GoBike thinks the changes exclude cycling. We need your help to respond and spread the word about the Gordon St SmartSurvey (consultation deadline: Sunday 24 August). In this article we explain the issues…

Glasgow Central is the busiest station in Scotland with nearly 25 million pedestrian entrances and exits annually (April 2023 – March 2024). While it has entrances on all sides, the majority of footfall goes through the northern Gordon St entrance. That short section of road also contains a black cab rank, drop-off in-shots, bus stop (under the canopy!) and a (very faded) painted cycle lane.

Council proposals – pedestrians, taxis and buses

The main proposed change is to make the block one way, eastbound only. The black cab rank is staying and the bus stop will be moved to the east of it (was under the canopy). The space under the canopy becomes officially pedestrian-only (it often feels like it is already until a bus drives in!). This change may be spurred by Boots moving into the Gordon St shop unit (formerly used by the ticket office/First Class lounge).

Proposals include several large benches and concrete planters to add greenery. A few seats near the entrance would be useful for people waiting for taxis. However, there seem to be several large units with seats on all sides in a street most people wouldn’t choose to hang out on, due to the risk of anti-social behaviour. These seem to take up a lot of space, possibly to be robust enough to meet the council’s obligations for Hostile Vehicle Mitigation (to guard the station entrance against a terrorist attack). However, HVM bollards, like those near the Scottish Parliament, would do the same job in much less space.

Council proposals – cycling

The obvious question with a one-way street is ‘will there be a contraflow cycle lane?’ Frustratingly, the answer seems to be ‘no’. That’s despite the clear precedent on the block to the east (with a cycle-only light already installed). Also, the temporary layout outside Central itself during Covid-19.

Even worse is the fact an eastbound-only road would cut off access to the southbound contraflow lane on Hope St to the West City Way (and the Nextbike station). Early correspondence from GoBike to GCC and survey responses by members focussed on these issues.

Council response

The response we got from Glasgow City Council included some statistics and a new map with an alternative westbound route. These seem to be new proposals for protected lanes on St Vincent St and Wellington St, separate to previous Avenues plans. If so, that’s appreciated but the current plans for Avenues stop at Buchanan St and the proposed route seems to start a block later at W Nile St. Also, it goes uphill after Hope St and bypasses the station altogether!

Going north on W Nile St seems to be the suggested way to get to the new route (rather than hazardous George Sq or pedestrian-heavy Buchanan St). However, this still takes you out of your way through seven sets of traffic lights (versus one at Gordon St/Union St). This is supposed to be a route to a railway station so people can actually catch their train!

Also, this means the Hope St contraflow lane being changed to northbound (with changed signals at Gordon St). The map mixes current and future routes so it’s not clear what’s being kept, but the survey page doesn’t show any cycle lane. The changes and installing the new lanes would cost much more than a lane on Gordon St.

Why are GCC offering a longer, more expensive alternative for cycling but not any other mode of transport? The council’s justification is the figures in graphs produced from CCTV with automated counters. It’s not clear how accurate these are when most people would walk their bike in and out of the entrance. As above, Central’s main entrance is one of the busiest places in the country for pedestrians.

At the western end of Gordon St, there’s the Hope St segregated contraflow lane (and a Nextbike station). That lane goes past the side entrance of Central Station then turns to the West City Way on Waterloo St, which continues to the Connect2 bridge over the M8 and beyond. So, most people cycling from the West End to Central would use the Hope St entrance (not Gordon St).

Cycling infrastructure to the east is patchy to non-existent. Gordon Street’s faded cycle lane leads on from a painted contraflow lane (between Union St and Mitchell St). It’s to the west of the pedestrianised part of Gordon St (off Buchanan St). Coming from Dennistoun or Royston there are hellish junctions at Castle St towards Cathedral St. The few (slightly) quieter streets like Bell St or Havannah St give way to main roads like Ingram St (before you can cut through Royal Exchange Sq and across Buchanan St). There’s a patchy protected route from Calton via London Rd/St Andrews Square but it heads south of the station (so isn’t much use if you’re going for a High Level train). On Duke St, the Avenues Plus protected route that’s under construction should help. However, it still won’t connect to George St/George Square or Gordon St. The above goes some way to explain the cycling figures.

Regardless, GCC, ScotRail, SPT and others have made commitments to support active/sustainable travel, which includes increasing cycling modal share. You don’t do that by disadvantaging cycling compared to all other modes. It’s frustrating that, just as ScotRail have improved bike spaces and markings on trains, there are moves to make it harder to cycle to the busiest station in Scotland. There’s a national transport hierarchy with cycling second after pedestrians and before public transport and private cars. That clearly isn’t being followed in the Gordon St plans.

Rail and cycling should be a natural combination – take the train for longer distances and bike for the last few miles. This is well understood in places like Belgium and the Netherlands, where cycle-train commuters are studied as a separate category. The Dutch are known for high quality infrastructure like protected routes and huge cycle parking garages at their main train stations. In future, as routes like Argyle St develop, Network Rail could use empty shopfronts on Argyle St/Hielenman’s Umbrella, which back into Glasgow Central, or the road ramp on Hope St to create new bike parking for people who don’t/can’t take their bike on the train. In the meantime, they should still support direct routes for people who want to take their bike with them (to both High and Low Level platforms).

Potential solution

The simpler, cheaper, more direct solution to the issue would be to put a westbound contraflow cycle lane on the revised Gordon St. It would preserve links to existing infrastructure (instead of forcing a confusing reorganisation). Since there would be no need for a westbound lane on the road the pavement could be extended, even with a westbound bike lane. Getting smaller planters and seating and arranging them with a gap to a new row of bollards would leave space for a contraflow lane. Since the eastern parking in-shot is being removed (a one-way lane only needs about 2m). It’s more open at the western side (where the fireman statue is set back from the corner).

If the alternative route links with other Avenues plans then it could still be useful in future. But, for getting to a train on time, Gordon St is still the best option.

Consultation links

See: GCC Gordon St article and Gordon St SmartSurvey. The survey has half a dozen short pages (or more depending on answers to questions) but most of the questions are optional. If you want, you can skip to comment boxes to raise the issues we mentioned, above.
Consultation deadline: Sunday 24 August 2025.

Snapshot of progress

The following is a snapshot of active travel works in and around the city centre during May/June 2025.

Most of these are part of the Avenues Project (or Avenues Plus). Not all projects include segregated cycle lanes, for example: Holland St and Sauchiehall Precinct (but the latter has removed raised platforms so there’s more space for cycling). The photos give an idea of how things are taking shape. 

St George’s Road

Works started: 17 March 2025 (St George’s Rd article).
Progress: An earlier phase is complete at Charing Cross so works are moving north from there. There are already some improvements to side road junctions.
Connections: Charing Cross/Sauchiehall St at southern end. Northern end links to Garscube Rd as part of Connecting Woodside programme.
Completion due: Early 2026.

Sauchiehall Precinct/Cambridge Street

Works started: 27 September 2023 (Sauchiehall Precinct article).
Progress: Long-running works – western part of Sauchiehall Precinct (Rose St end) is finished with platform removed and new trees. Work still going at eastern end around W Nile St. Cambridge St also has finished sections but road still fenced off at Sauchiehall St.
Connections: Sauchiehall St, Buchanan St and underpasses to Cowcaddens Subway and Garscube Rd. In future, due to link to W Nile St Avenue.
Completion due: Originally summer 2024, should happen summer 2025!?

Pitt Street/Holland Street

Works started: Late March 2024 (Pitt St/Holland St article).
Progress: Most of Holland St is done – despite the name, it doesn’t have bike lanes. Protected cycleway is on Pitt St – mostly complete but fenced off. Slightly twisty crossing from Waterloo St (maybe designed to slow southbound riders?). Gradient doesn’t look too bad there but maybe a bit steeper up to W George St (by St Vincent St church – see main image, above). Lanes seem wider to accommodate faster descent. Works still ongoing either side of Bath St. 
Connections: Sauchiehall St to north and Waterloo St at south (West City Way/Connect2 bridge over M8).
Completion due: Was May 2025 but still bits to finish – hopefully not long. UPDATE: Pitt St lanes seem to be open.

Argyle Street (West)

Works started: 13 May 2024 (Argyle St W article).
Progress: Large parts of it are in place but unfinished, apart from the earlier phase in front of the JPMorgan Chase building.
Connections: Crossings at western end to path under Kingston Bridge from Clyde Walkway/NCN7. Also, to major developments near Daily Record building, like Platform (confusingly, the third place in Glasgow with that name – after the Arches event and venue in Easterhouse). Eastern end will link to Argyle St East (currently being designed).
Completion due: December 2025.

George V Bridge/Broomielaw

Works started: 24 March 2025 (George V Bridge article).
Progress: Mostly complete at southern end and lanes on bridge itself. Work still to do to link new protected bike lanes to existing Broomielaw route (may include installing bike-specific traffic lights?).
Connections: Clyde Walkway/NCN7 at north and Barclays campus/Clyde Place at south.
Completion due: End of June 2025. UPDATE: the lanes seemed to be open mid-June.

George Square

Works started: May 2025 (was originally meant to be January – George Sq article).
Progress: Boards have gone up around former parking lanes. The Spaces for People planters seem to have been relocated to southern side of road. Not clear if it’s intended for pedestrians or cycling (with ‘bus boarder’ ramps onto pavement in front of bus stop). Slightly narrowed lanes in new arrangement seems like they could cause conflict for the next year and a half. Statues have been removed for maintenance.
Connections: Avenue on N Hanover St. Protected lanes going in at north side should eventually link to George St Avenue (but it was put back by City Deal spending review).
Completion due: August 2026. 

North Hanover Street/Kyle Street 

Works started: 26 May 2025 (N Hanover St/Kyle St article).
Progress: Just started on N Hanover St where bus diversion will cause a lot of disruption. Kyle St has some areas fenced off and a closure on a side street.
Connections: George Sq at south, Dobbie’s Loan/Cowcaddens Rd to west and Sighthill Bridge off Kyle St at northern end.
Completion due: April 2027.

Cowcaddens Road/Dobbies Loan

Works started: 18 February 2025. (Cowcaddens Rd/Dobbies Loan article).
Progress: Avenues Plus route on Cowcaddens Rd had to have a sinkhole repaired by Scottish Water.  On Dobbie’s Loan work has started on the southern pavement. 
Connections: N Hanover St/Kyle St to east (and Sighthill Bridge beyond).
Completion due: April 2026.

Duke Street/‘Barras North’

Works started: January 2025 (Duke St article).
Progress: Another Avenues Plus project – works to replace northern pavement on Duke St are nearly there. The protected bike lanes will go on the southern side of the road (and John Knox St works will follow). The ‘Barras North’ project between Barrack St and Bellgrove St has new speed tables and widened pavements, with a protected bike lane near completion on Melbourne St. Also, there’s been work on a crossing at Bellgrove St near the station.
Connections: At east, path through future ‘linear park’ and sheds development at Meat Market, off Duke St/Melbourne St. At the western end, future High St and George St Avenues. 
Completion due: April 2026.

Make or break

While not every detail will be perfect, and works can drag on, it’s clear there’s a lot happening. Once these are complete there will be the bones of a network of segregated cycleways around much of the city centre. We’ll still need to look at the gaps but there are further plans in the pipeline. It’s good to reflect on progress every so often and give credit where it’s due.

There’s a lot riding on the success of the Avenues project for active travel and the city in general. The disruption and pricetag mean there will be plenty of criticism (much of it from people who live outside the city). If we want more Avenues, and wider projects in the City Network, then healthy usage numbers from the above will really help the cause. And the more we (as individuals and as a group) can explain the difference they make to citizens, the better.

Regional Active Travel Strategy

Organisation: Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT).
Subject: SPT are the public body who run Glasgow Subway and fund/co-ordinate some other travel services including bus routes and active travel routes (without always reconciling the two). For example, SPT were a funder for recent Dutch-style cycle junction works on the A77 Ayr Road. However, they also funded the 9-lane Pollok roundabout redesign and they’re a key partner in the Strategic Bus Partnership, whose bus lanes on key routes like Maryhill Rd and Paisley Rd West may conflict with protected cycle routes. They’re developing a regional Active Travel Strategy (ATS) and Network & Infrastructure Delivery Plan (DP). These follow their recently published Regional Transport Strategy (A Call to Action, 2023-2038). SPT want to hear “feedback on the key opportunities and problems associated with walking, wheeling and cycling across the west of Scotland.”
SPT online webinar – Monday 30th October from 6.30pm to 8pm on Microsoft Teams.
Website links: Regional Active Travel Strategy webpage, ‘project purpose’ Storymap and ATS public survey.
Deadline: 12 November 2023.

City Centre Strategy

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: City Centre Strategy (CCS) 2024-2030 “brings together the “Big Moves” that will transform Glasgow’s city centre in the short to medium term.” The consultation questions will ask about these and: “three thematic pillars which will enrich the inherited features of Glasgow’s City Centre and shape a new cycle of shared opportunity: Magnetic Experience, Front Door for Innovation and A Place to Live.” Redevelopment includes both Buchanan Galleries and the St Enoch Centre (see featured image), major housing developments along the Clyde, further Avenues and recommendations from the District Regeneration Frameworks (DRFs).
Website links: City Centre Strategy document (PDF, 7.6MB) and CCS survey.
Featured: Digest 128, 1.4 (DRFs).
Deadline: 3 December 2023.

The number 101 can mean an introductory course in a US college. Alternatively, it could be a torture chamber of your worst nightmares in the book Nineteen Eighty-Four. The Digest covers both bases with some horribly complicated plans to try to explain in simple terms.

If only this didn’t apply to any of the latest plans from Glasgow’s Avenues Project. While safer routes are welcome, issues with side streets don’t seem to have improved since Sauchiehall St. The lanes on Argyle St west (Central Station end, shown above) seem to be based on a retro movie poster.

Elsewhere, the south-west of Glasgow has the most consultations in this issue (there’s no prize, by the way).

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

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. Pollok Park: Off Road Parking Places Order 2016 (Variation No.1)
2. Braidcraft Rd & Brockburn Rd TROs
3. Hyndland, Hughenden And Dowanhill West, Traffic Management/Parking Controls
4. Ayr Road (South) Active Travel Improvements 
5. A803, Kirkintilloch Road (and Side Roads) Bishopbriggs TRO
6. Dennistoun to Cranhill Liveable Neighbourhoods
7. Govan to Kingston Liveable Neighbourhoods
8. Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) Green Space Survey
9. Langside to Toryglen Liveable Neighbourhoods
10. Ruchill to Cowlairs Liveable Neighbourhoods
11. Raeberry St Quietway (Connecting Woodside)
12. Helensburgh to Garelochhead active travel route

Section 2: Consultation Feedback

1. Glasgow City Centre Recovery Plan 2022–24
2. Glasgow Avenues Project – Argyle St West/Cambridge St/The Underline
3. Cardonald Area TRO

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

1.1: Pollok Park: Off Road Parking Places Order 2016 (Variation No.1)

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: Off road car parking in Pollok Country Park. GoBike is happy with car parking being removed from a park but we know it will be replaced elsewhere. See Digest 73, Item 3.4 about the new access road and car park plans. This order affects the current car parks, presumably ahead of work starting. The Burrell Collection is due to reopen after refurbishment in 2022.
First covered: Digest 100, Item 1.5.
Website links: Off road parking plan-Burrell, Off road parking plan-Nether-Pollok, Off road parking plan-Riverside, Off road parking report, Off road parking order, Off road parking notice.
Deadline: 10 December.

1.2: Braidcraft Rd & Brockburn Rd TROs

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: Braidcraft Rd & Brockburn Rd, Pollok (west of Pollok Country Park).
Subject: Traffic Order to help make Spaces for People temporary infrastructure permanent. Both roads are dual carriageways – ‘soft segregation’ was added to a lane each way on both. There’s been a reaction against the lanes including a banner and a petition.
First covered: Digest 100, Item 1.6.
Website links: Braidcraft Rd plan, Braidcraft Rd report, Braidcraft Rd press notice, Brockburn Rd plan-1, Brockburn Rd plan-2, Brockburn Rd report, Brockburn Rd press notice, Braidcraft Rd/Brockburn Rd statement of reasons.
Deadline: 10 December.

1.3: Hyndland, Hughenden And Dowanhill West, Traffic Management/Parking Controls

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: Clarence Drive in the West End (between Crow Rd and Hyndland Rd).
Subject: Traffic Order to help make Spaces for People temporary infrastructure permanent. Existing painted lanes had been plagued by car parking so ‘soft segregation’ was added in late 2020.
First covered: Digest 100, Item 1.7.
Website links: Clarence Dr plan, Clarence Dr report, Clarence Dr notice, Clarence Dr SoR.
Deadline: 23 December.

1.4: Ayr Road (South) Active Travel Improvements

Council: East Renfrewshire.
Area: Ayr Rd south from Newton Mearns.
Subject: Build a replacement shared-use path on the north/west side of Ayr Road, between North Hillhead Road and the M77 overbridge.
(Note: the Ayr Rd, North consultation seems to have ended on 30 November. It had 712 comments, which became more polarised as it went on. See foot of consultation page to access comments like this ‘slice of life’!)
First covered: Digest 97, Item 1.7.
Website link: ERC Ayr Road South consultation page.
Deadline: 24 December.

1.5: A803, Kirkintilloch Road (and Side Roads) Bishopbriggs TRO

Council: East Dunbartonshire.
Area: South Bishopbriggs towards the town centre.
Subject: Parking restrictions on the eastern side of the A803 from the end of Springburn Rd (at Colston Rd) to Bishopbriggs Cross, near the train station. Also, parking restrictions at junctions on side streets along the western side of Kirkintilloch Rd, from Coltpark Ave to Brackenbrae Rd.
Website link: A803 & Side Roads documents (combined PDF of plans and report – GCC, you could do this too!).
Deadline: 7 January 2022.

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: One of four LN consultations using Commonplace maps and the Place Standard tool. Dennistoun had some of a Spaces for People ‘LTN‘ put in then partly removed. The proposed Dennistoun & Royston Restricted Parking Zone – RPZ – has further delays. Haghill and Riddrie seem to have been spared a new dual carriageway despite it being marked on the map. The Connectivity Commission mocked up Edinburgh Rd with a tram and cycletrack in Carntyne but don’t hold your breath for that. Over 300 comments on the map so far. Consultation has started in the community with more events to follow.
First covered: 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: This area has had some redevelopment around Govan bus station. Nearby, work is due to start on the Govan to Partick footbridge (delayed by Peel Group amongst other issues). Also, the Southern General/Queen Elizabeth Uni Hospital is due to get improved greenspace and “active travel areas” (see next item). Paisley Road West is a main artery without bike lanes or proper connection under the M8 to the South West City Way on Shields Rd. There have been over 180 comments on the map so far.
First covered: 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: Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) Green Space Survey

Organisation: NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde.
Area: The Southern General/Queen Liz hospital site in Govan.
Subject: As mentioned in the above LN item, apparently a survey about greenspace and active travel at QEUH has been open for some time (apologies – better late than never). There are half a dozen survey questions, which include active travel and accessibility as well as greenspace and biodiversity.
Website link: QEUH survey (see also, NHS GG&C article link, above).
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

1.9: Langside to Toryglen Liveable Neighbourhoods

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: From Langside (at edge of Shawlands) across Battlefield, Mount Florida and part of King’s Park to Toryglen (and Polmadie).
Subject: A really random Liveable Neighbourhood area, including busy Langside and empty Polmadie. Plans for Battlefield Rest and the South City Way extension were delayed by local residents. In Toryglen, work to connect up new paths in Malls Mire has been continuing. There’s not much active travel infrastructure in between except the protected bit of Aitkenhead Rd and the very unprotected Spean St path. Over 350 comments so far.
First covered: Digest 96, Item 1.4.
Website links: Langside to Toryglen LN Commonplace map, Langside to Toryglen Place Standard survey.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

1.10: Ruchill to Cowlairs Liveable Neighbourhoods

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: North of the canal from Ruchill (at edge of Maryhill) across Possilpark, Hamiltonhill, Rockvilla, Craighall, Keppochhill and Port Dundas to Cowlairs (plus Sighthill Park).
Subject: The edges of this area have been redeveloped with active travel routes along the canal. Nearby Sighthill is being completely rebuilt including a segregated cycle route on St Rollox Dr. However, that ends at Cowlairs with many derelict sites nearby in Ruchill and Possilpark (but the latter is hoping to build a new community centre). The Spaces for People lanes on Hawthorn St have added a west-east cycle route (with some gaps). The map has just under 100 comments.
First covered: Digest 96, Item 1.5.
Website links: Ruchill to Cowlairs LN Commonplace map, Ruchill to Cowlairs Place Standard survey.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

1.11: Raeberry St Quietway (Connecting Woodside)

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: Raeberry St, North Woodside (west of Maryhill Rd).
Subject: Part of Connecting Woodside with junction redesigns at either end of the street and new secure cycle parking. The Maryhill Rd end is narrowed and the crossing moved to make a direct link to Trossachs St (towards Garscube Rd and the canal). Car parking bays are set by the new North Kelvinside/Woodside RPZ.
First covered: Digest 99, Item 1.12.
Website links: Raeberry St Quietway ‘storymap’, Raeberry St plans PDF, Raeberry St survey.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

1.12: Helensburgh to Garelochhead active travel route

Council: Argyll and Bute.
Area: Gare Loch east shore (A814/B872).
Subject: Active travel route between Helensburgh and Garelochhead (by Faslane naval base).
First covered: Digest 95, Item 1.5.
Website link: Helensburgh to Garelochhead active travel consultation.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

Section 2: Consultation Feedback

2.1: Glasgow City Centre Recovery Plan 2022–24

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: Successor to the Glasgow City Centre Strategy 2014–19 (after the intended 2020–25 strategy was derailed by the pandemic). Not strictly consultation feedback (it was done by a City Centre Task Force) but it’s relevant to projects that feature in the Digest like city centre Districts and the Avenues Project (see next item). The plan focuses on getting people back into the centre and doesn’t go into a lot of detail. Also, one action is to support the development of the SEC, which may not help to get the plans for the footbridge changed. However, it mentions Spaces for People and one of the actions is to “prioritise active travel”. Another says “people-focused space reallocation (ongoing)” – maybe a catchphrase for more than just the next few years?
Website links: Glasgow City Centre Recovery Plan (PDF), GCCRP article.

2.2: Glasgow Avenues Project – Argyle St west/Cambridge St/The Underline

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: City centre.
Subject: Following recent consultation events, plans were released for the next set of Avenues. Argyle St west (M8 to Central Station) has unusual angles for a cycle lane –apparently due to rain gardens (and the depth under them) not the car parking in-shots. Cambridge Street’s plans have less cycle lane than the current Spaces for People lanes. The Underline plans for New City Rd include a diagonal crossing at Phoenix Rd where work on the M8 Woodside Viaduct above it has delayed progress. The Avenues Project is wider than just cycling but the plans don’t meet standards in Cycling by Design. At GoBike’s AGM, our convenor Thomas outlined changes to try and improve things.
Website links: Avenues Project page, Argyle St west (AW) plan-1, Argyle St west (AW) plan-2, Cambridge St (CA) plan, The Underline (TU) plan-1, The Underline (TU) plan-2, Avenues phasing map.

2.3: Cardonald Area TRO

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: Cardonald
Subject: A response from the council about the proposed one-way streets, which GoBike objected to. They say: “having gauged the feedback received from residents of Kinross Avenue regarding the proposed one way system, this proposal will now be removed from the TRO.” So, for once we get our way on one-ways (‘by hook or by crook’, as they say).
First covered: Digest 97, Item 1.2.

The cut-down Digest continues in its new Thursday slot. Also, contents links have been reinstated.

Forthcoming consultations:

• Two Liveable Neighbourhood pilots have started with two to follow – Dennistoun to Cranhill and Greater Govan to Kingston.
• Glasgow’s draft Active Travel Strategy goes to council committee next week with consultation to follow.

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

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. Bishopbriggs TRO – Waiting & Loading Restrictions
2. Secure City Centre Cycle Parking Survey
3. Milngavie TRO – Waiting & Loading Restrictions
4. Langside to Toryglen Liveable Neighbourhoods consultation
5. Ruchill to Cowlairs Liveable Neighbourhood consultation
6. Ayr Road (A77): Spaces for People, Phase 2
7. Helensburgh to Garelochhead active travel route
8. Rethink Glasgow

Section 2: Consultation Feedback

1. Queen Margaret Drive TRO
2. COP26 Active Travel route closures

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

1.1: Linnhe Avenue, Ochil Road & Thrums Avenue, Bishopbriggs TRO – Waiting & Loading Restrictions

Council: East Dunbartonshire.
Area: Bishopbriggs.
Subject: Waiting and loading restrictions.
First covered: Digest 95, Item 1.3.
Website links: Notice and Combined documents.
Deadline: 1 October.

1.2: Secure City Centre Cycle Parking Survey

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: Secure cycle parking at city centre employers and travel hubs. These would include the main rail stations at Central and Queen St, as well as Buchanan Bus Station.
First covered: Digest 94, Item 1.10.
Website link: GCC city centre cycle parking consultation page and cycle parking survey. 
Deadline: 3 October.

1.3: Stewart Street Car Parks, Milngavie TRO – Waiting & Loading Restrictions

Council: East Dunbartonshire.
Area: Milngavie.
Subject: Removing waiting restrictions at a town centre car park.
Website links: Stewart St Car Parks map, Notice for Revocation Of No Waiting – Stewart St Car Parks, Stewart St draft order and the 2013 Order.
Deadline: 1 November.

1.4: Langside to Toryglen Liveable Neighbourhoods consultation

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: From Langside (at edge of Shawlands) across Battlefield, Mount Florida and part of King’s Park to Toryglen (and Polmadie).
Subject: “Liveable Neighbourhoods will be accessible and healthy places that allow people of all ages and abilities, to play and socialise outdoors in their local area, as well as making walking, cycling and public transport the first choice.”
Website link: Langside to Toryglen LN Commonplace map.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

1.5: Ruchill to Cowlairs Liveable Neighbourhood consultation

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: From Ruchill (at edge of Maryhill) across Possilpark, Hamiltonhill, Rockvilla, Craighall, Keppochhill and Port Dundas to Cowlairs (plus Sighthill Park).
Subject: As above. See also GCC’s Liveable Neighbourhoods overview and Urban Big Data Centre’s article for further background.
Website link: Ruchill to Cowlairs LN Commonplace map.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

1.6: Ayr Road (A77): Spaces for People, Phase 2

Council: East Renfrewshire.
Area: Ayr Rd through Newton Mearns.
Subject: Phase 2 consultation about replacing the phase 1 cones with light segregation.
First covered: Digest 91, Item 1.5.
Website link: ERC Ayr Road Phase 2 Commonplace page.
Deadline: No obvious deadline on this one (still seems to be open).

1.7: Helensburgh to Garelochhead active travel route

Council: Argyll and Bute.
Area: Gare Loch east shore (A814/B872).
Subject: Active travel route between Helensburgh and Garelochhead (by Faslane naval base).
Website link: Helensburgh to Garelochhead active travel consultation.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

1.8: Rethink Glasgow

Organisations: Lateral North/OnePlanet/After The Pandemic
Area: Glasgow.
Subject: A “region-wide conversation to re-think a new vision for Glasgow’s future”.
Website link: Rethink Glasgow, Commonplace site.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

Section 2: Consultation Feedback

2.1: Queen Margaret Drive TRO

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: Queen Margaret Drive in West End of Glasgow.
Subject: Two-way cycletrack to be installed on northern edge of QMD along with parking restrictions.
First covered: Digest 46, Item 1.7.
Website links: QMD final order and QMD plan, which is the same as previous version (consulted on in 2019). However, GoBike has written to GCC to query design at side roads in light of Cycling by Design guidance update 2021.

2.2: COP26 Active Travel route closures

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: GoBike have had further messages from ‘Get Ready Glasgow’ about access around COP26. Since the last Digest, we’ve presented our petition (about keeping active travel paths open around COP26) to a council committee. See the article, below, or our social media accounts for further info.
First covered: Digest 94, Item 1.2.
Website links: GoBike petition supported by councillors at council hearing.

As the 2020 Paralympics take place in Tokyo, how is Glasgow looking towards its own global event: COP26? Currently, the city council has a new, short notice consultation about suspending public access rights. You may have seen GoBike banners on the subject or media coverage of support from Scotland’s new Active Travel minister – Green MSP, Patrick Harvie. It’s also a last call for the survey on Glasgow’s Low Emission Zone.

It’s a final fling for a handful of consultations around Glasgow (and one in Renfrewshire). There’s a bit longer for a few others – a new survey on secure cycle parking in the city centre and the last leg of East Dunbartonshire’s Active Travel Discussion.

Your author is also going on holiday so the next Digest may or may not be in its usual slot or by its usual writer…

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

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. Glasgow City Council – Low Emission Zone consultation (ends 2 Sep)
2. Glasgow City Council – COP 26 Section 11 Order: Suspension of Public Access Rights (ends 3 Sep)
3. Rosemount Development Trust – Royston Road Masterplan (ends 3 Sep)
4. Glasgow City Council – Inner East Strategic Development Framework (ends 3 Sep)
5. Renfrewshire Council – Improving Barshaw Park Junction, Paisley (ends 5 Sep)
6. Queens Cross Housing Association – Woodside Making Places: Planning Application (deadline: 6 Sep)
7. NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde/Sustrans – Gartnavel Active Travel Feasibility Study (ends 10 Sep)
8. East Renfrewshire Council – Ayr Road (A77): Spaces for People, Phase 2
9. East Dunbartonshire Council – Active Travel Discussion (ends 28 Sep)
10. Glasgow City Council – Secure City Cycle Parking Survey (ends 3 Oct)

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

None this time.

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

1. Glasgow City Council – TRNSMT Festival and Access to NCN75
2. North Lanarkshire Council – Bellshill Gateway & Cycle Facilities project
3. Glasgow City Council – London Rd Spaces for People lanes at Celtic Park
4. East Renfrewshire Council – Proposed Local Development Plan 2
5. Glasgow City Council – Auldhouse Area Traffic Management Order

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

1.1: Glasgow City Council – Low Emission Zone consultation

It was Digest 90, Item 1.3 when we first mentioned this consultation about phase 2 of the Low Emission Zone in Glasgow city centre. Phase 1 applied to local buses only. Phase 2 will include all motor vehicles driven into the zone area between the M8, river and High St (unless exempt, like Blue Badge holders).

The LEZ area is smaller than the City Centre Air Quality Management area, which includes the M8 and parts of Bridge St and Royston Rd. There are only two other AQMAs in Glasgow – Byres Rd/Dumbarton Rd and Parkhead Cross – since the city-wide AQMA was revoked in 2016. Further background is on Glasgow’s Local Air Quality Management pages.

The area the LEZ covers is one of the questions asked in the survey. Enforcement is another – it’s only due to start in June 2023 (or 2024 for people who live in the city centre).

When enforcement does start, fines will escalate for repeat offences (doubling each time within a 90 day period).

The city council have sent GoBike a few reminder emails about this one, which suggests they’re not getting the level of response they were looking for. If you want to influence the shape of the zone (literally) or when it kicks in, see the Glasgow LEZ consultation page, LEZ consultation document and LEZ online survey. Closes on Thursday 2 September.

1.2: Glasgow City Council – COP 26 Section 11 Order: Suspension of Public Access Rights

This is about main active travel routes being closed during October/November around the COP26 climate conference at the SEC. The ‘exclusion zone’ would cover a large area from Ferry Rd to Finnieston St and bridges in Anderston. The cycling diversions will be much longer and less safe than the parts of NCN7 and the West City Way that they replace. GoBike started a petition about keeping routes open (for Glasgow residents only). We also proposed changes to the council’s plans.

See our blog about the closures for more in-depth information and our social media for updates. GCC access rights consultation ends Friday 3 September.

1.3: Rosemount Development Trust – Royston Road Masterplan

This debuted last time in Digest 93, 1.5. It’s about regenerating the western part of Royston Rd. It’s a part of the City Centre AQMA but not in the LEZ. That doesn’t seem to be mentioned while speeding, litter and other issues are. Equally, the project phases outlined in board 6 don’t include cycling at all. Surely it has to be part of the solution, especially with On Bikes’ Flourishing Molendinar project (Digest 92, Item 1.2) just up the same road? This Royston Rd project and theirs both need safe active travel connections to the city centre and Sighthill.

If you know the area at all, please put the case for cycling infrastructure. See the Royston regeneration survey and information boards (ends Friday 3 September).

1.4: Glasgow City Council – Inner East Strategic Development Framework

Another SDF (and another AQMA – Parkhead Cross) first covered in in Digest 90, Item 1.4. ‘Inner East’ is an arbitrary area made up by the council, who’ve decided Parkhead is the main place East Enders want to get to. While the Forge Shopping Centre is important for many, there’s an assumption here that all roads lead to Parkhead (including phase 3 of the East End Regeneration Route dual carriageway). A train station for Parkhead gets a few mentions but that’s what the East End Local Development Strategy said back in 2008. Active travel is mentioned a lot but road-building still seems to be central.

There are many more assumptions (“locals prefer to drive to the forge”) and errors in this SDF. The maps seem rushed, especially the Bridgeton map with two wrong train stations superimposed on it.

On a more positive note, there are a few mentions of permeability. One is about the paths through the Meatmarket site (under construction at Duke St/Bellgrove St) and there are other examples not in the document, like Riverside Dalmarnock.

The council talks up some recent developments by GCC and partners like Clyde Gateway, who have built a lot in the East End in the last decade or so (and do include cycle parking in their developments). However, people have to cycle through the car park of Red Tree, Shawfield as CG didn’t reconnect the path properly between NCN 756 and the Smartbridge (despite being asked). GCC also missed an opportunity to add protected cycle lanes in its Calton-Barras Action Plan (CBAP). So, there are still lessons to be learned.

See the Inner East consultation page for link to the SDF survey (ends 3 September).

1.5: Renfrewshire Council – Improving Barshaw Park Junction, Paisley

In Digest 93, 1.7 we mentioned the plans to improve safety for cycling at Barshaw Park junction. Option 3 had segregated cycle lanes on all roads, while options 1 and 2 only had them on the main road. There was some local hostility to the plans on Facebook – while not surprising on that platform, the plans will need support to progress.

See the Barshaw Park junction community survey to rate the options (ends 5 September).

1.6: Queens Cross Housing Association – Woodside Making Places: Planning Application

Woodside Making Places is a wide-ranging project for the area around St George’s Rd and Braid Square, near Garscube Rd. The previous consultation was in Digest 79, Item 1.4 (and an earlier stage in Digest 65, 3.1). This latest development wasn’t publicised much but was in a Glasgow Live article about Queens Cross Housing Association submitting a planning application.

It’s application 21/02266/FUL for “Renewal of public realm, gardens and greenspaces, including streets and lighting, with comprehensive green infrastructure improvements.” These include some playparks and a lot of tree planting. The most interesting part for GoBike is the ‘Quietway’ cycle route in the plan for North Woodside Road.

The red tarmac makes it look like a Dutch ‘bicycle street’ (where bikes have priority and cars are ‘guests’). Whether or not it will work that way remains to be seen. However, N Woodside Rd is a residential street, which is already filtered to the west at the junction of Maryhill Rd and Hopehill Rd (as featured in Digest 93, 3.3).

N Woodside Rd’s eastern end will link to segregated cycle lanes on St George’s Rd, which are part of the Connecting Woodside Project (and lead to the protected junction at Garscube Rd). So, it should be an important link for the wider area.

There was also due to be an improved path south to Phoenix Rd and the planned ‘Underline’ cycle route below the M8 between New City Road and Cambridge St. However, M8 emergency repairs are underway on the Woodside Viaduct so those Avenue works are being pushed back even further; potentially for a few years.

Deadline for any comments is 6 Sep. See the Woodside Making Places website for more background about the project.

1.7: Sustrans – Gartnavel Active Travel Feasibility Study

This project first came up in Digest 60, Item 3.3 and most recently in Digest 90, Item 3.2. Several GoBike members know the area and engaged with early ideas for the site. A site visit took place in July, when GoBike member Caroline met with the design consultants, ERZ Studio.

The initial proposals from that process are now out for consultation:

• Three shared/side-by-side walking/cycling routes across the site.
• Two new gates created in existing site wall.
• Adjusting crossings at main road junctions.
• Pedestrian precinct/plaza at main hospital buildings.
• Improving access towards Hyndland train station.
• Improving wayfinding signage.

The new northern gate would be next to the existing exit road (as above). However, the proposed eastern gate would open up access from a new location east of the Beatson, through the current stone wall, to Hughenden Lane (where you can see the chimney near the Beatson). This ‘Quietway’ would be an alternative route between Hughenden and Crow Rd, avoiding the very busy Great Western Rd. While it meanders a bit, it should also link to the more direct Shelley Rd (to the north, alongside Bingham’s Pond).

The scope of the project seems to have grown slightly from NHS-owned land to include crossings but not cycleways on the main roads themselves, like Gt Western Rd. Instead, the consultants asked about routes between NHS sites, like Gartnavel and the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. One query was about a route via the soon-to-be-built Partick–Govan bridge to the QEUH; a mile longer than using the Clyde Tunnel (but might have less closures?).

For now, see the Gartnavel survey – ends 10 September.

1.8: East Renfrewshire Council – Ayr Road (A77): Spaces for People, Phase 2

Covered in Digest 91, Item 1.5, Ayr Rd through Newton Mearns is in a phase 2 consultation. It’s about replacing the phase 1 cones with light segregation, removing some segregation and adding parking bays. For examples of the segregation, maps and more details, see the Ayr Road Phase 2 Commonplace page. No obvious deadline on this one (but still seems to be open).

1.9: East Dunbartonshire Council – Active Travel Discussion 

What can we say about the EDC Active Travel Discussion that hasn’t already been said? There are two more online events left. See the Active Travel Discussion page – ends 28 September.

1.10: Glasgow City Council – Secure City Cycle Parking Survey

Back in Digest 88, in the Infra Update, we mentioned how GCC’s tweet about neighbourhood secure cycle parking drew comments about it missing out the city centre.

Recently, the council launched a survey about “secure cycle parking in the city centre at travel hubs and places of employment.” They want to find out the following:

“a greater understanding of travel patterns, frequency of travel, and what type of provision would appeal to those who require to park their bicycle in the city.

The survey is anonymous and will take approximately 10 minutes to complete.”

Cadogan St multi-storey car park used to have a bike parking area but it wasn’t the most welcoming place. Perhaps Glasgow could aim for facilities like this office development in Bristol or Manchester’s Cycle Hubs.

Considering the spate of bike thefts across the city during the pandemic, this seems like a good chance to ask for more secure bike parking. See the GCC city centre cycle parking consultation page and cycle parking survey – ends 3 October.

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

None this time.

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

3.1: Glasgow City Council – TRNSMT Festival and Access to NCN75

In Digest 93, Item 3.4 we featured an email from GCC about the closure of NCN75 during the upcoming music festival. GoBike convenor Thomas tweeted about issues with the diversion route and replied to the council’s email. A further response from GCC sounds more constructive than before:

“To advise we are working to improve wherever possible the diversion route… which would hopefully make this route not only a suitable diversion for Major Events within Glasgow Green but also an optional route on a day to day basis.”

The council also wanted to organise a meeting between GoBike and council officers. They said: “we can walk the route highlighting where we will be making improvements”. Also, they would: “allow you an opportunity to speak directly with those planning/managing any works.” We wait to see the improvements but this new ramp was spotted on the route.

Lastly, GCC will “consider a short term working group to hopefully give an opportunity to facilitate improved joint working for the longer term solution to this particular challenge.”

Thomas will set up the meeting shortly and we hope to have further news.

3.2: North Lanarkshire Council – Bellshill Gateway & Cycle Facilities project

In Digest 92, Item 1.9 we featured initial plans for a proposed Velo Park and enhanced entrance to Strathclyde Country Park from Bellshill. A GoBike member was at a recent meeting between local groups and council staff. They’re from NLC’s new Greenspace Projects team, which will have responsibility for ‘Country Parks for the Future’ initiatives at Strathclyde Park (as well as Drumpellier Park in Coatbridge and Palacerigg Park, near Cumbernauld).

The officer clarified a few points, including that the planned mountain bike trails would only be in the north-east of the site. The paths around the South Calder Water would form a loop for walking and cycling as a local exercise route.

The team are looking at a few other issues like the underused hire bikes at the Watersports Centre (including some adapted bikes). Also, a potential cycle hub near Motherwell train station (perhaps in a building nearby).

A bid is due to go in to Sport Scotland by the end of August.

3.3: Glasgow City Council – London Rd Spaces for People lanes at Celtic Park

In Digest 90, Item 3.1, we covered the removal of the temporary ‘zebras’/’armadillos’ on London Rd outside Celtic Park and the Emirates. As well as contacting the council, some GoBike members put our message on London Rd itself.

GCC have taken a while to respond, perhaps because they had homework to do – according to their response…

“a survey of many similar sports facilities around the UK was undertaken and no examples of cycle segregation directly outside these facilities was found. Those that did have cycle facilities had a painted line only. GCC has improved on that by installing a ridged line to provide an audio and visual warning to drivers.

The Department explored alternative options including traffic delineator wands, such as those used on Great Western Road and a combination wand / armadillo design as currently used in Edinburgh City Centre. However, both of these also resulted in significant risk and possible increased risk in the case of the traffic delineator wand.“

The ‘combination design’ became a trip hazard on a high street in Cardiff. However, the above seems to rule out a ‘traffic delineator wand’ (temporary bollard) because it might be a risk.

Circumstantial evidence?

Several GoBike members were sceptical of the reasons given about ‘armadillos’ being a trip hazard. The council’s response says it depends on the circumstances:

“We do not consider that in normal circumstances armadillos represent a high risk trip hazard. However,… mass evacuation… (of) almost 60,000 individuals… would result in a tightly knit, panicked and distressed crowd. Under these circumstances, there would be little visibility of the armadillos and there is a significant concern of serious injury or fatality due to trips / falls and subsequent crush injury.”

There was a crush outside Celtic Park in 2018, where a few fans were injured. However, it was at the confined Janefield St side of the stadium, not the open London Rd side.

Apparently, the decision to remove was: “assessed in conjunction with advice from Police Scotland but no formal record has been kept”. There was no Equalities Impact Assessment “as this process is not appropriate for this type of alteration. None of the protected characteristics as outlined in the Equalities Act are negatively affect by the alterations.”

GCC talk about policy then make an interesting statement. “Designers have a duty under Construction Design and Management regulations to design out risk wherever possible.“

Lastly, they turn from the temporary Spaces for People project to mention the permanent East City Way route on London Rd. “We note your comment about the new East City Way and can confirm that the SFP project officers have discussed these issues with the East City Way officer with a view to designing out the risk as far as reasonably possible within the long term plans.” So, that seems to depends on the circumstances as well.

3.4: East Renfrewshire Council – Proposed Local Development Plan 2

We covered East Ren’s proposed Local Development Plan 2 in Digest 47, Item 1.4 in late 2019. It was submitted to the Scottish Government for its Reporters to consider in their 435-page report! It contains several mentions of GoBike, and our convenor Thomas (with his surname spelled correctly most of the time!).

One of these mentions – ‘(e) Schedule 6: Proposal D8.13: Netherlee to Giffnock’ – was about a potential feasibility study for a footbridge across the railway at Gordon Dr. The report shows there were two people in favour and 19 against so the proposal has been dropped (and will not be in any of their back yards). However, other measures GoBike supported will be included. The 22-page recommendation document details the text changes ahead of publication.

3.5: Glasgow City Council – Auldhouse Area Traffic Management Order

These measures for Auldhouse, in the Southside, appeared in Digest 92, Item 1.8. GoBike’s response made points about one-way streets and potential for contraflow cycling. The council sent a fairly predictable reply:

“…given the narrow carriageway widths and short lengths of carriageway within this self-contained residential area, contraflow cycle lanes were not deemed feasible. Unfortunately, I can therefore advise that cyclists will also be subject to the one way operations.”

GCC’s email goes on to say one-way streets will apparently “enhance road safety for cyclists”. Also: “parking restrictions at road junctions will remove potential obstructions by vehicles at lowered kerbs which will assist pedestrians, wheelchair users and push chairs in crossing the road.” There’s no mention of a joint decision with Police Scotland on enforcement.

It’s like buses – wait for ages for a consultation about the north of the city then loads come along at once. In this case, workshops for a few northern city centre ‘districts’, a future consultation about the uni/college campuses around Cathedral St and a strategic document about North Glasgow.

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

Contents
(new consultations in bold)

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. Steer Energy – Streetscore – Impact of Streetworks Survey, respond by end November
2. Glasgow City Council – (Y)our Districts Online Ideas Workshops, Townhead: 2 December / Cowcaddens: 7 December
3. Glasgow Harbour Ltd – Yorkhill Quay masterplan/”River Clyde blue corridor vision”, closes 4 December
4. East Dunbartonshire Council – Proposed Local Development Plan 2 (LDP2), closes 15 January 2021
5. Glasgow City Council – North Glasgow Strategic Development Framework (SDF), *deadline extended* – closes 29 January 2021
6. Glasgow City Council – Protected Junction Trial consultation (Victoria Rd)
7. OnBikes and St Paul’s Youth Forum – short survey for Sustrans’ Places for Everyone scheme

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

1. University of Strathclyde – Early Engagement Information: Creating people first infrastructure, a city centre context

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

1. Glasgow City Council (Maxwell Park area) Traffic Calming Scheme
2. Glasgow City Council (Ryehill Road) Traffic Calming Scheme
3. East Dunbartonshire Council – LDP2 Newsletter
4. Urban Roots – Malls Mire/Toryglen Greenspace & Active Travel Project

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

1.1: Steer Energy – Streetscore – Impact of Streetworks Survey, respond by end November

If you’ve ever had an annoying experience trying to get around roadworks, here’s a chance to get it off your chest. Thomas at GoBike was contacted by Megan from Steer Energy, who are doing a survey about the effects of roadworks on different groups; including cyclists. Her message says:

“Steer Energy are carrying out research to engage with people who can give their expert opinion on what the challenges people may face when encountering streetworks in their everyday life. We are targeting the following groups:

• People living with disabilities  
• People living with dementia    
• People with mental health issues      
• Neurodiverse people [including people on the autism spectrum]
• Carers      
• Cyclists

The aim is to gather opinions and ideas from people with lived experience journeying through street works that may have found the experience challenging.

We would be keen to include the experience of cyclists across Scotland and encourage you to share with any other groups and communities you work with:
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/steerstreetworks

Our aim is to gather as much information as possible about the current impacts of streetworks and how they can be better designed with more people in mind.”

We asked for a few more details about what this involved and got a very quick response:

“The design of all streetwork in the UK is carried out using the same national guidelines which is basically a manual used in training and design. Steer Energy is challenging that manual and asking that it be amended to become more accessible and include better designed streetworks to decrease isolation and disruption to peoples lives, especially those who do not use cars and those groups who require more space to move around in public (wheelchair users, people with mobility problems, disabled people, neurodiverse people, etc).”

If you’d like to take part, see the SurveyMonkey link, above – preferably before the end of November to allow time for the report to be put together.

1.2: Glasgow City Council – (Y)our Districts Online Ideas Workshops (Townhead: 2 December/Cowcaddens: 7 December)

We received emails about upcoming consultations and events for the District Regeneration Frameworks project by Glasgow City Council. These are very wide-ranging consultations covering housing, business, leisure, etc. as well as transport. The ‘districts’ are areas around the city centre – some have already had plans completed, including Blythswood, Central, Broomielaw and St Enoch – see the Districts page on the City Centre Strategy website (under their huge map).

The project’s CommonPlace map for all Districts can be found at the links, below.

“You can check out what’s been said so far and contribute your thoughts online at https://yourcitycentre2020.commonplace.is/ and http://www.yourplacemap.org/.”

The next two areas with consultation events arranged are Townhead and Cowcaddens (with Merchant City and the ‘Learning Quarter’ to follow at some point).

Townhead district covers the area you might expect from Cathedral St to the M8. The “potential bridge” in the map is the new pedestrian/cycle bridge to Sighthill (due Spring 2021). The “route of potential Avenues” on Castle St and Springburn Rd isn’t in the current version of the Avenues Programme (but would be very welcome if GCC want to update it).

(Y)our Townhead Online Ideas Workshops (via Zoom) – Wednesday 2 December

• Afternoon Workshop: 2pm – 4pm, Tickets to the Townhead Workshop, Afternoon session
• Evening Workshop: 6pm – 8pm, Tickets to the Townhead workshop, Evening Session

Cowcaddens district goes from Buchanan Bus Station to an area north of the M8 at St George’s Cross. This is where the ‘Underline’ from GCC’s Avenues Programme was due to go (from Cambridge St) but it’s missing from the map.

(Y)our Cowcaddens Online Ideas Workshops (via Zoom) – Monday 7 December

• Afternoon Workshop: 2pm – 4pm, Tickets to the Cowcaddens Afternoon Workshop.
• Evening Workshop: 6pm – 8pm, Tickets to the Cowcaddens Evening Workshop.

“Each session will be facilitated by the (Y)our City Centre project team. We hope to map out with you issues and ideas you feel will help make the difference and improve Cowcaddens in the future.

Sign Up on Eventbrite and join in with these Workshops. If you do not have access to the internet contact the Freephone line number listed below to enable you to #ShareYourIdeas.

Further Workshops will be scheduled in early 2021 and we hope to arrange some [physical] events… when Covid restrictions allow.”

These events, and the forthcoming consultation under item 2.1, mean big changes could be coming for the north of the city centre. They also tie in with the North Glasgow SDF – see item 1.5.

1.3: Glasgow Harbour Ltd – Yorkhill Quay masterplan

This was covered in Digest Issue 73, Item 1.1. However, it arrived just before the Digest went out and we missed a few details. The consultation is by Glasgow Harbour/Peel L&P (not the city council – apologies).

It’s about potentially building high-rises on the strip of land at the river between Riverside Museum and the new distillery. The intro video talks about a “long derelict site” without mentioning Peel (formerly Clydeport) have used it for storage for several years. It’s a pre-planning consultation as no planning application has gone in yet. There’s a summary of the possible proposal (on Urban Realm), article by Peel L&P, Yorkhill Quay ‘boards’ (PDF) and consultation website [removed Dec 2020]. Deadline for “formal” comments is 4 December (but deadline to view plans/ask questions is 30 November – email: advice@mcinally-associates.co.uk).

1.4: East Dunbartonshire Council – Proposed Local Development Plan 2 (LDP2),
(closes 15 January 2021)

As covered in Digest issue 72, Item 1.8. You’ve to email EDC if you want to comment about local development issues, like the lack of Spaces for People projects or phase 2 of the Bearsway, for example. See the EDC website: www.eastdunbarton.gov.uk/LDP2.

1.5: Glasgow City Council – North Glasgow Strategic Development Framework

This document is about a huge area north of the M8 from the length of Maryhill Rd across to Milton, Springburn and Royston. It’s looking decades ahead and has already been five years in the making. Brenda has written a detailed GoBike response to the North Glasgow SDF. See the North Glasgow SDF consultation on GCC’s website. The deadline has been extended to 29 January 2021.

1.6: Glasgow City Council – Protected Junction Trial consultation

This consultation is about the new protected junctions on Victoria Rd, at Calder St and Allison St, as part of the South City Way. It was covered in Digest 73, Item 1.5. If you want to show support for the new junctions, or just find out more, see GCC’s Protected Junctions webpage for further images, a video, a PDF document and a contact link. The junction trial will last two years but there’s no deadline mentioned for feedback.

1.7: OnBikes and St Paul’s Youth Forum – short survey for Sustrans’ Places for Everyone scheme

This multiple choice survey (as covered in Digest issue 72, Item 1.1) was originally looking for quick feedback but remains open. OnBikes and St Paul’s Youth Forum are working on a Places for Everyone project to improve active travel infrastructure in parts of North East Glasgow like Smithycroft, Riddrie and Blackhill.

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

2.1: Glasgow – Early Engagement Information: Creating people first infrastructure, a city centre context

This is potentially a lot more important than the vague title would suggest. We received an email from Stantec (a multi-national design/engineering company) on behalf of the University of Strathclyde. They want to develop active travel routes through their campus and the ‘Learning Quarter’ around Cathedral St and North Hanover St:

“The University of Strathclyde, in partnership with, City of Glasgow College and Glasgow City Council have secured Sustrans’ Places for Everyone funding for the project ‘Creating People-First Infrastructure in a City Centre Campus’. Stantec are assisting the project team in this exciting endeavour.

The vision of this project is to create an attractive, safe and walkable ‘learning quarter’ in the north-east of the city centre through the design of an innovative urban realm, which improves the physical environment and allows the general public, residents, students and staff to travel to, and move freely between the University of Strathclyde, City of Glasgow College, nearby Glasgow Caledonian University and the rest of the city centre.

The improvements that are being explored in the project area will provide significant value to the extended community. By aligning this project with other projects being delivered by Glasgow City Council, ‘Creating People-First Infrastructure in a City Centre Campus’ will also benefit a range of other people who live, work and travel through the city centre. The Avenues Programme and Spaces for People are examples of Glasgow City Council’s ambitions to rebalancing streets in favour of people walking cycling or wheeling in the city centre.

The key routes to be enhanced in the learning quarter as part of this project have been identified through a feasibility and options appraisal process and are shown in the figure below.”

“In the next few weeks we will be launching a public consultation website to present and receive feedback on proposals developed for the learning quarter so far. This site will be updated as the project progresses, proving an important resource. We hope that you will be able to contribute to this consultation to help shape the project for your local community by viewing proposals, leaving feedback and sharing the consultation website with your networks.

For any further information in the meantime please contact the project team at PfEGlasgow@stantec.com

Kind regards,
The Project Team”

This may be of interest to current and former students of the universities/colleges in this area. It sounds quite wide-ranging but seems to emphasise walking rather than cycling. A lot of change is due in the next few years, including Strathclyde Uni demolishing the current ‘Strathy Union’ on John St as part of their ongoing campus redevelopment (see their Campus Update for more details).

This consultation is also relevant to the ‘(Y)our Learning Quarter’ district consultation due soon. Nearby streets are earmarked as ‘Avenues’ and the ‘Avenues Plus’ project (due to be built between 2023–25). So, there’s a lot of potential to transform the area north-east of George Square. Once Stantec update us about the website, we’ll pass on the link.

Section 3: Consultations Feedback

3.1: Glasgow City Council – Maxwell Park area, Traffic Calming Scheme

We have a few more responses from the city council about traffic calming. Firstly, this one for the Maxwell Park area was first covered in Digest 68, Item 1.8. I wonder if GCC have changed their mind about the speed cushions?

“Further to my preliminary email of 25^th August 2020, I can confirm that it is my intention to proceed with the introduction of the above named Traffic Calming Scheme.

I can confirm that there has been no changes to the original proposed scheme which will comprise of:

• 5 sets of 3, 2m wide 75mm high, speed cushions on Dolphin Road,
• 6 sets of 3, 2m wide 75mm high, speed cushions on Fotheringay Road,
• 11 sets of 3, 2m wide 75mm high, speed cushions on Springkell Avenue
• The installation of 44 bollards

Roads affected by the proposed Scheme:

• Dolphin Road
• Fotheringay Road
• Springkell Avenue

I enclose a plan of the scheme.

Should you require any further information or clarification, please e-mail LESTraffic@glasgow.gov.uk.”

Nope, nothing has changed despite GoBike’s letter of objection. The previous plans were in Digest 68, as above if you want to see them.

3.2: Glasgow City Council – Ryehill Road, Traffic Calming Scheme

Here’s another one from the following Digest 69, Item 1.9. Maybe this response will be the one where GCC have a ‘road to Damascus’-style revelation and change their minds?

“Further to my preliminary email of 10^th September 2020, I can confirm that it is my intention to proceed with the introduction of the above named Traffic Calming Scheme.

I can confirm that there has been no changes to the original proposed scheme which will comprise of:

• The installation of 12 speed cushions
• The supply and installation of 8 bollards

I enclose a plan of the scheme.

Should you require any further information or clarification, please e-mail LESTraffic@glasgow.gov.uk.”

Nope, no changes there either. Again, see Digest 69 to pore over the unchanged plans.

3.3 East Dunbartonshire Council – LDP2 November Newsletter

On the subject of councils not changing their minds about things, here are EDC again with a nice LDP2 newsletter, November edition (PDF). Previous issues on EDC’s LDP2 Newsletters webpage in case you want some light reading for the winter nights.

3.4: Urban Roots – Malls Mire/Toryglen Greenspace & Active Travel Project

GoBike received an email from Dr Gemma Jennings at Urban Roots about an ongoing project:

“Dear All,
I am excited to share with you the latest news from the the North Toryglen Greenspace & Active Travel Project, which following our community consultation has been rebranded simply as ‘Malls Mire’. Work begins on site this week and will run until summer 2021 – please find attached the first Malls Mire newsletter from Clyde Gateway for details. I have also attached details of path closures and diversions that will be in place for the first phase of works. 
We will share ongoing project updates on social media via our Malls Mire facebook and twitter pages – both @MallsMire.”

Malls Mire is the name of the greenspace between Rutherglen and Toryglen. While it’s possible to trudge your bike over the hill next to the woods, upgrading the paths will make a big difference to the area. As mentioned, Urban Roots sent us drawings of closures and diversions – works on the west of Malls Mire and works on the east of Malls Mire. There’s also a short newsletter about the Malls Mire project.

Hope you like the changes in this Digest. New editor, new improved ideas, says the previous editor!