The overall verdict? Improving, but could do better, much better. Let’s start with some good infrastructure:

The filtered school access on Kenmure Street, allows pedestrian and cycle access to the schools, but no cars. Just on the other side of Pollokshaws Road we also cycled along the new school-related cycle track in Cuthbertson Street. The next step must be to make the surrounding streets in Pollokshields and Govanhill safe for children to walk and cycle to school? Let’s hope so.

The contraflow on Allison Street, the section where all other traffic is diverted left into Hollybrook Street, has been there a long time, but was never implemented properly until recently. Given that contraflow cycling on one-way streets is generally recognised as good cycling design practice, it’s about time we had much more in Glasgow to shorten journey times and help us avoid busy detours on main roads

London Road cycle way

Here’s the eastern end of the London Road cycle way, nice and wide, with a good surface and a joy to cycle on. However, if travelling east along London Road from the city note that the existing cycle lane only starts at Bridgeton. It meets up with the uni-directional lanes installed earlier in the pandemic at Fielden Street (just past the Police Station). These recent lanes have a break at each set of traffic lights and stutter past Parkhead Stadium, where the armadillo separators were removed to prevent football supporters tripping over them (or so we were told).

However, the biggest drawback to this shiny new route at Mount Vernon is the 2.5 km length with no cycle protection at all from the end of the pandemic lanes to this new one!

The traffic lights at the foot of Daldowie Road (leading to Boghall Road) include a cycle phase but, note to designers: only half our group got through on one phase! The rest of us had to cycle back over the sensor to get the cycle phase going again. A second sensor or a longer phase please!

Currently the new section is not full of leaves and other bits of vegetation, as the sections of cycleway nearer to the city are. Is this the result of kerb separation rather than armadillos, or has this new section been swept?

What else did we see on our tour?

Shared footways! The section on Aikenhead Road between Allison Street and Calder Street is particularly bad. Garden gates, driveways and big hedges all help to reduce visibility. Shared footways really do belong in the Ark of cycle infrastructure.

Footpaths: we went, as we often do on Andy’s rides, on two footpaths, neither of which was well-maintained. The first was from Daldowie Road through to the Baillieston terminus of the Number 2 bus route. Surprise, surprise there was no dropped kerb at either end! The second was in Queenslie, from Bartiebeith Road to join onto other, better-maintained paths that lead to the pedestrian/cycle bridge over the M8 near Glasgow Fort. Both of them are useful routes, but not very welcoming.

We cycled on the cycle lane on Cumbernauld Road, near Hogganfield Park. It was recently upgraded from cycle lanes marked by paint only, and well-used for car parking, to armadillo-protected. Then we went on the very new bi-directional lane on Royston Road. Both of these improve things for cycling, but attention to detail please! While we might have to put up with raised sections at bus stops, why should we have to splash through a pool of water either side of them? A bit of attention to drainage is required.

Notably, the Royston Road lane just stops at Siemens Street! What is one supposed to do there? It’s a strange start or end point for a journey.

There was lots more to see and yes, things are improving – slowly. However, we still need attention to detail and continuity through junctions.

Here’s a link to the route if you wish to repeat today’s tour: https://cycle.travel/map/journey/255344

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.

There’s plenty in this Digest despite it being holiday time, with weather to match for a change (in Glasgow Fair!).

This issue is mostly about the fringes – both inside and outside the city boundary; in more and less deprived areas. It’s also about city centre parking and emissions, which is often linked to people driving in from areas around the edge of Glasgow.

The Infrastructure Update has a bit more from north and east but also a project from the West End, just in case anyone’s getting withdrawal symptoms…

Infrastructure Update

• A thread about recent route developments in Glasgow, looking great in sunshine.
• Beith St has new access and drop kerbs added.
• London Rd has had soft segregation removed at Celtic Park (but chalk added).
• At the other end of London Rd, photos of Mount Vernon junction. It’s good this phase of the East City Way is complete but there are issues going eastbound, as GoBike warned previously.
• A bird’s eye view of the new Sighthill and a few close-ups of its new, but rusty, pedestrian/cycle bridge before it’s installed.

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

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. Glasgow City Council – City Centre Traffic Management Order 2010: Variation No.29, GHA Parking Areas (ends 3 Aug)
2. St. Paul’s Youth Forum – Flourishing Molendinar second consultation (ends 6 Aug)
3. Glasgow City Council – Garnethill Traffic Management and Parking Controls Order (ends 13 Aug)
4. East Dunbartonshire Council – Bishopbriggs Town Centre Regeneration (ends 15 Aug)
5. East Renfrewshire Council – Ayr Road (A77): Spaces for People, Phase 2
6. Glasgow City Council – Low Emission Zone consultation (ends 2 Sep)
7. Glasgow City Council – Inner East Strategic Development Framework (ends 3 Sep)
8. East Dunbartonshire Council – Active Travel Discussion (ends 28 Sep)

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

None this time.

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

1. Mount Florida Community Council – Letherby Triangle planning decision
2. St. Paul’s Youth Forum – Flourishing Molendinar first consultation feedback

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

1.1: Glasgow City Council – City Centre Traffic Management Order 2010: Variation No.29, GHA Parking Areas

‘GHA Parking Areas’ refers to land in Townhead owned by Glasgow Housing Association. The area is east of Buchanan Bus Station and Glasgow Caledonian University, behind the high flats. Resident’s parking spaces around Kennedy St and St Mungo Avenue have been used as free parking by shoppers/commuters. This order introduces parking restrictions which can be enforced.

There are the usual documents for a TRO: plan of GHA parking areas, GHA areas draft report, GHA areas press notice and the usual statement of reasons. Respond by e-mail to lestraffic@glasgow.gov.uk  by 3 August 2021.

1.2: St. Paul’s Youth Forum – Flourishing Molendinar second consultation

The last mention of the Flourishing Molendinar project was in Digest 82, Item 1.8 (when it changed to its current name). The main image on this Digest shows the area covered by the project in the north east of Glasgow.

The next stage of the Flourishing Molendinar project has produced some eye-catching plans. In particular, the pedestrianised area proposed for Langdale St, which could be an example for other so-called ‘liveable’ neighbourhoods.

However, there was also big news for anyone who cycles on Cumbernauld Rd (A80) across the M8 motorway. The bridge is a four/five lane dual carriageway, which many pupils have to cross to get to Smithycroft Secondary School. FloMo’s plan would reduce the (wide) lanes and add segregated cycleways. If it goes ahead, this would transform that stretch of road into a far more people-friendly place.

For more on the above (and Royston Rd) go to the FloMo survey (ends 6 August). We look forward to seeing what comes out of it.

For more about the phase 1 consultation, see Item 3.2.

1.3: Glasgow City Council – Garnethill Traffic Management and Parking Controls Order

Garnethill, north of Sauchiehall St, is known for (what’s left of) Glasgow School of Art. It’s also home to a few schools, places of worship, hotels and several thousand residents. The area has steep, tight streets and existing one-ways, as well as the usual parking issues.

GoBike posted about the consultation events for Garnethill back in March 2018. The plans involve a lot of yellow lines, parking restrictions on back lanes and the creation of car parking bays. One thing that isn’t included in the plan is the two-way section of Hill St, at St Aloysius College, created by TTRO in April (Digest 85, 3.1). However, the parking bays are still included, which reduce the road to one car width.

Any neighbourhood plan is of most interest to people who live in the area. However, issues in Garnethill could have a knock-on effect on Sauchiehall St and Cambridge St so it’s in our wider interest that it works.

Again, there are the usual TRO documents: Garnethill plan, Garnethill draft report, Garnethill press notice and the standard Statement of Reasons. Respond by email: garnethillparking@glasgow.gov.uk by 13 August 2021.

1.4: East Dunbartonshire Council – Bishopbriggs Town Centre Regeneration

This consultation covers Bishopbriggs town centre and two City Deal projects – phase 5 of Bishopbriggs Relief Road (BRR5) and the A803 corridor (Springburn Rd/Kirkintilloch Rd).

Bishopbriggs town centre is marooned between NCN754 (Forth & Clyde canal) and the ‘Wester Way’ shared path, without good active travel links to either. The Wester Way was built alongside the BRR on Westerhill Rd, where BRR phase 4 caused years of disruption. Both road and path peter out opposite the Aviva offices, north of the rail line to Lenzie. BRR5 doesn’t have a route decided yet but could affect some paths in the area.

The striking thing about the town centre ‘Future’ images is how little the infrastructure changes apart from slightly wider footways and planting more trees. There are a few cyclists in the images but no segregated cycle lanes. The town centre work is part of a City Deal project worth nearly £35m, so they’re not skint.

If you’ve ridden any routes in the area, it’s worth putting a word in for cycling. See the Bishopbriggs consultation webpage and Bishopbriggs Public Realm Plan survey. Consultation closes 15 August.

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

The Ayr Rd section of the A77 route at Newton Mearns is south of the Fenwick Rd Spaces for People lanes, which we covered back in January 2021 (Digest 78, 1.4). GoBike staged a local Pedal on Parliament event about parking on Ayr Rd’s bike lanes back in 2019.

The phase 2 consultation is partly about replacing the phase 1 cones with light segregation. However, it also removes the segregation in some sections (like at Mearns Cross). It includes adding parking bays with the bike lane outside it in one location but trialing a parking-protected bike lane at Ashtree Grove (as in image, below).

The mixed approach probably reflects that on-road, segregated cycleways are still very new in East Renfrewshire (or anywhere outside a city). Issues in other towns, like the Bearsway extension being scrapped and the removal of lanes on Holmston Rd, cast a long shadow. Newton Mearns is just as affluent and around 90% of people in East Ren have access to a car. However, it has younger demographics than either Milngavie or Ayr.

East Ren differ from Glasgow by only asking how to improve the scheme, not whether people want rid of it. If ERC wait to get feedback before making changes then that would be an improvement on London Rd too. A few comments in the Commonplace survey allude to Glasgow ripping out segregation so that seems to have had an effect beyond the city boundary.

Light segregation options include ‘flexible delineator posts’ or ‘wand orca’ units. For examples, maps and more details, see the Ayr Road Phase 2 consultation page. No obvious deadline on this one.

1.6: Glasgow City Council – Low Emission Zone consultation

Glasgow’s city centre Low Emission Zone (LEZ) has only applied to some buses so far. GCC are consulting before it changes to include cars and other motor vehicles. It covers most of the city centre – north of the river, conveniently inside the M8 and eastwards to High St/Saltmarket.

However, the LEZ won’t include cars any time soon as there are some ‘grace periods’ built into the plan at the moment. One year until it comes in, so summer 2022. Then another year until it becomes enforceable – 1 June 2023. There will be a further year’s grace for folk who live in the city centre (until 1 June 2024). Some exemptions apply to people with disabilities, emergency vehicles, etc.

One good thing about the short survey is it does ask you about the above. So, if you think the LEZ area is too small or the grace periods are too long, you can tick those boxes and add a comment too.

See the Glasgow LEZ consultation page and LEZ online survey. Closes on 2 September 2021.

1.7: Glasgow City Council – Inner East Strategic Development Framework

The ‘Inner East’ goes from High St out to Carntyne and Tollcross, between the River Clyde and the M8 (just short of FloMo’s patch). Like previous SDFs for other areas, it has themes about connections and sustainability but is mostly about identifying development opportunities. Some planned cycle routes and the Avenues Plus active travel scheme are included on a map with ‘missing links’. There are some issues with the map, like the red line between Barrowfield and Parkhead, counting the bus lane on one side as “off road/segregated”. Although it’s patchy, it puts more focus on active travel than previous strategies about the East End.

A few of the rail improvements in the document have been talked about for over ten years, such as the Parkhead rail halt. However, it’s the East End Regeneration Route (EERR phase 3) that seems to be back on the agenda due to new funding. It’s a dual carriageway that would run through Hogarth Park and under Edinburgh Rd and Cumbernauld Rd to the M8.

See the Inner East consultation page for link to the PDF document and SDF survey. Ends 3 September 2021.

1.8: East Dunbartonshire Council – Active Travel Discussion

This was first in Digest 86, Item 1.2, with its ‘Ideas Map‘ for the area. Recently, East Dunbartonshire Council has brought in new parking restrictions on Milngavie Rd, opposite the remodeled junction to Allanton Sports Centre. It’s small but possibly the first parking restriction since the Bearsway was built?

The Bearsway was due to extend to Kessington on the way to Glasgow. While researching this Digest, it emerged it has one of the oldest populations in Scotland. 52% of people of Kessington West are over 65 years old (page 19). Will the Bearsway ever get there?

There are no more consultation events until August/September. See a full list of events and background info on the Active Travel Discussion webpage. Closing date – 28 September 2021.

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

None this time.

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

3.1: Mount Florida Community Council – Letherby Triangle planning decision

This project was first in Digest 66, 1.3 when Mount Florida Community Council (MoFloCoCo) were consulting about it. It’s good to see it progressing towards being built.

The plan is to close the end of Carmunnock Road at Cathcart Rd to link a triangular traffic island to nearby shops. It will have a viewing platform added and be used for leisure and cultural events. There’s a handy overview of the proposal on the ReGlasgow website.

It’s planning application 20/03067/FUL if you want to look at it on GCC’s planning portal. Good luck to MoFloCoCo and their partners for the next stage.

3.2: St. Paul’s Youth Forum – Flourishing Molendinar first consultation feedback

In addition to the new plans in Item 1.2, above, Flourishing Molendinar published data from their earlier consultation (Jan–May 2021). There are plenty of interesting results on the website homepage and in their Summary Report (PDF).

In particular, the data shows strong support for keeping Spaces for People measures, as long as they can be adjusted/improved. Overall, 89% wanted to keep the SfP measures in some form while only 11% wanted them removed (out of 152 responses). While FloMo is focussed on one local area, it’s hopefully a good sign for the results of Glasgow City Council’s wider SfP consultation (whenever those are published).

Around the north of the city, plans for Maryhill Road’s squinty crossing are dwarfed by proposals for Canniesburn Toll roundabout in East Dumbartonshire.

In the city centre, another Bank Holiday building fire means the road is fenced off on High St at the junction of George St/Duke St.

The Scottish Parliament election has passed but it’s still a bit quiet on the consultations front. However, there are plenty of temporary and permanent projects going on so we have another Infrastructure Update. Most of them are in the city but East Kilbride is also getting in on the Spaces for People action.

Infrastructure Update

• Benalder St, Glasgow is having a cycleway installed over the River Kelvin after works on nearby Bunhouse Rd and Old Dumbarton Rd (for Yorkhill & Kelvingrove Cycling Village).
• Cambridge St, Glasgow – Spaces for People cycle lanes are up and running (including bike traffic lights at Renfrew St).
• East City Way phase 1 at London Rd/Mount Vernon may be nearly there – see 3.1, below.
• East Kilbride has Spaces for People lanes installed between EK train station and shopping centre (via Brouster Hill) including double decker planters on Cornwall St.
• Garscube Rd segregated lanes, for the Connecting Woodside project, have almost reached new bike traffic lights at Firhill St (installed but not put into service yet).
• George Square gets planter boxes and outdoor seating (mostly for The Counting House).
• Royston Rd, Glasgow – work started on Spaces for People lanes.

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

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. Glasgow City Council – Maryhill Road/North Woodside Road/Hopehill Road (Traffic Regulation) Order 2021, (ends 18 June)
2. East Dunbartonshire Council – Active Travel Discussion
3. East Dunbartonshire Council – Canniesburn Toll Signalisation Study
4. North Lanarkshire Council – Town Hubs location surveys
5. Glasgow Urban Sports – GUSM74 Urban Sports Sculpture Park survey

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

Glasgow City Council – Pollok pop-up lanes consultation (Spaces for People)

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

1. Glasgow City Council – East City Way Phase 1 (London Dr to Daldowie Rd) Order 2021
2. Glasgow City Council – London Road and Hamilton Road (30mph Speed Limit) Order 2021
3. Multiplex – Glasgow Uni campus, May newsletter
4. Urban Roots – Malls Mire, April Newsletter

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

1.1: Glasgow City Council – Maryhill Road/North Woodside Road/Hopehill Road (Traffic Regulation) Order 2021

This traffic order has a long title for a short stretch of junction. It creates a diagonal cycle crossing on Maryhill Rd between the two filtered sections of N Woodside Rd. This is part of the wider Connecting Woodside project (which is installing other squinty crossings on Garscube Rd).

The accompanying report says it includes “the installation of a signalised pedestrian and cycle crossing at the junction of Maryhill Road, North Woodside Road and Hopehill Road”. It also restricts people cycling on the crossing from turning onto Maryhill Rd midway across. Presumably, in an effort to protect pedestrians who may be crossing alongside bikes.

The eastern side will have a 2-way cycle carriageway (according to the very small annotation, above). The order also prohibits motor vehicles from using the new cycle carriageway (the current road has been used for car parking).

There are the usual documents: TRO plan, TRO report, TRO press notice and (short) TRO statement of reasons. The deadline for responses is Friday, 18 June 2021.

1.2: East Dunbartonshire Council – Active Travel Discussion (11 May – 28 Sept)

This item came up just before publication and we’ll no doubt have more to say about it. However, for now, we’ll just highlight the online events starting on 18 May (for the Lennoxtown, Milton of Campsie, Haughhead and Clachan of Campsie areas). There are about a dozen online events in the next few months for different areas (using MS Teams). Paper forms are also available from local libraries.

See a full list of events and background info on the Active Travel Discussion webpage. EDC have set up an online map to gather suggestions, with links to highlight paths, etc. in the area. This consultation will feed into a new Active Travel Strategy later in the year.

1.3: East Dunbartonshire Council – Canniesburn Toll Signalisation Study

Canniesburn Toll is a main junction between Bearsden and Glasgow, which links Switchback Rd and Drymen Rd to the A81 (Maryhill Rd/Milgavie Rd). East Dunbartonshire Council is going to add traffic lights and pedestrian crossings around the roundabout itself. At the same time EDC are proposing to add a cycle lane (using space gained by removing pavement around the centre of roundabout).

There are two options being put forward for the bike lane – one on the carriageway and one on the footway. While it’s good that EDC is looking at cycling infrastructure again (after ignoring Spaces for People), there are some obvious issues with both options.

Option 1, on the carriageway, seems to give priority for people cycling round the edge of the roundabout. However, there’s an obvious risk of a ‘left hook’ collision, when cycling ahead from cars turning left across your path.

Option 2, on the footway, should be safer but slower with multiple waits at traffic lights to cross each arm of the roundabout.

It’s not clear if either option is trying to recreate a Dutch roundabout, which tend to be smaller, single-lane roundabouts with a cycle lane in a separate ring outside it (leaving a gap for cars to stop on each arm). There may not be enough space all the way around the roundabout to add bike lanes further out. However, there is a huge area in the middle of it.

The Canniesburn Toll consultation website has background info and a link to the survey, which takes general feedback and for each option. It’s apparently had a few technical issues which the consultants (Stantec) say are being resolved. If you have any issues with it you could try emailing canniesburntoll@stantec.com. There’s no obvious closing date for this one. However, a ‘Technical Note‘ by EDC for their councillors says detailed design will start in June 2021.

1.4: North Lanarkshire Council – Town Hubs location surveys

As covered in Digest 85, Item 1.2. The Hubs are about creating community facilities through school refurbishments (or other redevelopment). While not strictly about cycling, the new hubs should be accessible by bike/active travel. The areas involved are: Airdrie, Bellshill, Coatbridge, Cumbernauld, Kilsyth, Motherwell, ‘Northern Corridor’ (Chryston), Shotts and Wishaw.

Each area is covered in one of the videos on the consultation webpage. You can watch them on the page or by clicking the red link to open them in a new tab/window. There are also videos at the foot of the page explaining the thinking behind the project. Each area has a link to a survey to give your views. There’s no obvious closing date for this one.

1.5: GUS – GUSM74 Urban Sports Sculpture Park survey

First covered in Digest 81, Item 1.9, the GUSM74 skate park would transform an area under the motorway near West St underground station. The GUSM74 survey is still open for BMX riders, skaters, or their families, to have their say.

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

2.1: Glasgow City Council – Pollok pop-up lanes consultation (Spaces for People)

The city council added pop-up cycle lanes in Pollok on Braidcraft Rd and Brockburn Rd (as mentioned in the Spaces for People Update in Digest 84). As in other areas, the new lanes used ‘soft segregation’ (black & white ‘zebras’). They generated a lot of discussion on social media, especially Facebook. A Facebook post by Cllr David McDonald talked about a future GCC consultation. It was apparently due to start on 7 May but there doesn’t seem to be any further information so far.

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

3.1: Glasgow City Council – East City Way Phase 1 (London Dr to Daldowie Rd) Order 2021

This was covered in Digest 80, Item 1.5 with further responses in Digest 82, 3.1. GCC have emailed to confirm it’s going ahead as proposed. Hopefully, this and the image in the Infrastructure Update, mean the first phase is just about complete.

3.2: Glasgow City Council – London Road and Hamilton Road (30mph Speed Limit) Order 2021

This order has gone hand-in-hand with the above since Digest 80, Item 1.6. It’s also been approved. Both orders were made on 30th April 2021 with adverts in the Evening Times on 6th May 2021.

3.3: Multiplex – Glasgow Uni campus, May newsletter

Quick off the mark this month are Multiplex with their May newsletter about the Glasgow Uni campus redevelopment.

3.4: Urban Roots – Malls Mire, April Newsletter

First covered in Digest 74, Item 3.4, we’re a wee bit late with the April newsletter. Apparently some paths may be rerouted to allow work to take place. On the plus side, the bike pump track is looking good!

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

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

Glasgow Spaces for People Update

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

Barriers Overload Update

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

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

Section 1: Current Consultations

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

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

None this time.

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

1. Malls Mire newsletter – March 2021

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

1.1: Ardrossan Connections – Design Festival

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1.3: East Dunbartonshire Council – Climate Conversation 

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

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

1.4: Maryhill North Transformational Regeneration Area – Masterplan consultation 

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

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

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

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

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

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

None this time.

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

3.1: Malls Mire newsletter – March 2021

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

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

As predicted in the last Digest, there aren’t so many consultations due to the pre-election period. This Digest is split between Glasgow and a few items each from East Dunbartonshire and Lanarkshire.

However, there are often more developments on the ground around the city in March, to complete works before the Public Sector’s end of Financial Year. Many of us might be restricted to our own council area right now. So, it can help to see that progress is happening somewhere, as it may not feel like it at times. That’s why this Digest features an Infrastructure Update to bring you up to speed.

Infrastructure Update

• Glasgow City Council have just installed Spaces for People segregation on the Howard St bike lane.
• South City Way now has electronic bike warning signs installed on side streets off Victoria Rd (to alert drivers – triggered by bikes going past).
• GCC have completed a section of segregated cycleway on Garscube Rd from M8 to Sawmillfield St. Work is well underway on combined crossings at junction with Possil Rd/St George’s Rd. The next section of route, going north on Garscube Rd, has also started.
• GCC is also working on phase 1 of East City Way on London Rd/Hamilton Rd near Mount Vernon station. Its new Nextbike station has already been installed.
• Nextbike Glasgow announced 10 new hire stations (and the end of the free 30 minutes scheme).
• North Lanarkshire Council are installing a wider shared path at the western end of Strathclyde Park Loch (but it peters out near the playpark). The new path is west of the closed section of the park’s ‘spine road’ – see map in Item 1.1, below.

Ahead of the election in May, see the Cycling for everyone election petition by Cycling UK in Scotland (extended until 1 April) and Pedal on Parliament’s ‘Light the Way’ campaign (24 April).

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

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. North Lanarkshire Council – Strathclyde Park road closure consultation (ends 31 March)
2. Kinning Park Complex – Sustaining Choices events (1, 3 or 6 April)
3. East Dunbartonshire Council – Climate Conversation (online event 22 April)
4. Maryhill North Transformational Regeneration Area – Masterplan consultation (ends 23 April)
5. Glasgow Urban Sports – GUSM74 Urban Sports Sculpture Park survey

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

1. Glasgow City Council – (Y)our ‘Learning Quarter’ and Merchant City Proposals Workshops

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

1. Iceni Projects (Glasgow Harbour) – Yorkhill Quay Phase 2 response
2. Glasgow City Council – Active Travel Forum follow-up
3. South Lanarkshire Council – South Lanarkshire Cycling Partnership meeting, 22 March
4. East Dunbartonshire Council – Local Development Plan Newsletter

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

1.1: North Lanarkshire Council – Strathclyde Park road closure

In summer 2020, North Lanarkshire Council used Spaces for People funding to install gates to close off a 2km section of Strathclyde Country Park’s ‘spine road’ to motor traffic. It goes from the roundabout at Bothwellhaugh Rd to the car park entrance near Haughview Rd, Motherwell. It includes part of the course for the 2014 Commonwealth Games triathlon.

NLC are now consulting about whether or not the closure should be made permanent. Most SfP measures in North Lanarkshire have ended (including other temporary road closures). So, the Strathclyde Park gates are potentially the area’s only active travel legacy from the pandemic.

The road was previously used as a rat run by cars/vans, especially to avoid congestion on the M74 between junctions 5 and 6. Speeding in the park led to wide rubber speed bumps being fitted (but it could still be an issue in between). The road has no pavement, except near M&D’s theme park. There are narrower paths around the loch and surrounding area but they often become crowded. A wider path is under construction at the western end of the loch (see Infrastructure Update, above).

Since the motor traffic has gone the road has become even more popular with pedestrians and people on bikes (bicycle tyre tracks are visible in the mud either side of the west gates). The park attracts people from surrounding towns in both North and South Lanarkshire. So, keeping the closure would be a boost to active travel in the wider area.

See the survey on the Strathclyde Park masterplan website but you need to be quick as it ends TODAY 31 March.

1.2: Kinning Park Complex – Sustaining Choices events

Kinning Park Complex ran many community events before the pandemic. The physical centre is closed just now but they’re still working with the community. These events target areas around the section of Paisley Road West north of the motorway (and a wee bit south of the M8 too).

KPC say they’re: “Bringing local people together to determine how walking, wheeling, and cycling can be made easier in Kinning Park, Plantation, Cessnock, and Ibrox.”

The events are part of a wider project called Because We Say So! looking at wider community issues (with a nicely designed website).

Events take place on 1, 3 and 6 April – see Sustaining Choices Eventbrite page to signup.

1.3: East Dunbartonshire Council – Climate Conversation

This initiative first got a mention in Digest 82, Item 1.7. After missing out on Spaces for People funding, East Dunbartonshire Council are getting ahead of the COP26 game with their Climate Conversation surveys and events.

Their Climate Conversation webpage says: “The Climate Conversation is the first stage in preparing an area-wide Climate Action Plan (CAP) for East Dunbartonshire… We are also commencing work during 2021 on new strategies that will support the objectives of the CAP: the Open Space Strategy; Circular Economy Strategy; and Active Travel Strategy.” The last one will obviously be of most interest to GoBike (but the other two are also welcome).

EDC have various surveys to fill in – one general, one for businesses and one for young people (all want an email address upfront). There’s also the last of their Climate Conversation events online on 22 April (using MS Teams). The overall Climate Conversation itself will run until 2 May 2021.

1.4: Maryhill North Transformational Regeneration Area – Masterplan Consultation

GoBike member Colin passed on a link to this consultation for the Maryhill North Transformational Regeneration Area. According to Glasgow City Council’s page on Maryhill TRA, the Maryhill North area is really Gilshochill. It’s north of Maryhill Rd between the canal locks and Summerston train station. This Glasgow Live article about the TRA has some more background about the consultation and the masterplan. The main point of the regeneration seems to be improving housing in the area but it includes public spaces and connectivity as well.

The masterplan has a few new paths. The longer one (marked ‘B’ in above visual) goes along the ridge north of the Fearnmore Rd tower blocks. Access seems to be from sets of steps and a zigzag path up the hill near Sandbank St. It’s not clear if it links to Cumlodden Drive (near St Mary’s Primary School).

Most of the visuals show existing pavements but there aren’t any in the image for Barrisdale Rd. It’s just a visualisation but looks like a ‘shared space’. These remove the kerbs that white stick users and guide dogs rely on. There’s also some sort of water feature next to the trees, which may be more attractive to midges than the locals.

See bigger versions of the above images and more on the Maryhill North consultation page. You have to register to leave comments – closes 23 April.

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

A different kind of active travel project, which includes improving derelict space. First covered in Digest 81, Item 1.9, it’s for a skate park under the M74 (near West St underground station). The GUSM74 survey is still open for skaters, or their families, to have their say about what they want to see in the park.

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

2.1: Glasgow City Council – (Y)our Merchant City and ‘Learning Quarter’ Proposals Workshops

Workshops have been announced for the next few city centre districts – Merchant City (22 April) and ‘Learning Quarter’ (29 April). These follow on from the Townhead and Cowcaddens workshops in 24 March. See the Workshops page on the City Centre Strategy website for further details.

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

3.1: Iceni Projects (Glasgow Harbour) – Yorkhill Quay Phase 2 response

This high rise development near the Riverside Museum featured most recently in Digest 82, Item 1.5. Tricia and other GoBike members put in email responses during its pre-application period. Points raised included building housing on a previously industrial site, lack of connectivity to Yorkhill/Finnieston and the height of the proposed buildings.

Iceni Projects (who represent Glasgow Harbour Ltd and other partners) sent out a short acknowledgement:

“Thank you to you and GoBike members for taking the time to review the consultation proposals for the Yorkhill Quay site and for your comments. These will be reviewed by the project design team as plans for the site are developed.

Please feel free to get in touch if you have any additional queries.”

The next stage should be a full planning application to Glasgow City Council.

3.2: Glasgow City Council – Active Travel Forum follow-up

Tricia followed up some points about Spaces for People after the ATF’s first online meeting in March. An email from Neighbourhoods Regeneration and Sustainability said:

“The project team are currently fully committed to installing a 2nd batch of measures (George Square and Merchant City planters, etc). After this will be a period of monitoring to assess use and impact of the works, accompanied by recording all correspondence of support or objection.
The department has been instructed to take all permeance decisions to the City Administration Committee. Therefore the monitoring work will accompany the report to committee, at which a decision will be made as to what projects are removed/revisited/made permanent, etc.”

It also says there’s no timescale for the above just yet. However, the current SfP TROs will run out in December 2021. Any measures that are continuing would really want to have a new order ready by then.

3.3: South Lanarkshire Council – South Lanarkshire Cycling Partnership meeting, 22 March

Fewer consultations in this Digest mean there’s space for feedback from the last SLCP meeting. While Glasgow’s Active Travel Forum feeds into committees with published minutes and articles in local media, SLCP is a bit more under the radar. There is an SLCP website but it’s very generic and never really updated about what the partnership does.

Background

SLCP is made up of roughly half council personnel, including a few councillors plus officers for Roads & Transportation, Access, Air Quality, etc. The other half are from organisations including Sustrans, Cycling UK, Bike Town, NHS, SEPA, local cycling groups and development trusts. Various GoBike members have attended for a range of organisations. Jimmy Keenan has been GoBike’s official rep for many years. More recently your editor has represented GoBike (especially since the meetings went online in 2020).

Active Travel Studies

In recent years, SLC have had a transport consultancy do an active travel study for each town/area in turn. A public consultation leads to stakeholder workshops then a final network map. The consultation and network maps are used to plan where initial active travel routes will go. SLC bids for funds for design (by Sustrans) and then construction.

The three network maps published in February brings the total to five. Consultations took place in Jan/Feb 2021 for three more areas (see Digest 79, Item 1.2) with workshops to follow. An ongoing project for an improved active travel link from Bothwell to the Raith Interchange will be looked at in the Blantyre/Bothwell/Uddingston study.

East Kilbride’s AT study was in 2018, which led to the first phase of segregated cycleway on West Mains Rd in 2020. The next phase is under construction (before a combined crossing junction planned for later in the year). Designs for Whitemoss Ave are due to go to consultation in the next few months.

Spaces for People

A Spaces for People funded route is due to go from EK train station to Brouster Hill and Cornwall St in the town centre by May. SfP are also funding mandatory 20mph areas to be set up in the next few months at around 90 schools and some smaller town centres (Carluke, Lanark, Uddingston, Larkhall, Bothwell and Strathaven). Also, SfP money was spent on vegetation cutting on NCN75, which should be complete this month.

Make Your Way

Sarah from Rural Development Trust’s Community Action Lanarkshire programme presented to the meeting. She spoke about the Make Your Way: Key Links projects in Abington, Douglas and Leadhills/Wanlockhead (Digest 75 Item 1.3). These use Sustrans Places for Everyone funding (70%). Stage 2 concept designs are due soon with construction planned for 2022.

Tinto Hill Improvements

The list of capital projects included an eye-catching £140,000 of Cycling Walking Safer Streets funding on car park improvements near Tinto Hill. Officer said irresponsible parking had caused knock-on effects for Thankerton/Carmichael/A73 (including for passing pedestrians and cyclists). Also, it helped access to a popular hillwalking route and the work included some cycle parking.

Clyde Cycle Park

Clyde Cycle Park is a project to re-develop land as a national-standard road racing cycle circuit. The site is between Bogleshole Road and the River Clyde (near the Liberty steel plant). Planning is complete and ground investigation has started. Aiming to have track open by summer. SLC to look at connections to new facility as part of south bank route.

3.4: East Dunbartonshire Council – Local Development Plan Newsletter

Another appearance from East Dunbartonshire Council. The latest newsletter from their Land Planning Policy team includes an update on their proposed LDP2. The consultation finished in January with 2,000+ responses. Also, they cover their Historic Environment Review, Forestry & Woodland Strategy and Climate Action Plan. The countdown to their Active Travel Strategy presumably starts now…

In this Digest there’s a mix of consultations from Glasgow and from all directions outside the city. Most are over before late March, which will mark six weeks until the Scottish Parliament election. This is the Public Sector’s ‘purdah’ pre-election period when projects tend to avoid new announcements (which could get caught up in electioneering).

That may be why there’s been a flurry of news about the next lot of Glasgow’s Spaces for People projects – including Howard St, Cambridge St and Royston Rd. GoBike first heard about these at the revived Glasgow Active Travel Forum, which met for the first time online earlier this month (previous meeting was Sept 2019!).

Ahead of the election in May, see the Cycling for everyone election petition by Cycling UK in Scotland (closes 26 March) and Pedal on Parliament’s ‘Light the Way’ campaign on 24 April.

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

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

Contents
(new consultations in bold)

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. Renfrewshire Council – Inchinnan cycling and walking route – closes 17 March
2. North Lanarkshire Council – Town hub community engagement events – events 16–18 March
3. Scottish Canals – Stockingfield Junction art survey & public meeting – 18 March
4. Glasgow City Council – (Y)our Townhead Proposals Workshops – 18 March
5. Glasgow Harbour Ltd – Yorkhill Quay Phase 2 – closes Friday 19 March
6. North Lanarkshire Council – Consultations on traffic issues in Calderbank and Chapelhall – closes Sunday 21 March
7. East Dunbartonshire Council – Climate Conversation – online events 22 & 30 March/22 April
8. Flourishing Molendinar (North East Glasgow) – Public workshops 23–25 March
9. Glasgow Urban Sports – GUSM74 Urban Sports Sculpture Park survey

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

1. Glasgow City Council – (Y)our Cowcaddens, ‘Learning Quarter’ and Merchant City Proposals Workshops

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

1. Glasgow City Council – East City Way Phase 1 (London Drive to Daldowie Road) Order
2. Glasgow City Council – London Road/Hamilton Road (30mph Speed Limit) Order
3. Multiplex – Glasgow University Newsletter March 2021

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

1.1: Renfrewshire Council – Inchinnan cycling and walking route

Greenock Rd (A8) runs between Inchinnan Business Park and Renfrew. This proposed route will be on the north side of the road, apparently starting as a shared path before becoming a segregated cycleway. It will pass McGills bus depot and a few scraps of current infrastructure before going south to Glasgow Airport. It will lead to the new pedestrian/cycle bridge over the Black Cart Water, one of the projects in Glasgow Airport Investment Area (GAIA), as mentioned in Digest 39, Item 3.3.

The new bridge sits on the southern side of the road (after enhancing its active travel credentials when it fell off a loader and crushed a white van!). Renfrewshire Council’s Inchinnan webpage says a toucan crossing will be installed near the bridge. However, it doesn’t say why the route has now switched to the northern side, especially as the Business Park is also south of the road. Perhaps to avoid the airport’s approach lights (or someone else’s land)? Or for future connections into Inchinnan itself? If you want to comment you’ll need to be quick – the Greenock Rd survey closes on Wednesday 17 March.

1.2: North Lanarkshire Council – Town hub community engagement events

These events first featured in Digest 81, 1.2. North Lanarkshire Council have “ambition to replace every school not replaced or remodelled since 1996, our vision is to make these places for the whole community rather than only the school community.“ So, that should include active travel.

Most of the events have already passed but it you get your skates on you can catch the last two for Wishaw and Shotts. The link for each town goes to an Eventbrite sign-up page to register for the event:

• Wishaw – Wednesday 17th March – 6:30pm
• Shotts – Thursday 18th March – 6:30pm

1.3: Scottish Canals – Stockingfield Junction art survey & public meeting

Details about the Stockingfield Junction public meeting on 18 March were in Digest 81, Item 1.5. Since then a survey about Stockingfield has opened asking what kind of artwork people want around the new bridge. There are different views about what form the bridge should have taken so there are sure to be plenty about what (if any) artworks should surround it. Many of us will probably pass through the area once it’s finished so we might as well chip in our 2p’s worth.

Scottish Canals want to hear what represents the local communities of Gilshochill, Maryhill and Ruchill (be kind!). Just don’t say The Big Man!

1.4: Glasgow City Council – (Y)our Townhead Proposals Workshops

Also on Thursday is the next lot of meetings about the District regeneration projects. GoBike received an email about Townhead:

“An Action Plan and Framework for the regeneration of Townhead is currently being prepared by a consultant team appointed by Glasgow City Council. We want your input to help shape and influence the priority projects to improve Townhead.”

There is a series of workshops throughout a ‘Co-Design Day’ on Thursday 18 March:

• Co-Design Day Launch (1000 – 1030)
• Getting Around – Workshops (1030 – 1230)
• City Centre Communities – Workshops (1300 – 1500)
• Reimagining (Y)our Townhead (1530 – 1730)

These suggest a much more collaborative approach than many of these events. Obviously, the most interesting one for us is the morning ‘Getting Around’ workshop:

“A participatory workshop considering how to make Townhead more accessible and better connected. Potential projects include:

• Connecting to ‘Townhead Island’
• Active Travel : walking, wheeling, cycling
• Junction 15 on M8
• Cathedral Street
• Stirling Road Triangle
• Canal to Cathedral : Dobbies Loan to St James Road
• …?”

Plenty to get our teeth into there. Alternatively, the Districts Commonplace map is still available if you want to see what suggestions have been made so far or add your own.

1.5: Glasgow Harbour Ltd – Yorkhill Quay Phase 2

This development first sprung up in Digest 73, Item 1.1. It’s now nearing the end of a pre-application period before actual plans are submitted to the council.

The Next Steps and Feedback page has a webform you can use to send comments. Or you can email: yorkhillquay@iceniprojects.com by Friday 19 March.

1.6: North Lanarkshire Council – Consultations on traffic issues in Calderbank and Chapelhall

North Lanarkshire Council is consulting about traffic in the villages of Calderbank and Chapelhall, between Airdrie and the M8 (as covered in Digest 81, Item 1.7). See the Chapelhall Traffic Study and Calderbank Traffic Study for a survey link at the end of each. If you know the areas you have until Sunday 21 March to respond.

1.7: East Dunbartonshire Council – Climate Conversation

As many of us know, East Dunbartonshire Council was the only mainland Scottish council not to bid for Spaces for People funding. However, they do seem to be trying to engage their residents about climate change. It almost seems timed as a response to a nearby city having some sort of globally important climate event (which isn’t mentioned).

Their Climate Conversation webpage says: “The Climate Conversation is the first stage in preparing an area-wide Climate Action Plan (CAP) for East Dunbartonshire… We are also commencing work during 2021 on new strategies that will support the objectives of the CAP: the Open Space Strategy; Circular Economy Strategy; and Active Travel Strategy.” The last one will obviously be of most interest to GoBike (but the other two are also welcome).

EDC have various surveys to fill in – one general, one for businesses and one for young people (all want an email address upfront). There are also Climate Conversation events, on 22 March, 30 March and 22 April. The events are all online (on MS Teams) so it’s likely to be more civil than previous public meetings where the police were called. Perhaps EDC will have their own version of Jackie Weaver to guide proceedings?

1.8: Flourishing Molendinar (formerly North East City Ways) – Public workshops

This initiative, started by On Bikes and St Paul’s Youth Forum, was first mentioned in a GoBike blog. Their original name, North East City Ways, may have been inspired by a certain city council. The new name, Flourishing Molendinar, comes from the stream that runs from Hogganfield Loch past Blackhill (mostly in a culvert) towards the city centre.

Along with the new name comes a change in focus from the wider area to Provanmill Rd and Langdale St. Both these streets had Spaces for People projects installed over the summer and showed potential for active travel routes. FloMo (it’s easier to spell!) are looking to build on that with public workshops on 22, 23 and 24 March. They still have their survey about getting around the North East of the city. Also, there’s the Streets for All Commonplace map (which On Bikes share with GoBike and Glasgow Eco Trust).

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

A different kind of active travel project but also driven by young (and not so young) people. First covered in Digest 81, Item 1.9, it’s for a skate park under the M74 extension near West St underground station. The GUSM74 survey is still open for skaters, or their families, to have their say about what they want to see in the park.

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

2.1: Glasgow City Council – (Y)our Cowcaddens, ‘Learning Quarter’ and Merchant City Proposals Workshops

The email for item 1.4 also said: “Townhead, alongside Cowcaddens, the Learning Quarter and the Merchant City, is the focus of the current phase of (Y)our City Centre District Regeneration Frameworks.” So, workshops for the other three will no doubt follow sometime soon.

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

3.1: Glasgow City Council – East City Way Phase 1 (London Drive to Daldowie Road) Order

Some swift feedback from the city council about Tricia’s points in the GoBike response to the ECW order. Let’s skip the ‘thank you’ and ‘COVID-19 happened’ bit and go to the following paragraph:

“The left turn from London Road to Hamilton Road has been banned for all traffic to allow the slip road to be closed and provide a large and safe pedestrian area for crossing. A segregate cycle route will be provided on the south side of London Road and Hamilton Road and will have signal controlled crossing facilities for pedestrians and cycles at Mount Vernon Junction which will link to all potential movements. This junction had no cycle or pedestrian facilities prior to these works. Cycle counts undertaken July 2017 recorded that 4 cycles per day made the left turn from London Road to Hamilton Road which included cyclists on the footway. A classified traffic count, counting all traffic categories, undertaken in October 2017 supported this.”

It’s not clear if the first part really is talking about the turn from London Rd eastbound to Hamilton Rd westbound, as Tricia asked. However, the count gives us an idea of how many people it might have affected in 2017. Will last summer’s surge in cycling numbers make a difference to that? And will the new junction attract all eastbound cyclists across the road to the 2-way lane? I guess we’ll find out in the near future.

3.2: Glasgow City Council – London Road/Hamilton Road (30mph Speed Limit) Order

GoBike also received a shorter response from GCC about Tricia’s GoBike response to the 30mph order. Not a lot of detail in this one – it thanks us for our support then basically says East City Way will be done in stages and the police enforce speed limits. It’s just as well we’ve got GCC officers to keep us right on these things.

3.3: Multiplex – Glasgow University campus newsletter

Having just missed our publication time for the last Digest I’m sure everyone will be delighted to see the latest Glasgow Uni campus newsletter this time. There are some nice pictures of large steel frames. However, it doesn’t include that University Place has closed to pedestrians and cycling for three months. Nor does it mention a change to the road layout on University Ave:

In this Digest there are consultations for a few parts of the Southside and traffic orders for a few City Ways. Also, surveys and events on traffic and town hubs in North Lanarkshire.

If you’re in the city, see Andy’s three infrastructure routes around Glasgow to take in Spaces for People infrastructure. Part of the Southern route includes the SfP ‘pop-up’ bike lane on Dumbreck Road, which was recently removed “by mistake” but then reinstated.

Andy has also started to inform GoBike about closures and diversions; if you hear of any please do let us know.

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

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

Contents
(new consultations in bold)

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. Glasgow City Council – St Andrews Drive (Sustainable Transport Route) Order – closes Sunday 7 March
2. North Lanarkshire Council – Town hub community engagement events – events from 8–18 March
3. Glasgow City Council – East City Way Phase 1 (London Drive to Daldowie Road) Order – closes Friday 12 March
4. Glasgow City Council – London Road/Hamilton Road (30mph Speed Limit) Order – closes Friday 12 March
5. Scottish Canals – Stockingfield public meeting – Thursday 18 March
6. Glasgow Harbour Ltd – Yorkhill Quay Phase 2 – closes Friday 19 March
7. North Lanarkshire Council – Consultations on traffic issues in Calderbank and Chapelhall – closes Sunday 21 March
8. Waverley Park Collective – Liveable Streets Waverley Park
9. Glasgow Urban Sports – GUSM74 Urban Sports Sculpture Park survey

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

None this time

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

1. Urban Roots – Malls Mire Newsletter February 2021
2. Sustrans – Glasgow Cycle Counters (revisited)

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

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

Digest 80 covered the St Andrews Drive TRO to extend the South West City Way. The order deals mainly with parking to clear the way for the route.

Further details about the route are still available on the original consultation website (from 2019/2020) including a ‘Storymap’ and links to PDFs of technical plans. The existing SWCW is 2-way (bi-directional), with both lanes on one side of the road. The extension will be too but using ‘cycle lane separators’ (a.k.a. zebras/orcas/armadillos) instead of kerbs.

A GoBike response to the SWCW extension plans was sent to Glasgow City Council in late January 2020. An updated GoBike response supports the order but notes that the other design issues haven’t been addressed.

There’s a consultation period for the TRO with a deadline of 7 March. Since it involves car parking, there are likely to be objections. Supportive emails may help to counter those. See the GCC website at www.glasgow.gov.uk/proposedtro.

1.2: North Lanarkshire Council – Town hub community engagement events

More from North Lanarkshire Council for the second Digest in a row. This consultation isn’t strictly cycling-related but is relevant to the eight places in NLC’s Town Visions plans (Digest 80).

NLC have “ambition to replace every school not replaced or remodelled since 1996, our vision is to make these places for the whole community rather than only the school community. To do this, hubs will be places where education is delivered alongside other council and community services. Hubs will have a form and facilities based on the needs of the local community.”

Those needs should include access by active travel. Schools are also where Bikeability training (formerly Cycling Proficiency) takes place and some already have fleets of bicycles. NLC’s website has further background information on the town hubs.

An email from NLC said: “We are carrying out online engagement with our communities throughout March about potential locations for new town hubs in North Lanarkshire.”

• Kilsyth – Monday 8th March – 6:30pm
• Cumbernauld – Tuesday 9th March – 6:30pm
• Airdrie – Wednesday 10th March – 6:30pm
• Coatbridge – Thursday 11th March – 6:30pm
• Bellshill – Monday 15th March – 6:30pm
• Motherwell – Tuesday 16th March – 6:30pm
• Wishaw – Wednesday 17th March – 6:30pm
• Shotts – Thursday 18th March – 6:30pm

The link for each town goes to an Eventbrite sign-up page to register for the event.

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

The East City Way traffic order was covered in Digest 80. Phase 1 is currently under construction on London Rd and Hamilton Rd around Mount Vernon train station. The order prepares the ground for it hopefully being finished soon. A new GoBike response about ECW went to Glasgow City Council, referencing our points from our response at the draft stage. Mostly about the switch between 1-way and 2-way cycle lanes and the banned turn. The order will be on GCC’s Proposed TRO webpage for comment until Friday 12 March.

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

The London Road/Hamilton Road 30mph Speed Limit was also in Digest 80. It lowers the speed limit all the way along London Rd and Hamilton Rd between Dewar’s distillery and the Dog’s Trust. Again, we sent a new GoBike response supporting the change of speed limit and the order is up for comment until Friday 12 March.

1.5: Scottish Canals – Stockingfield public meeting – Thursday 18 March

Scottish Canals maintain and develop canals, towpaths and bridges, including the major works at the Stockingfield junction on the Forth & Clyde canal. This is the canal t-junction without a bridge, where you had to cross by going down through a narrow road tunnel on Lochburn Rd with no pavements or bike path. The plans for a large 3-span canal bridge were approved in March 2020 and works started in autumn. Parts of the towpath will be closed and won’t re-open until later in 2022. Further information about the project is on the Stockingfield page on the Scottish Canals website. If you have questions about issues, like diversions or the new bike-only signals on Lochburn Rd, Scottish Canals are having an online meeting about the project on Thursday 18 March.

1.6: Glasgow Harbour Ltd – Yorkhill Quay Phase 2 – closes Friday 19 March

This development first appeared on our radar in Digest 73, Item 1.1. It had a brief consultation which swiftly disappeared from the company’s website (as we noted in Digest 74, Item 1.3). That was to do with a pre-application about the masterplan for the site. Apparently, “a Proposal of Application Notice (PoAN) associated with the development was submitted to Glasgow City Council on 20th November 2020”. So, this consultation about the eastern side of the site is part of the 12-week pre-application period before plans go in.

The developer’s Yorkhill Quay website has new visualisations (which look very plastic) and reworked PDF plans. It’s not clear from the plans what will happen to the current path behind the site, between the Riverside Museum and the distillery. Nor how wide the new riverfront path will be (but it seems to have street furniture and trees splitting it up).

The Next Steps and Feedback page has a webform you can use to send comments. Or you can email: yorkhillquay@iceniprojects.com by Friday 19 March.

1.7: North Lanarkshire Council – Consultations on traffic issues in Calderbank and Chapelhall – Sunday 21 March

Back in North Lanarkshire, the council is consulting about traffic in the villages of Calderbank and Chapelhall, between Airdrie and the M8. Their email says:

“In response to road safety concerns raised by local residents, the council undertook a series of detailed surveys to assess traffic conditions through both villages. Information from these surveys will be included in the reports.

The public consultation, which will run until 21 March, will give both communities the opportunity to provide feedback on a range of potential road safety improvements.

The reports and online consultation are available from 24 February on our website at www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/traffic-studies.”

The Chapelhall Traffic Study, in the ‘Potential Improvements’ section, suggests speed tables and mini-roundabouts. The Calderbank Traffic Study proposes mini-roundabouts too but also includes a new crossing on Main St. Each study has a survey link at the end. If you know the areas you have until Sunday 21 March to respond.

1.8: Waverley Park Collective – Liveable Streets Waverley Park

Waverley Park is an area of Shawlands in the Southside of Glasgow (where the streets are named after characters in Walter Scott novels). The Waverley Park Collective are a grassroots group of residents who’ve previously organised community events for children as well as things like cycling training. They’ve recently won funding to plan changes to local streets and set up the Liveable Streets Waverley Park consultation. If you know the area, you can add a pin to the map. No obvious closing date for this one (seems to be open-ended).

1.9: Glasgow Urban Sports – GUSM74 Urban Sports Sculpture Park

This item is about a different kind of cycling to your average GoBike ride! The Glasgow Urban Sports group want to bring land under the M74 extension into productive use as a park for ‘urban sports’ – BMX, skateboarding, inline skating, parkour, etc. The area is between the back of West St Subway station and Eglinton St (a few blocks from Batley’s cash & carry warehouse). The idea for the project originally came up around 2014 (as a legacy of the Commonwealth Games).

Recently, GUS have come up with a new survey to try and demonstrate support for the project. It’s mainly aimed at skaters, or their families, to find out how often they/their relatives might use the park, etc. If you’re not likely to be down there yourself grinding any rails then feel free to share it with friends or family who might. No obvious closing date.

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

None this time.

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

3.1: Urban Roots – Malls Mire Newsletter February 2021

Malls Mire was first covered (under its current name) in Digest 74, Item 3.4. The latest February issue of the Malls Mire newsletter reached us this week. It has a few updates about progress and related projects like Polmadie Plots Community Garden.

3.2: Sustrans – Glasgow Cycle Counters (revisited)

In Digest 79, Item 3.3 we bade farewell to the public cycle counter near Saltmarket in Glasgow Green as it was switched off. We were assured that “two replacement cycle counters were installed in the following locations: NCN75 at St. Andrew’s Suspension Bridge and NCN75 at Cuningar Loop Footbridge”. Turns out the new counters aren’t like-for-like replacements…

The new counter feeds back figures to Sustrans/the council only. While that is fair enough for collecting data, it’s not so good for campaigning. The public counter used to prove how many people cycled past, which could be useful to point out to doubters of cycling/active travel. It would be a shame if Sustrans had moved away from public counters altogether. When will we see the Saltmarket counter’s LED like again…?

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

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

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

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

Contents
(new consultations in bold)

Section 1: Current Consultations

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

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

1. North Lanarkshire Council – Town Visions

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

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

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

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

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

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

1.2: North Lanarkshire Council – Ravenscraig Active Travel Links

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

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

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

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

The two key elements of the project are:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“I now enclose a copy of the press notice of the proposed Order, relevant map, statement of reasons and detailed report.

Details of the proposals will also be available on the Glasgow City Council website at www.glasgow.gov.uk/proposedtro . 

As stated in the attached documentation, any person wishing to object to the proposed Order should send details of the grounds for objection in writing to Group Manager, Technical Services, Neighbourhoods and Sustainability, Exchange House, 231 George Street, Glasgow, G1 1RX or email SustainableTransport@glasgow.gov.uk and it must be received by Friday 12th March 2021.”

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

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

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

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

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

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

2.1: North Lanarkshire Council – Town Visions

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

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

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

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

3.2: North Ayrshire Council – Ardrossan Connections

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