Seven of us set off, some weeks ago now, from the SEC and made our way north through Kelvingrove Park, North Woodside, Firhill, Possilpark, Parkhouse, skirting Milton and then Bishopbriggs to reach the Forth and Clyde canal.

A few miles along the canal towpath brought us to Kirkintilloch for a refreshment/toilet break, before we turned off the canal path towards Milton of Campsie, cycling past hordes of bluebells and wild garlic.

We continued past Lennoxtown to reach Strathblane. Then it was the major hill up to Mugdock Country Park – not many bikes there, but lots of cars in the carparks – these people don’t know what they are missing.

Lunch at the cafe was followed by a mainly downhill journey back through the park past the Mugdock Loch and then it was past the Mugdock Reservoir to Milngavie, on to the Bears Way. We cut through Bearsden and into the Glasgow University grounds before the official end of the ride with the choice of getting back into the city along the Kelvin Walkway or the busier Maryhill Road.

It’s almost time for the next GoBike ride, out to the west, next Sunday, 07 June – details to follow (or see the website)!

Then we will cycle along the path to Strathblane. We continue up to Mugdock Country Park for a lunch stop, then back into Glasgow along the Bears Way and Kelvin Walkway.

32 miles, mostly on paths and quieter roads, with a big climb up to Mugdock. Some unsealed paths within Mugdock Country Park.

We meet, as usual at 10am at the north end of Bell’s Bridge, Congress Road, Glasgow.

For more information about GoBike rides, see: https://www.gobike.org/about-us/cycle-rides

Just six of us set off on a rainy day – the official first day of spring, for a journey to the north -east of the city. Yet again, there was somewhere new for each of us.

We cycled into the city and up to Sighthill, before turning east to skirt Hogganfield Loch, some of our route along cycle lanes part full of mud and past flytipping sites. We skirted Lenzie and cycled through Merkland, before heading towards the Forth and Clyde Canal.

Here we met the most surprising structure on the ride:

Yes, we stopped at the south side and watched cars drive through before we ventured under the bridge, carefully keeping to the centre of the road to smile happily for this photo.

Then it was up to the canal for the ride back to Glasgow, with a lunch stop at the Stables Pub en route.
The ride officially finished at the Stockingfield Bridge over the canal, distance 23 miles with riders then making their way back home, most of us towards the city.

Here’s the route, should you wish to check it out: https://www.plotaroute.com/route/3247559?units=km

Our next ride will be on Sunday, 05 April, heading west to Erskine, see here for details

This ride will see us head northeast from Glasgow, stopping briefly in Hogganfield Park, see photo above, and then over the council boundary into North Lanarkshire and East Dunbartonshire.

We will use some country lanes and the Strathkelvin Railway Path, then head to Merkland Nature Reserve. After that, we will join the Forth & Clyde Canal for the return to Glasgow, with potential for a stop at The Stables.
25 miles, mostly on paths and quieter roads, but some bits on main roads here and there, and one big hill. Some unsealed paths as well.

Meet 10am at the north end of Bell’s Bridge, next to Congress Road, Glasgow.

For more information on GoBike cycle rides, see here.

East Dunbartonshire

Westerhill Development Road
(Bishopbriggs Relief Road)

Feedback that this new road has been given planning permission. Back in 2024 (Digest 151), the route was chosen to extend the current Westerhill Road north past Low Moss prison. It would then join Kirkintilloch Rd (A803 – between Cadder/The Stables pub). EDC say it will include a “new active travel route for walking, wheeling and cycling.” In the ‘General arrangement’ layout, this seems to be a shared pavement continuing from the crossing at the northern end of the Wester Way (near the former Aviva office building). Unfortunately, since some parts (like Cole Rd) aren’t being upgraded, the AT route stops near Loretto playing fields. A dashed orange line indicates ‘Masterplan Future Active Travel route’. That may refer to the ‘Primary Active Travel route’ in a previous Planning Guidance document (see Digest 157). There’s no detail on why it’s not being built along with the road. Also, it’s not clear why a redundant section of Crosshill Rd will be used for “mosaic habitat” instead of cycling?
Links: East Dunbartonshire Council WDR article and Planning application TP/ED/25/0151.

Glasgow City

North Laurieston masterplan – Stage 2

A further consultation following the Stage 1 event (June update). The project website has summaries and survey results to feed into Stage 2. ‘Connected cycle routes’ was ranked third in their Movement strategy survey. The masterplan area on the south bank of the Clyde includes Carlton Place, South Portland St (Avenues project) and the South City Way on Gorbals St (past the Sheriff Court and Central Mosque).
Event: Wednesday 12 November, 2pm–8pm at the former Savings Bank, 67 Bridge St, Glasgow G5 9JB (presentation at 6.30pm).
Links: North Laurieston microsite (sideways scrolling).

Improving Drumchapel Town Centre

Glasgow City Council say: “As part of the plans to improve Drumchapel town centre, we want your views on how best to change the roads layout of Kinfauns Drive from Hecla Ave down to Duntreath Ave, to make it easier to get around the area and make it more attractive.” The visuals show the curving raised platform has gone from the northern corner of Kinfauns Dr. Further south, the biggest change in the plans is removing the Drumchapel Roundabout. A (two-stage) crossing will be added on Duntreath Ave with an interesting junction at Aldi. There seems to be a wide verge on the western side of Duntreath Ave but sadly no segregated cycling route there or on Kinfauns Dr. There’s definitely cycling in the area as Drumchapel Cycle Hub are based just along from the junction on Drumry Road East.
Links: Drumchapel Town Centre survey.
Deadline: Monday 15 December 2025.

Thornwood Roundabout and NCN7 Project

A long overdue project for active travel improvements around Thornwood Roundabout and National Cycle Network Route 7 (NCN7). The roundabout plans are for new crossings and pavements/shared paths (widened onto verges). Crossings at north and east are 2-stage but close to ‘desire line’, with a few pinch points at corners. Crossings at west and south are set much further back (on existing paths). Sawmill St has a shared path south to crossings to a bi-directional cycletrack on South St/Castlebank St. That protected route runs most of the way to Pointhouse Place where there’s a shared path from the corner at the Riverside Museum. There’s a useful fly-through video of the route on the council webpage (and many visuals, which show cyclists riding on the right!). The cycletrack continues west along South St to the crossing at the end of the old railway path on the north side (near Dilwara Ave). While Thornwood roundabout is still car-dominated the plans are an upgrade for active travel. The cycletrack would be a very welcome improvement compared to NCN7’s current shared pavement.
Links: Thornwood-NCN7 consultation, Thornwood-NCN7 survey, Thornwood roundabout plans (PDF) and NCN7 plans (PDF).
Deadline: Sunday 17 December 2025.

North Lanarkshire

Bellshill to Mossend Active Travel
(Eurocentral Active Travel links project)

North Lanarkshire Council say: “The project is funded by NLC through the Glasgow City Region Deal which provides for infrastructure projects that connect people with employment opportunities. Three of the five routes are already at the detailed design stage, while the remaining two are at the concept design stage.” The latter runs through Bellshill town centre. The preferred route uses mostly back streets (John St and an awkward junction onto Dean St). Alternatives in the consultation include a route on Main St (which has a high school and very wide pavements in places). As it goes east, the route uses main roads through Mossend and Holytown towards EuroCentral (A755 corridor). North Lanarkshire favour widened pavements over on-road protected lanes so it’s likely this route will follow the pattern set in Motherwell (Muir St), Wishaw (Alexander St) and elsewhere.
Links: Eurocentral Active Travel Links StoryMap, Bellshill–Eurocentral survey
Deadline: 30 November 2025.

South Lanarkshire

Draft Transport Strategy Consultation 2025 – 2035

South Lanarkshire Council say: “This survey follows on from the first round of engagement undertaken in 2023 and subsequent work to develop South Lanarkshire’s next Local Transport Strategy (LTS), which will cover the period 2025 to 2035. This consultation will inform the finalisation of the Local Transport Strategy for adoption at the end of this year.”
SLC Local Transport Strategy on cycling: “…it is recognised that further investment is crucial to achieve the level of change required to meet climate targets, tackle poor health and address social exclusion. South Lanarkshire Council will further extend the active travel network during the lifetime of this LTS, including the provision of supporting infrastructure.” There’s very little further detail (similar to the recent South Lanarkshire Cycling Partnership meeting, which failed to mention this consultation!).
Links: Draft Local Transport Strategy document, LTS consultation page and LTS survey.
Deadline: 9 December 2025.

SPT

Buchanan Bus Station Masterplan

Radical redevelopment proposals for the bus station. The current building and neighbouring multi-storey car park would be demolished. Only the Gallery Apartments/Sainsbury’s building would be kept. The rest of the block would be used for the new bus station and housing/student flats. The curved layout seems to have fewer stances than the current bus station. The bridges from Cowcaddens Rd may deal with the level difference but could raise issues of anti-social behaviour (on the buses below). On three sides will be Avenues cycle lanes (Cowcaddens St/N Hanover St/W Nile St). No obvious details about bike parking in plans.
Links: Buchanan Bus Station Masterplan webpage and BBS online survey.
Deadline: “before 23 November”.

We will then go on-road through Mount Vernon and Broomhouse to Bargeddie and the Monkland Canal, then we will explore the park. After a café lunch, return will be through Easterhouse and Cranhill to Alexandra Park, to finish at George Square.

25 miles, mostly on paths and quieter roads, but some bits on main roads, and some unpaved paths at Drumpellier.

We will meet, as usual, on the north bank of the Clyde, at the SEC, just to the east of Bell’s Bridge at 10:00.

Lunch will be available to buy in the cafe at Drumpellier Park, or bring your own – there are benches and tables just outside the cafe.

For more information on GoBike rides, see here

Argyll & Bute

Tarbert Ferry Terminal to Whitehouse – Community Path

Further consultation on a path between Tarbert’s ferry terminal, on Loch Fyne, across the top of the Kintyre peninsula to Kennacraig ferry terminal/Whitehouse. There are concept designs for the route between the two, alongside the A83. This is a Stage 2 consultation (Stage 1 was in 2024). There was an in-person consultation event in Tarbert that has passed. This path to the south-west seems to be separate from the project to create a path to the north-east (Tarbet to Inverarnan).
Links: Tarbert to Whitehouse Community Path (Engagement Hub), large plan image (ZoomHub), Tarbert–Whitehouse survey, Feedback Map and ABC website page.
Deadline: Tuesday 30 September 2025 (17.00).

East Dunbartonshire

LDP3 – Call for Ideas and Sites Consultation

Part of the Council’s continuing work to prepare its next Local Development Plan (LDP). The plan will guide what land in East Dunbartonshire is used for development. The call for ideas is about planning policy and spatial strategy. The call for sites is for general ideas or developers with plans about how to develop areas of land. The call for sites may be an opportunity to lobby for active travel routes.
Two drop-in information sessions (Kirkintilloch/Milngavie) have already passed.
Links: LDP3 web page, LDP3 call for ideas survey and LDP3 call for sites survey.
Deadline: Monday 15 September 2025.

East Renfrewshire

Parks & Green Spaces

ERC say: “We want to learn about your experience of visiting and using parks and greenspaces in East Renfrewshire. Which parks are your favourite? What do you like about them? What do you think could be better? The results of the survey will be used to inform the new Open Space Strategy and Local Development Plan 3.”
East Ren parks and green spaces with important active travel links include: Rouken Glen Park, Balgray Reservoir and Whitelee Wind Farm. There are also some ‘missing links’, like the wasteground and disused bridge between Williamwood train station and Eastwood Health & Care Centre.
Link: East Ren parks and green spaces consultation.
Deadline (extended): 12 September 2025.

Thornliebank Consultations

Feedback about completed projects in Thornliebank, including access improvements to Thornliebank Playing Fields.
Link: Thornliebank Consultations page and Thornliebank Projects Feedback survey.
Deadline: no obvious deadline.

Inverclyde

Proposed Installation of Road Humps – Kirn Drive, Gourock (ETRO)

Following previous consultation, Inverclyde Council propose traffic calming on Kirn Drive in Midton, Gourock. The road would be made one-way between Arran Rd in east and Divert Rd in west with humps added. Also, Staffa Street would be made one-way from Ivy Crescent to Kingsway east. An Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) usually lasts 18 months to pilot a change.
Link: Kirn Dr, Gourock TRO page.
Deadline (extended): 1 September 2025.

North Ayrshire

Montgomerie Park, Irvine

North Ayrshire Council is planning the development of 188 new homes at Montgomerie Park, Irvine. Following previous consultations, the final plans for the site are available to view. A proposed road at the south of the new estate seems to include a cycle path but there are no details on width/surface.
Link: Montgomery Park page and final plans (PDF).
Deadline: Sunday 31 August 2025.

Renfrewshire

Outcomes of previous consultations

Renfewshire Council’s new website has an ‘Outcome available’ section with feedback from previous consultations. These include: Erskine Town Centre consultation and Johnston Civic Squares consultation.
Link: Renfrewshire Council consultations and ‘Outcome available’ page.

South Lanarkshire

Update on Hamilton Town Centre Masterplan

An update from South Lanarkshire Council is mostly about progress with property. Sadly, this includes demolishing the facade of the former Vogue Bingo hall on Keith St (apparently as it’s now unsafe). Other negative news includes the trial reintroduction of cars on Quarry St being made permanent. Quarry St used to be pedestrianised – see featured image at top of post from 2012 (with Vogue building in background). Car parking had crept up since the pandemic (leading to the trial). There should be disabled parking and it always had some access for loading, etc. However, officially opening the street to all cars removes safe space for walking, wheeling and cycling (even if it’s still one-way and not really a through road).

Also, work is starting to look at renewing the Duke St multi-storey car park – it’s due to be demolished (apart from the section under Wyler Tower!). However, the plan is to build a new multi-storey in the same place, on the wrong side of the road from the shops! It could potentially have been moved behind Quarry St, in the footprint of the current Regent Shopping Centre, if road access had been adjusted (see alternative plans, ignored by SLC). There is due to be an improved pedestrian/cycle path behind the Duke St car park, to Hamilton Central station, but it doesn’t seem like the rest of the town centre will be very cycle-friendly.

Local Action Fund

The Local Action Fund is £50,000 for each of the 20 council wards in South Lanarkshire. Several projects have already been awarded but there is funding remaining in some wards. There doesn’t seem to be a formal consultation or application process – constituents have to contact their councillors, who will decide where the remaining funds go.

For example, Rutherglen South, Ward 11, reportedly has £23,200 still to be spent by Councillors Robert Brown (who has attended GoBike hustings in the past), Margaret Cowie and Carol Nugent. Could some of the funding go towards improving local active travel routes?

Ten of us set off yesterday from the SEC for a 46 mile round trip, five of us on conventional bikes and five using electric assistance – and there were some hills, so the power was switched on!

We made our way out to the canal at Anniesland and then up to Milngavie before getting on to the West Highland Way. Not ideal for most of us, better with a mountain bike, but there were some glorious views:

The railway path was good to cycle on, although walkers were out in abundance – some for a short stroll and some doing the whole West Highland Way. We had lunch in Killearn, looking across the wonderful view and then we cycled down the hill and on to the cycle path that took us over the Endrick Water and to Croftamie.

The bridge is quite high and narrow but fine to use:

We continued on to Jamestown and Alexandria, from where we followed the path along the River Leven to Dumbarton.
This was easy cycling and after a wee rest in Dumbarton we all made our way back to Glasgow, some following the canal all the way to the city and some following the old railway line through Bowling.

Next month our ride will be shorter, heading out east with a cafe lunch stop in Drumpellier Park (more details here on the website).

We will start by going through the West End of Glasgow, then head for the Bears Way cycle route.

Then onto part of the West Highland Way once clear of Milngavie. After lunch in Killearn, we will head westwards through Croftamie to reach the Vale of Leven. Return to Glasgow along the railway path and canal.

45 miles, with the occasional steeper climb, and some bits on main roads. Various sections of path on this route are not asphalted. A shorter 30 mile ride can be had by joining us as far as Alexandria or Dumbarton for the train back to Glasgow.

We will meet at our usual starting point, on the north riverside, to the east of Bells Bridge, near the Armadillo at 10:00
Bring a packed lunch or buy something in Killearn.

to Kirkintilloch, and then take the Strathkelvin Railway Path into North Lanarkshire.

Continuing on some country lanes, we will arrive at Palacerigg Country Park around lunchtime.

After lunch at the café, we will return to Glasgow via Cumbernauld, including the Snake Bridge, and Kirkintilloch.
45 miles, with the occasional steeper climb, and very little on main roads. Various sections of path on this route are not asphalted.

We meet at 10am the north end of Bell’s Bridge SEC Congress Road, Glasgow.

For more information on GoBike rides, see here