previous Cowcaddens and Townhead workshops covered in Digest 74. Hopefully we’ll have an update in the next Digest at the start of February.

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

3.1: East Ayrshire Council – NCN Route 73, Crosshouse Bridge infill, Cycle Diversion

This issue was raised by our ride leader Andy, who’s been following up on a programme of works on former railway bridges and viaducts. The Crosshouse Bridge near Knockentiber is on NCN73 between Kilmarnock and Irvine (one of Burns’ old stomping grounds). Diversion routes will be signposted in both directions for drivers but not for cyclists. GoBike have sent a letter by Tricia to East Ayrshire Council to ask for a signed cycle diversion in both directions.

As Burns wrote in ‘To A Mouse (On Turning Her Up In Her Nest With The Plough)’:
“The best-laid schemes o’ mice an’ men / Gang aft agley.”