On Sunday 07 June, 5 of us set off on our ride to the sea. Out through Govan on roads some of which were new to us and then we joined the cycle route as we got nearer to Paisley. The rain started just short of Lochwinnoch, making it a good time to get into the cafe.

Back on the bikes we continued westward, keeping on the cycle route, with the rain starting again just a bit too far away from our destination. We kept going and finally arrived, in the wind and rain, right out at the shore in Irvine.

Then, realising that a train back to the city was almost due, we raced back to the station, with the wind behind us and just managed to get on the train at the back – bliss!

Here’s a link to the route: https://www.plotaroute.com/route/3343364?units=km which was 37.76 miles, as I recorded it.
If you should be downloading it, ignore the wee section right at the end – my hands and my phone were so wet just as we got on the train that I couldn’t stop the recording – hence it showing a maximum speed of 41.7mph – ScotRail assisted, of course!

July’s ride, 05 July, is longer still, east to Edinburgh, again with an option to cut it short and get a train back from Bathgate

This ride will go out through Govan and Paisley to join the NCN route 7 to Irvine, much of which is railway path. We will stop at Lochwinnoch for lunch at Castle Semple Country Park, or in the town. Once we arrive in Irvine we will visit the beach, before returning to Glasgow by train

38 miles, largely on paths and quieter roads, and most of the hill climbing is around Dalry. Option to return from Lochwinnoch station (20 miles).

We will meet at the SEC, just to the east of the north end of Bell’s Bridge at 10:00

For more information on GoBike rides, please see here

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)!

In the past year or so, the city centre has had a lot more roadworks than usual. Many of the streets affected are in the Avenues project. These seem to all come at once after delays due to Covid-19, procurement issues and extra consultation.

However, other events have made the situation worse. Obviously, the Union St fire next to Glasgow Central station has closed the junction and Gordon St. The M8 viaduct works had already affected Garscube Rd and the Underline (New City Rd). Works on a collapsed sewer on Cathedral St and a burst water main on Cowcaddens Rd have just added to the pain.

Despite all that, new protected lanes are appearing. Glasgow City Council has an Avenues dashboard to update on progress. The following photos were taken in March/April as a snapshot of some of the current projects.

St George’s Road

Works started: 17 March 2025 (St George’s Rd article).
Progress: Part of Connecting Woodside programme. Works have been progressing north from Charing Cross with a mostly complete 2-way lane. Also, further work was underway around Clarendon Pl and Woodside Library heading north-east.
Connections: Charing Cross/Sauchiehall St at southern end. Northern end links to Garscube Rd.
Completion due: Was early 2026?

Cowcaddens Road/Dobbies Loan

Works started: 18 February 2025. (Cowcaddens Rd/Dobbies Loan article).
Progress: Avenues Plus project in ‘Block S’. Lane and planting beds mostly installed (complete with trees!). Each has had lane closures and 1-ways during works.
Connections: N Hanover St/Kyle St to east (and Sighthill Bridge beyond).
Completion due: Was meant to be April 2026 (but sinkhole repairs did delay work on Cowcaddens Rd). Revised to May 2026.

Argyle Street (West)

Works started: 13 May 2024 (Argyle St W article).
Progress: Last year I wrote: “Large parts of it are in place but unfinished, apart from the earlier phase in front of the JPMorgan Chase building.” Overall that’s still true but the western end, past Kentigern House, is much more complete. Work has moved a lot further east but there’s still a closed section of Argyle St around the Radisson Hotel. Apparently this is to do with water getting into the Low Level tunnels near Glasgow Central.
Connections: Crossings at western end to path under Kingston Bridge (link to Clyde Walkway/NCN7 and major developments near Daily Record building). Eastern end will link to Argyle St East (plans were in a recent TRO).
Completion due: It was December 2025 – revised to March and then May 2026.

George Square

Works started: May 2025 (was originally meant to be January – George Sq article).
Progress: Boards have closed off the square for a while. Statues were removed and the column has scaffolding. Road closures on the north side of the square for major roadworks (causing disruption for bus routes and access to Queen St station).
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: Still meant to be August 2026 (just after the Commonwealth Games).

North Hanover Street/Kyle Street 

Works started: 26 May 2025 (N Hanover St/Kyle St article).
Progress: Most work seems to have been on pavements – not much on the road so far.
Connections: George Sq at south, Dobbie’s Loan/Cowcaddens Rd to west and Sighthill Bridge off Kyle St at northern end.
Completion due: November 2026.

South Portland Street

Works started: January 2025.
Progress: Lots of fencing and diversions but some lane kerbs visible and planting beds emerging (hopefully for trees to return).
Connections: At north onto suspension bridge to Clyde Walkway. South into Govanhill.
Completion due: Was May, now July 2026.

Duke Street/John Knox St/‘Barras North’

Works started: January 2025 (Duke St article).
Progress: Another Avenues Plus project. Large parts of Duke St northern pavement has been resurfaced but not completely finished. Duke St has been closed westbound at Bellgrove St for works to add cycle tracks and planting on southern side. Some work has started on John Knox St too. ‘Barras North’ works on Sydney St are mostly done except a few bits of snagging.
Connections: At east, path through future development of Meat Market sheds (off Duke St/Melbourne St). At the western end, future High St and George St Avenues. 
Completion due: Was April 2026! However, now September 2026.

Dumbreck Road

Works started: December 2025 (following Shields Rd works, according to councillor).
Progress: A former Spaces for People cycle lane between Pollok Country Park and Bellahouston Park being made permanent and extended. Areas fenced off at southern end with new crossing added. Looks like works will be moving north from there.
Connections: Southern end at the current South West City Way on St Andrews Dr. To north, the recently proposed Connecting Greater Govan Route 1.
Completion due: July 2026.

Completion

Shortly after last year’s update both George V bridge and Pitt St were completed with Sauchiehall Precinct mostly done a bit later. So, there has been new infrastructure to use.

Also, these photos were taken in March/April so there will have been some progress since then. They don’t even cover all works in the city (Byres Rd North and Yorkhill/Kelvingrove for example).

However, the overall theme is obviously a lot of delays and potential overruns. Duke St/John Knox St won’t be ready for the summer as originally planned. Probably not surprising based on recent experience and the scale of works overall (probably the most ambitious in Scotland).

However, the Commonwealth Games are only a few months away – there will need to be a big push to get the city into shape for hosting. If things go down to the wire the grumbling at the council is going to get an awful lot louder.

This frustration also increases the pressure for the new infra to deliver on what was promised; especially the Avenues project. Its price tag of £100+ million of City Deal investment also raises the stakes. So, usage figures could be under a lot of scrutiny. Many of us will want to have a look at the new lanes but it’s important we get more people to try cycling in the city centre.

One bright spot is the popularity of the Voi e-bikes. After the Union St fire, Voi had a surge of new customers using them as a stop gap for public transport. Let’s hope the Games can inspire similar usage levels to boost the city centre.

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

We cycled along and over the Govan Bridge, then continued west, into the wind and the hail and sleet started. Through Drumoyne and over the motorway towards Hillington – and under the motorway: decision time!
We turned around, into the snow and back towards the city. It was a joy to get into the Clyde Tunnel, where it was warm and dry.

Once north of the river again we made our way home, hoping that our next ride out, on Sunday 03 May, going north to Strathblane, will be pleasanter!

Then we will go into Erskine on the New Town’s path network, to end up at the waterfront. Next will be the Erskine Bridge, then return through Clydebank to Glasgow on the Loch Lomond path.

26 miles, a mix of paths and back streets, only a few short bits on busier roads, and little in the way of climbing. Potentially stopping in Clydebank for lunch.

Meet at 10:00 Sunday 05 April at the north end of Bell’s Bridge near the SEC.

For more information about GoBike rides see here

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

Both projects affect their local neighbourhood but also have a knock on effect on nearby active travel projects and the wider area (or region/country for the M8 viaducts).

Both have consultation events – TODAY (Thurs 26th Feb) in Linthouse and next week in Cowcaddens (plus an earlier event just took place).

Clyde Waterfront Innovation Campus

Also known as part of Glasgow Riverside Innovation District (GRID). This will be a new Glasgow Uni campus on the south bank of the Clyde off Govan Road (near the Clyde Tunnel entrance). Since cycle routes in the Greater Govan area have hit opposition, could this be an opportunity to add new ones without local shopkeepers holding protest meetings? Also, it could be served by the potential Route 2 to QEU Hospital in Connecting Greater Govan plans (see February 2026 Consultation update). The development uses a streamlined planning process which seems to have fewer stages for feedback.

Linthouse Housing Association say:
“Glasgow City Council are designing a Masterplan Consent Area (MCA) in Govan, between… Elder Park and the Clyde. MCAs proactively grant planning consent to developments that fit within the designed scheme. The proposed MCA will provide development parameters for the establishment of a health and innovation campus on the vacant sites at Govan Road, Holmfauld Road and Linthouse Road. The proposals comprise erection of business accommodation (office, research, laboratory, light industrial and ancillary uses) and associated roads, infrastructure, public realm, and landscaping works. As part of the design, we are proposing several civic and outdoor areas for the public to use, including a new area of public access to the River Clyde and a new civic square.”

Event: Thursday 26th February 2026, 3-7pm
Linthouse Housing Association, 1 Cressy St, Glasgow G51 4RB

Links: Linthouse HA webpage.

Deadline: No obvious deadline.

M8 Woodside Viaducts

Options for the crumbling Woodside viaducts between M8 Junction 16 (Craighall) and Junction 17 (Charing Cross). Problems with the supports between sections led to remedial works, ongoing since 2021 (due to continue until 2027 at a cost of £150+ million). These works restrict the Cowcaddens underpass (causing serious personal safety issues), access to Garscube Rd cycleway/Forth & Clyde canal and are delaying The Underline (part of Glasgow’s Avenues project).

Transport Scotland say:
“Temporary works

1. Lane restrictions are in place and temporary propping of the viaducts is being carried out as a short-term measure to ensure the safety of road users and continued operation of the M8.
2. The temporary props have a limited lifespan, will require maintenance, and take up extensive road space below the viaducts. For these reasons they are not an effective long-term solution.

Permanent works

1. Transport Scotland is assessing options for permanent works that ensure the long-term future for this vital stretch of Scotland’s Trunk Road Network.
2. The long-term plan is to maintain and invest in the M8 motorway network to ensure that it supports existing and future transport plans and the Scottish economy for many years to come.
3. As part of our project development processes, we are considering a range of options for Repairing, Replacing or potentially Removing the viaducts.
4. This consultation is being carried out to inform the Strategic Development stage of work, and presents information in a manner that allows high-level comparisons to be made between the strategic options being considered.”

Removal is the most eye-catching option – especially as the mock-up is more radical than anything proposed by the Replace the M8 campaign! Their petition to the Scottish Parliament asking for a feasibility study for replacing the city centre M8 was turned down in 2022. Transport Scotland have done traffic modelling of removal only – showing knock on effects in the region. However, that seems to have assumed no further changes to the transport network!?

Event: Wednesday 4 March 2026, 10am to 5pm
Woodside Halls, 36 Glenfarg Street, Glasgow, G20 7QE

Links: Transport Scotland webpage, ‘Virtual room’ consultation site, M8 Woodside booklet, M8 Woodside survey.

Deadline: Wednesday 25 March 2026.

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.