Almost the end of the year but don’t forget to start the New Year with the GoBike infrastructure ride, 10:00 at the north end of Bell’s Bridge, see here for details.
GoBike infrastructure ride TOMORROW, 01 JANUARY!
Consultation Digest (Local) Issue 111, 26 May 2022
Building back up…
The Digest returns after an extended break for the local council elections (and some tech issues – apologies). The people in charge of a council have a big say in what gets done so it’s worth noting what has (and hasn’t) changed.
Glasgow City Council continues in minority SNP control, with added support from the Greens. However, Anna Richardson has stepped down from her Sustainability role. Instead, the convenor of the Environment, Sustainability and Carbon Reduction City Policy Committee is Elaine McSporran (Cardonald).
Elsewhere, many neighbouring councils have changed hands:
- East Dunbartonshire – SNP minority (from Lib Dem/Tory).
- East Renfrewshire – Labour/Independents (from SNP).
- North Lanarkshire – SNP minority (from Labour/Independents/Tory).
- South Lanarkshire – Labour/Lib Dem/Independent/Tory (from SNP). New council leader Joe Fagan previously criticised infrastructure works in his East Kilbride ward.
- West Dunbartonshire – Labour (from SNP/Independent).
Tour the parks and open spaces in the North-West of Glasgow, Sunday 01 May
Make it a good start to May with this tour of the north-west of Glasgow with Andy. See here for details.
Meet, as usual, 10:00 at the north end of Bell’s Bridge for this 20 mile ride.
Contraflow Cycling: Open letter to Glasgow City Council and Police Scotland
Glasgow City Council’s adoption of its new Active Travel Strategy is a great step towards making the city’s streets safe and inviting for vulnerable road users, and GoBike warmly welcomes it.
Adopting the strategy can only be a starting point. For years, the way Glasgow City Council and Police Scotland have dealt with proposals for contraflow cycling has made cycling less inviting as a travel choice.
Contraflow cycling (exempting cycles from one-way restrictions, see endnote) is safe.
Continue reading “Contraflow Cycling: Open letter to Glasgow City Council and Police Scotland”Consultation Digest (Local) Issue 107, 3 March 2022
Coming unstuck?
After praising East Renfrewshire Council for sticking with their temporary bollards on the A77, they now have a consultation about removing them! It has a tight deadline before the official pre-election period starts.
There’s even less time to respond about active travel hubs in North Lanarkshire. NHS Lanarkshire have published plans for the new Monklands Hospital in Airdrie, including active travel paths. Also, North Lanarkshire Council have a TRO about parking at schools.
In Glasgow, the George Square consultation ends soon. The next Liveable Neighbourhoods consultation starts for Yorkhill to Anderston. In contrast, construction for the South West City Way Extension hasn’t started due to an issue between the council and contractors. There are also a few TROs for Glasgow and East Dunbartonshire.
Continue reading “Consultation Digest (Local) Issue 107, 3 March 2022”Consultation Digest (Local) Issue 106, 17 February 2022
March-ing Orders & musical statues?
The Public Sector is getting close to its ‘end of year’ in March. That may explain why half a dozen new Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) have just been published. Also, an older Order was passed for 20mph on Byres Rd in the West End. A few TROs are for Spaces for People measures in Glasgow. Obviously, none of East Dunbartonshire’s TROs are for SfP (as the only mainland Scottish council not to put in a bid).
‘What do we want for our city’s front room?’ – asks the latest George Square consultation. Elsewhere, North Lanarkshire is sounding people out about two active travel hubs and East Renfrewshire is sticking to its guns.
Continue reading “Consultation Digest (Local) Issue 106, 17 February 2022”Consultation Digest (Local) Issue 104, 20 January 2022
Let’s go round again.
A repeat consultation for Pollok and next steps at an Ayrshire harbour (in time for Burns Night). Also, South Lanarkshire’s Ayr Road (A70) pops up again.
After criticism of Spaces for People measures in South Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire, now East Renfrewshire‘s Ayr Road (A77) completes the hat-trick.
Continue reading “Consultation Digest (Local) Issue 104, 20 January 2022”Consultation Digest (Local) Issue 103, 6 January 2022
Happy New Year!
The first Digest of 2022 has a few loose ends to clear up from last year. Firstly, there’s the proposed regeneration of Shawlands Arcade on Kilmarnock Rd (as shown in split image, above). Secondly, there’s North Lanarkshire Council’s Active Travel strategy, which is a long way off the pace set by Glasgow’s.
The last edition featured negative reaction to Spaces for People lanes in East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire. Another issue has come up elsewhere – a petition against SfP lanes between Paisley and Howwood in Renfrewshire.
While cycling is usually on the agenda in Glasgow it’s often missed out in surrounding areas, which feed the city’s traffic issues. Cars are king in suburban towns so any projects that try to redress the balance will need support. On a more positive note, Sustrans are funding minor upgrades to existing NCN routes in Renfrewshire and elsewhere.
Continue reading “Consultation Digest (Local) Issue 103, 6 January 2022”Consultation Digest (Local) Issue 102, 23 December 2021
Season’s greetings
This time of year is known for excess and there’s a glut of consultations and responses in this issue. Contra-flow cycling is a theme with responses from Glasgow ruling it out while South Lanarkshire have quietly implemented it in East Kilbride.
However, EK’s Spaces for People project (as seen in featured image, above) is up for consultation and needs support to counter local criticism.
Without wanting to tread on the toes of our national consultations digest, Transport Scotland’s long-delayed pavement parking consultation has started. Most GoBike members will have experiences to add to that!
Continue reading “Consultation Digest (Local) Issue 102, 23 December 2021”Consultation Digest (Local) Issue 101, 9 December 2021
Intro 101 or Room 101?
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).
Continue reading “Consultation Digest (Local) Issue 101, 9 December 2021”