Happy St Patrick’s Day! There’s good news about Spaces for People measures in the city – the TRO for Kelvin Way is out. However, there’s more mixed news on SfP measures in towns. After East Renfrewshire’s about turn on Ayr Rd/Fenwick Rd, now Renfrewshire’s Paisley to Howwood protected route is being removed. In contrast, Inverclyde vote to keep an SfP route in Greenock.

The long-awaited city centre campuses consultation is open about (steep!) routes around Strathclyde Uni and City of Glasgow College. Meanwhile, a few Avenues are under scrutiny, there’s more secure bike parking on the way and Barclays is nearly finished with West St.

Forthcoming Consultation

Glasgow City Council: “proposal to create a ‘People First Zone’ – between Hope Street, Cowcaddens Road, North Hanover Street / Glassford Street and Howard Street – where people are able to easily and safely walk and wheel around, and feel that they – and not vehicles – have priority.” Apparently, a “six-week consultation on the City Centre Transformation Plan will begin in May.” Much more notice than we usually get from GCC – it probably has something to do with the ‘purdah’/pre-election period starting this week.

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

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. St Helen’s Primary School, Bishopbriggs TRO
2. A81 Milngavie Road/Maryhill Road TRO
3. Electric Vehicle Charging Places – East Dunbartonshire TROs
4. New Hospital Plans – Airdrie (Monklands Replacement Project)
5. ‘Various Roads’ (North Lanarkshire schools) TRO
6. School Streets, Glasgow TRO (Merrylee/OLA)
7. Kelvin Way TRO
8. City Centre Campus/‘Learning Quarter’ (People-First infrastructure)
9. Yorkhill to Anderston Liveable Neighbourhoods
10. Drumchapel Local Development Framework
11. Malls Mire survey
12. *ADDITION: Greenock to Battery Park SfP lane

Section 2: Consultation Feedback

1. Howwood to Paisley, cycle lane removal (Johnstone, Renfrewshire)
2. Secure On-Street Cycle Parking Pilot (Glasgow)
3. Argyle St (West) and Cambridge St design review
4. Barclays, West St update

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

1.1: St Helen’s Primary School, Bishopbriggs TRO

Council: East Dunbartonshire.
Area: Wester Cleddens Rd and Pentland Dr, Bishopbriggs.
Subject: Parking restrictions around St Helen’s Primary School. It’s across Wester Cleddens Rd from Bishopbriggs Academy and Thomas Muir Primary School (near to the Wester Way).
First featured: Digest 106, Item 1.7.
Website links: St Helen’s PS TRO (combined PDF).
Deadline: 18 March 2022.

1.2: A81 Milngavie Road/Maryhill Road TRO

Council: East Dunbartonshire.
Area: Southern part of Bearsden between Kessington Public Hall and Garscube Estate.
Subject: Short sections of footway at the corner of MacFarlane St and Killermont St and along Maryhill Rd near Cluny Park. The current layout dates from 2016 during the fallout from the decision to halt the Bearsway. These bits of shared path are useful links to get to Garscube Campus and follow paths along the River Kelvin into Glasgow. It’s not clear why the TRO has come out now but, given the recent history, local members may want to contact EDC to support it.
First featured: Digest 106, Item 1.8.
Website links: A81 footway redetermination TRO (combined PDF).
Deadline: 18 March 2022.

1.3: Electric Vehicle Charging Places – East Dunbartonshire TROs

Council: East Dunbartonshire.
Subject: EDC are installing EV charging points across its area. In the east – Bishopbriggs, Kirkintilloch, Lennoxtown, Lenzie, Milton Of Campsie, Torrance and Twechar. Meanwhile, the west just seems to be Milngavie. The drawings don’t show if the chargers will be on the carriageway or footway.
First featured: Digest 106, Item 1.9.
Website links: West EV chargers (combined PDF) and East EV chargers (combined PDF).
Deadline: 21 March 2022.

1.4: New Hospital Plans – Airdrie (Monklands Replacement Project)

Organisation: NHS Lanarkshire.
Area: Wester Moffat Farm, east of Airdrie, North Lanarkshire.
Subject: The current University Hospital Monklands, on the western edge of Airdrie, is due to be replaced. So, a new acute hospital is to be built on former farmland recently bought by NHS Lanarkshire. The architects, Keppie, are showing drawings and visuals for feedback ahead of a planning application. These include an active travel route west towards Drumgelloch train station. Also, a large staff bike parking store has recently appeared on the plans (across the road from a hospital entrance). So far there’s still no route east, to bypass the bit of NCN75 on the fast A89 at Plains/Caldercruix (towards the Airdrie–Bathgate path). On the plus side, parts of the A89 between Airdrie and Plains will have speed limits reduced. The East Airdrie Link Road (formerly Airdrie Bypass) is a proposed single carriageway road between the M8 and Cumbernauld.
First featured: Digest 76, Item 3.3.
Website links: Monklands Replacement Project website.
Deadline: 29 March 2022.

1.5: ‘Various Roads’ (North Lanarkshire schools) TRO

Council: North Lanarkshire.
Subject: Parking restrictions near 18 schools across North Lanarkshire (including 14 primary schools). These include yellow lines and ‘Keep Clear’ markings. The Statement of Reasons says the action comes from recommendation by a Road Safety Working Group.
First featured: Digest 107, Item 1.9.
Website links: Various Roads TRO (combined PDF) – NLC Consultations page.
Deadline: 30 March 2022.

1.6: School Streets, Glasgow TRO (Merrylee/OLA)

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: ‘Take 2’ of this School Streets Traffic Order. This one only covers two schools – the neighbouring Merrylee Primary School and Our Lady of the Annunciation Primary School near Langside Drive/Merrylee Rd. The boundary has been extended since the previous version of the TRO went out. It now includes parts of Cherrybank Rd and Glasserton Rd.
First featured: Digest 105, Item 1.2.
Website links: School Streets TRO – revised (combined PDF).
Deadline: 31 March 2022.

1.7: Kelvin Way TRO

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: Traffic Regulation Order to help make the temporary Spaces for People measures on Kelvin Way permanent. The street is filtered at either end. The southern end has a short 2-way protected bike lane next to 1-way access to Kelvingrove Museum. GoBike helped organise Car Free Day 2018 on Kelvin Way, which showed the potential now being realised with the current signs, paint and planters. It’s become a well-used street by people walking, cycling, running, scooting and skating. Also, it’s due to link to a wider network in the Yorkhill and Kelvingrove Cycling Village (see Yorkhill–Anderston LN post, below).
First featured: Glasgow Spaces for People blog post.
Website links: Kelvin Way TRO (combined PDF).
Deadline: 7 April.

1.8: City Centre Campus/‘Learning Quarter’ (People-First infrastructure)

Organisation: Stantec on behalf of a partnership between University of Strathclyde, City of Glasgow College and Glasgow City Council.
Area: Townhead/Cathedral St area of city centre.
Subject: As promised in Digest 107, consultation starts on infrastructure around the universities and college north-east of the city centre (‘Learning Quarter’). Many streets nearby are already due to be part of the city’s Avenues Project, including Cathedral St and North Hanover St. This project would link between those to the uni/college campuses. Firstly, the Western Route includes steep Montrose St, as it goes past Strathclyde Uni’s ‘Heart of the Campus’ (Rottenrow Gardens). There’s another hill past City of Glasgow College towards Buchanan Bus Station. Secondly, the Eastern Route would connect to Rottenrow East and link to Avenues Plus routes on George St and John Knox St. Thirdly, the Northern Route goes from a lane east of CoGC up towards the new Sighthill Bridge. The survey asks about different options for streets on the routes. Also, the ‘web hub’ includes context and evidence about the benefits of active travel.
First featured: Digest 74, Item 2.1.
Website links: Public Engagement Web Hub.
Deadline: 8 May 2022.

1.9: Yorkhill to Anderston Liveable Neighbourhoods

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: From Yorkhill, Kelvinhaugh, Stobcross, Sandyford, Finnieston to Anderston.
Subject: The latest Liveable Neighbourhoods consultation covers the area between the River Clyde, River Kelvin, Kelvingrove Park and M8. There is well used active travel infrastructure in the area, including NCN7/75 and the West City Way. Also, the (almost finished?) lanes funded by City Deal on Bunhouse Rd and Old Dumbarton Rd. Further segregated cyclepaths are due for Yorkhill and Kelvingrove Cycling Village, including Minerva St and Haugh Rd (where Bike for Good will hopefully continue). However, there are still plenty of gaps, as shown when the riverbank was shut during COP26. A new bridge across the Clyde at the Riverside Museum is due to start construction. Meanwhile, the SEC’s redevelopment may close off the red ‘smartie tube’ bridge at Exhibition Centre station. The M8 motorway remains a barrier to destinations like the Mitchell Library and Anderston station.
First featured: Digest 107, Item 1.11.
Website links: Yorkhill to Anderston LN (Commonplace).
Deadline: June 2022.

1.10: Drumchapel Local Development Framework

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: The latest framework consultation, following previous strategic ones for Glasgow North, ‘Inner East’, etc. Drumchapel is known as one of the ‘big four’ post-war council housing estates (along with Castlemilk, Easterhouse and Pollok). The Drumchapel Cycle Hub is based near the sports centre but there’s very little cycling infrastructure around the area. The map has made it past 25 comments.
First featured: Digest 102, Item 1.12.
Website links: Drumchapel Commonplace map, Drumchapel survey link and background.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

1.11: Malls Mire survey

Organisation: Urban Roots.
Area: Woodland park between Toryglen Asda, Polmadie Recycling Centre in Glasgow and Rutherglen Glencairn Football Club in South Lanarkshire.
Subject: An evaluation about the newly created park and paths. The site wraps around a regenerated housing estate, linking former wasteground with the woodland and ponds. It includes trails, outdoor play equipment and a bike pump track. Also, 3m wide shared paths create a lit, mostly traffic-free route linking Prospecthill Circus west to Polmadie Rd and east to the corner of Toryglen Rd/Pinkerton Ave in Rutherglen. Tron Theatre will be running sensory walks in Malls Mire for five weeks starting in April. Walking Tall Tales will be for local families with children age five and under.
First featured: Digest 74, Item 3.4.
Website links: Malls Mire survey.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

1.12: *ADDITION: Greenock to Battery Park SfP lane

Council: Inverclyde.
Subject: A Spaces for People temporary route between Greenock town centre and a coastal park (previously missed by your author – apologies). A recent council vote was 9:2 in favour of keeping the lanes for another six months, with a further review in September. Photos in the consultation survey show a mixture of on-road ‘soft’ segregation and painted lanes on footways and across side roads. While some of the junction and bus stop treatments may not be ideal, there seem to be decent protected sections too.
Website links: Greenock Town Centre to Battery Park – Community Engagement and Inverclyde Now article on council vote.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

Section 2: Consultation Feedback

2.1: Howwood to Paisley, cycle lane removal (Johnstone, Renfrewshire)

Council: Renfrewshire.
Area: Beith Rd through Johnstone, between Paisley and Howwood.
Subject: The Paisley Gazette reports: “At a full meeting of Renfrewshire Council… elected members unanimously agreed to remove the temporary cycleway on Beith Road and examine alternative plans for active travel in the area.” A few councillors had been campaigning to have the route removed. A petition against the route had reached around 1,500 signatures. Spaces for People funding is due to stop at the end of the month. Elsewhere, protection on the SfP route on Ayr Rd/Fenwick Rd in East Renfrewshire may also be removed. The Cornwall St/Brouster Hill lanes in East Kilbride also had negative press (but the consultation hasn’t yet reported back). The Greenock to Battery Park SfP lane in Inverclyde is also under consultation. On a more positive note, in Renfrewshire work recently started on building the permanent Renfrew to Paisley cycle route.
First featured: Digest 103, Item 2.1.
Website links: Paisley Gazette article about Renfrewshire Council decision.

2.2: Secure On-Street Cycle Parking Pilot (Glasgow)

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: Expansion of secure on-street cycle parking in the city. The council report says: “Cyclehoop successfully installed 61 units in May/June 2021, which are presently at 98% occupancy across the scheme.” Also: “there is a waiting list of 1,500 across Glasgow. This waiting list data has been utilised in association with requests for provision to direct the proposed locations.” The list of new locations is weighted towards more densely populated areas like Dennistoun, Langside and Partick. G41 gets the most units of any postcode with G42 not far behind. Installation is due soon: “phase 2 of the scheme is programmed for March 2022 when installations will commence. This will deliver seventy (70) units providing an additional 420 storage spaces across the scheme as a whole.” 
First featured: Digest 88, Infrastructure Update.
Website links: Secure On-Street Cycle Parking report and list of proposed locations by postcode (PDF).

2.3: Argyle St (West) and Cambridge St design review

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: In December 2021, plans came out for the next phase of Avenues construction, including Cambridge St and the western part of Argyle St. The plans didn’t seem to improve on issues from the Sauchiehall St pilot. Nor did they meet the updated Cycling by Design standards. Both these points were put to councillors in a letter by GoBike’s convenor, Thomas. A new group had been mooted by GCC, called the Accessible Design Forum, who would review future Avenues designs. A recent BBC Scotland article highlighted issues faced by people with visual impairment on the Avenues section of Sauchiehall St. Following the piece on Reporting Scotland, GCC have responded to Cllr Christy Mearns that “two designs [Argyle St (West) and Cambridge St] have been put on hold and will be re-considered in the first ADF meeting… A date, time and venue will be confirmed shortly – likely to be towards the end of March / early April.”
First featured: Digest 101, Item 2.2.

2.4: Barclays, West St works update

Organisation: Barclays.
Area: South West City Way at Barclays site.
Subject: GoBike member Tor asked Barclays about the closed area at the north east tip of West St. Although building work is due to finish by the end of the month, it might not fully open until May. Apparently, this depends on the weather allowing further work to take place. Once it opens, there will be a new crossing at Kingston St with bike-only lights. People cycling north-south would then be able to stay on the eastern side of West St. Thus avoiding having to cross diagonally to/from the western side at Kingston St (and another crossing at Barclays site).
First featured: SWCW/Barclays works blog post.
Website links: Barclays replies to query on Twitter.

A repeat consultation for Pollok and next steps at an Ayrshire harbour (in time for Burns Night). Also, South Lanarkshire’s Ayr Road (A70) pops up again.

After criticism of Spaces for People measures in South Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire, now East Renfrewshire‘s Ayr Road (A77) completes the hat-trick.

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

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. Low Emission Zone – Full proposal
2. Braidcraft Road TRO
3. Glespin to Douglas pathway survey
4. Drumchapel Local Development Framework
5. Ruchill to Cowlairs Liveable Neighbourhoods
6. Dennistoun to Cranhill Liveable Neighbourhoods
7. Govan to Kingston Liveable Neighbourhoods
8. Langside to Toryglen Liveable Neighbourhoods
9. Malls Mire survey
10. Ardrossan Connections Proposals
11. Raeberry St Quietway (Connecting Woodside)

Section 2: Consultation Feedback

1. Ayr Road (A77) North

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

1.1: Low Emission Zone – Full proposal

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: City centre.
Subject: Phase 2 of the Low Emission Zone in the city centre (Phase 1 was buses only). Older, more polluting motor vehicles will be charged for driving into the zone. Its boundary has changed slightly. Parts of some streets around the edges of the zone have been added to it and the Stow College/GSA building has been left out. The LEZ is due to begin on 31 May 2022 but enforcement won’t kick in until a year later. When fines do come in they escalate for repeat offences. Some ‘grace periods’ and exemptions apply, including for city centre residents, so the full zone wouldn’t be implemented until June 2024.
First featured: Digest 90, Item 1.3.
Website links: Full proposal document, detailed map PDF and further background on the LEZ website.
Deadline: 20 January 2022.

1.2: Braidcraft Rd TRO

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: Braidcraft Rd, Pollok (west of Pollok Country Park).
Subject: Traffic Order to help make Spaces for People temporary infrastructure permanent. Previously out for consultation along with nearby Brockburn Rd. According to the council it’s come out again “due to a naming error” (possibly a mix up between Langton Terrace and Langton Crescent). Previously, there was a reaction against the lanes including a banner and a petition.
First featured: Digest 100, Item 1.6.
Website links: Braidcraft Rd TRO documents (combined PDF file).
Deadline: 7 February 2022.

1.3: Glespin to Douglas pathway survey

Organisation: Community Action Lanarkshire (Rural Development Trust).
Area: Ayr Rd (A70) in rural South Lanarkshire, south of Lanark.
Subject: A consultation about potential routes west from the village of Douglas to the hamlet of Glespin. This came out of work for the Make Your Way project and would connect to the local primary school as well as other services. Also, it fits into strategic plans to link the River Ayr Walk in East Ayrshire with the Clyde Walkway in South Lanarkshire. However, a route on the eastern side of Douglas, on Ayr Rd towards NCN74, failed to win Sustrans funding in late 2021.
Website links: Glespin to Douglas survey and background about Make Your Way.
Deadline: 21 February 2022.

1.4: Drumchapel Local Development Framework

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: The latest framework consultation, following previous strategic ones for Glasgow North, ‘Inner East’, etc. Drumchapel is known as one of the ‘big four’ post-war council housing estates (along with Castlemilk, Easterhouse and Pollok). Since 2012, the Drumchapel Cycle Hub has been fixing bikes and organising rides around the area. However, the map is struggling to make it past 20 comments so far.
First featured: Digest 102, Item 1.12.
Website links: Drumchapel Commonplace map, Drumchapel survey link and background.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

1.5: Ruchill to Cowlairs Liveable Neighbourhoods

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: North of the canal from Ruchill (at edge of Maryhill) across Possilpark, Hamiltonhill, Rockvilla, Craighall, Keppochhill and Port Dundas to Cowlairs (plus Sighthill Park).
Subject: One of four LN consultations using Commonplace maps and the Place Standard tool. The edges of this area have been redeveloped with active travel routes along the canal. Nearby Sighthill is being completely rebuilt including a segregated cycle route on St Rollox Dr. However, Cowlairs, Ruchill and Possilpark have a lot of derelict sites. The Spaces for People lanes on Hawthorn St have added a west-east cycle route (with some gaps). Over 80 comments so far.
First featured: Digest 96, Item 1.5.
Website links: Ruchill to Cowlairs LN Commonplace map, Ruchill to Cowlairs Place Standard survey.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

1.6: Dennistoun to Cranhill Liveable Neighbourhoods

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: From Dennistoun (including the Necropolis but not GRI), Milnbank, Haghill, Riddrie, Carntyne to Cranhill.
Subject: Transport links include roads like Duke St, Alexandra Parade, Cumbernauld Rd and Edinburgh Rd plus a few train stations. Apart from a few parks most big destinations are towards the city centre end – Necropolis, Tennents brewery and City Park offices. While Glasgow Royal Infirmary is just outside western edge of area. Dennistoun has held on to a few Spaces for People measures (from its failed LTN) but there’s very little infrastructure elsewhere. Consultation had started in the community but further events have been postponed. Over 380 comments on the map so far.
First featured: Digest 100, Item 1.9.
Website links: Dennistoun to Cranhill LN Commonplace map, Dennistoun to Cranhill Place Standard survey.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

1.7: Govan to Kingston Liveable Neighbourhoods

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: From ‘Greater Govan’ (including Cessnock, Kinning Park, Plantation) and Ibrox to Kingston.
Subject: ‘Everyday journeys’ around major transport links including Govan bus station, subway stations, Paisley Road West, Clyde Tunnel, Squinty Bridge/Clyde Arc and the forthcoming footbridge. Major destinations include Ibrox Stadium and the Southern General/Queen Elizabeth Uni Hospital. There’s some cycling infrastructure around Festival Park/Pacific Quay but no proper links to major routes like the nearby South West City Way. There have been over 190 comments on the map so far.
First featured: Digest 100, Item 1.10.
Website links: Govan to Kingston LN Commonplace map, Govan to Kingston Place Standard survey.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

1.8: Langside to Toryglen Liveable Neighbourhoods

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: From Langside (at edge of Shawlands) across Battlefield, Mount Florida and part of King’s Park to Toryglen (and Polmadie).
Subject: A really random Liveable Neighbourhood area, including busy Langside and empty Polmadie. There’s not much active travel infrastructure between the proposed SCW extension to Battlefield Rest and Malls Mire at Toryglen, except the protected bit of Aitkenhead Rd and the unprotected Spean St path. Over 360 comments so far.
First featured: Digest 96, Item 1.4.
Website links: Langside to Toryglen LN Commonplace map, Langside to Toryglen Place Standard survey.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

1.9: Malls Mire survey

Organisation: Urban Roots.
Area: Woodland park between Toryglen Asda, Polmadie Recycling Centre in Glasgow and Rutherglen Glencairn Football Club in South Lanarkshire.
Subject: An evaluation about the newly created park and paths. The site wraps around a regenerated housing estate, linking former wasteground with the woodland and ponds. Trails, outdoor play equipment and a bike pump track have been installed. Also, there are 3m wide shared paths to create a lit, mostly traffic-free route. It links Prospecthill Circus west to Polmadie Rd and east to the corner of Toryglen Rd/Pinkerton Ave in Rutherglen (about half a mile from Bike Town‘s workshop).
First featured: Digest 74, Item 3.4.
Website links: Malls Mire survey.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

1.10: Ardrossan Connections Proposals

Council: North Ayrshire Council.
Subject: The next stage of the Ardrossan Connections project following consultation last year. The draft proposals cover the town centre and link between NCN753, in the west, and NCN73 to the east. They include both 1-way and 2-way cycletracks plus some shared paths. Comments on the proposals page so far seem to be split between people welcoming the measures and others who think they’re unnecessary and affect car parking.
First featured: Digest 78, Item 1.2.
Website links: Ardrossan Connections proposals and online design workshops during late Jan/early Feb 2022.
Deadline: No obvious deadline (but plans are due to be finalised by Spring 2022).

1.11: Raeberry St Quietway (Connecting Woodside)

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: Raeberry St, North Woodside (west of Maryhill Rd).
Subject: Further project from Connecting Woodside with junction redesigns at either end of the street and new secure cycle parking. The Maryhill Rd end would be narrower and the crossing moved to make a direct link to Trossachs St (towards Garscube Rd and the canal). The new North Kelvinside/Woodside RPZ sets the car parking bays.
First featured: Digest 99, Item 1.12.
Website links: Raeberry St Quietway ‘storymap’, Raeberry St plans PDF, Raeberry St survey.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

Section 2: Consultation Feedback

2.1: Ayr Road (A77) North

Council: East Renfrewshire.
Subject: Conservative councillors in East Ren have called for bollards to be removed on Ayr Road (A77). Apparently, there’s already been a petition against the SfP lanes since last autumn. East Renfrewshire Council said: “A decision on whether to retain, modify or remove the measures will be taken in June.”
First featured: Digest 91, Item 1.5.
Website links: Local news article.

The first Digest of 2022 has a few loose ends to clear up from last year. Firstly, there’s the proposed regeneration of Shawlands Arcade on Kilmarnock Rd (as shown in split image, above). Secondly, there’s North Lanarkshire Council’s Active Travel strategy, which is a long way off the pace set by Glasgow’s.

The last edition featured negative reaction to Spaces for People lanes in East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire. Another issue has come up elsewhere – a petition against SfP lanes between Paisley and Howwood in Renfrewshire.

While cycling is usually on the agenda in Glasgow it’s often missed out in surrounding areas, which feed the city’s traffic issues. Cars are king in suburban towns so any projects that try to redress the balance will need support. On a more positive note, Sustrans are funding minor upgrades to existing NCN routes in Renfrewshire and elsewhere.

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

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. A803, Kirkintilloch Road (and Side Roads) Bishopbriggs TRO
2. East Kilbride, Spaces for People
3. Shawlands Arcade Regeneration
4. Low Emission Zone – Full proposal
5. Dennistoun to Cranhill Liveable Neighbourhoods
6. Govan to Kingston Liveable Neighbourhoods
7. Ruchill to Cowlairs Liveable Neighbourhoods
8. Langside to Toryglen Liveable Neighbourhoods
9. Malls Mire survey
10. Drumchapel Local Development Framework
11. Raeberry St Quietway (Connecting Woodside)

Section 2: Consultation Feedback

1. Howwood to Paisley, Spaces for People route
2. Active Travel Strategy 2021–2031 (North Lanarkshire Council)

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

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

Council: East Dunbartonshire.
Area: South Bishopbriggs towards the town centre.
Subject: Parking restrictions on the eastern side of the A803 from the end of Springburn Rd (at Colston Rd) to Bishopbriggs Cross, near the train station. Also, parking restrictions at junctions on side streets along the western side of Kirkintilloch Rd, from Coltpark Ave to Brackenbrae Rd.
First featured: Digest 101, Item 1.5.
Website link: A803 & Side Roads documents (combined PDF of plans and report).
Deadline: 7 January 2022.

1.2: East Kilbride, Spaces for People

Council: South Lanarkshire.
Area: East Kilbride town centre.
Subject: Protected two-way cycle lanes on Cornwall St (replacing a road lane and a bus stop) and zebra/cycle crossings. One-way lanes towards the train station on part of Brouster Hill and a short contraflow cycle lane on Torrance Road. The route is due to be extended east to Churchill Ave and west to the Queensway for EK’s Active Travel network. The lanes have been criticised on social media. Also, a related project on West Mains Rd (adding a protected junction) had roadworks delays which angered locals, including a councillor. Please support the SfP project so the next phases can proceed as planned (unlike the Bearsway).
First featured: Digest 89, Infrastructure Update.
Website links: EK SfP online survey, South Lanarkshire View article and EK SfP plans (foot of page).
Deadline: 16 January 2022 (extended from original deadline of 24 December 2021).

1.3: Shawlands Arcade Regeneration

Organisation: Shawlands & Strathbungo Community Council (in conjunction with developers, Clydebuilt).
Area: Shawlands Arcade between Kilmarnock Rd and Pollokshaws Rd.
Subject: Regeneration of the shopping arcade. Flats above retail units with gaps for access between Kilmarnock Rd and Pollokshaws Rd. The original consultation seems to have slipped through the net in summer 2021 (apologies). However, the local Community Council are now collating ideas for the public spaces. They want links or photos of places that people like; to use as inspiration. There are no cycle lanes in the current plans (middle alley between buildings has steps). Other new developments, such as the Meatmarket at Duke St (Item 1.5), have a segregated cycle path through the site. Further consultation on the Arcade is expected soon.
Website links: S&SCC Facebook post – email: enquiries@shawlandsarcade.com or shawlandsstrathbungocc@gmail.com. Original Shawlands Arcade proposals (scroll down and click magnifying glass button to view).
Deadline: 16 January 2022.

1.4: Low Emission Zone – Full proposal

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: City centre.
Subject: Phase 2 of the Low Emission Zone in the city centre (Phase 1 was buses only). Older, more polluting motor vehicles will be charged for driving into the zone. Its boundary has changed slightly. Parts of some streets around the edges of the zone have been added to it and the Stow College/GSA building has been left out. The LEZ is due to begin on 31 May 2022 but enforcement won’t kick in until a year later. When fines do come in they escalate for repeat offences. Some ‘grace periods’ and exemptions apply, including for city centre residents, so the full zone wouldn’t be implemented until June 2024.
First featured: Digest 90, Item 1.3.
Website links: Full proposal document, detailed map PDF and further background on the LEZ website.
Deadline: 20 January 2022.

1.5: Dennistoun to Cranhill Liveable Neighbourhoods

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: From Dennistoun (including the Necropolis but not GRI), Milnbank, Haghill, Riddrie, Carntyne to Cranhill.
Subject: One of four LN consultations using Commonplace maps and the Place Standard tool. Transport links include roads like Duke St, Alexandra Parade, Cumbernauld Rd and Edinburgh Rd plus a few train stations. Apart from a few parks most big destinations are towards the city centre end – Necropolis, Tennents brewery and City Park offices. While Glasgow Royal Infirmary is just outside western edge of area. Dennistoun has held on to a few Spaces for People measures (from its failed LTN) but there’s very little infrastructure elsewhere. Consultation had started in the community but further events have been postponed. Over 380 comments on the map so far.
First featured: Digest 100, Item 1.9.
Website links: Dennistoun to Cranhill LN Commonplace map, Dennistoun to Cranhill Place Standard survey.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

1.6: Govan to Kingston Liveable Neighbourhoods

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: From ‘Greater Govan’ (including Cessnock, Kinning Park, Plantation) and Ibrox to Kingston.
Subject: ‘Everyday journeys’ around major transport links including Govan bus station, subway stations, Paisley Road West, Clyde Tunnel, Squinty Bridge/Clyde Arc and the forthcoming footbridge. Major destinations include Ibrox Stadium and the Southern General/Queen Elizabeth Uni Hospital (see next item). There’s some cycling infrastructure around Festival Park/Pacific Quay but no proper links to major routes like the nearby South West City Way. There have been over 190 comments on the map so far.
First featured: Digest 100, Item 1.10.
Website links: Govan to Kingston LN Commonplace map, Govan to Kingston Place Standard survey.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

1.7: Ruchill to Cowlairs Liveable Neighbourhoods

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: North of the canal from Ruchill (at edge of Maryhill) across Possilpark, Hamiltonhill, Rockvilla, Craighall, Keppochhill and Port Dundas to Cowlairs (plus Sighthill Park).
Subject: The edges of this area have been redeveloped with active travel routes along the canal. Nearby Sighthill is being completely rebuilt including a segregated cycle route on St Rollox Dr. However, Cowlairs, Ruchill and Possilpark have a lot of derelict sites. The Spaces for People lanes on Hawthorn St have added a west-east cycle route (with some gaps). Over 80 comments so far.
First featured: Digest 96, Item 1.5.
Website links: Ruchill to Cowlairs LN Commonplace map, Ruchill to Cowlairs Place Standard survey.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

1.8: Langside to Toryglen Liveable Neighbourhoods

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: From Langside (at edge of Shawlands) across Battlefield, Mount Florida and part of King’s Park to Toryglen (and Polmadie).
Subject: A really random Liveable Neighbourhood area, including busy Langside and empty Polmadie. There’s not much active travel infrastructure between the proposed SCW extension to Battlefield Rest and Malls Mire at Toryglen, except the protected bit of Aitkenhead Rd and the unprotected Spean St path. Over 360 comments so far.
First featured: Digest 96, Item 1.4.
Website links: Langside to Toryglen LN Commonplace map, Langside to Toryglen Place Standard survey.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

1.9: Malls Mire survey

Organisation: Urban Roots.
Area: Woodland park between Toryglen Asda, Polmadie Recycling Centre in Glasgow and Rutherglen Glencairn Football Club in South Lanarkshire.
Subject: An evaluation about the newly created park and paths. The site wraps around a regenerated housing estate, linking former wasteground with the woodland and ponds. Trails, outdoor play equipment and a bike pump track have been installed. Also, there are 3m wide shared paths to create a lit, mostly traffic-free route. It links Prospecthill Circus west to Polmadie Rd and east to the corner of Toryglen Rd/Pinkerton Ave in Rutherglen (about half a mile from Bike Town‘s workshop).
First featured: Digest 74, Item 3.4.
Website links: Malls Mire survey.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

1.10: Drumchapel Local Development Framework

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: The latest framework consultation, following previous strategic ones for Glasgow North, ‘Inner East’, etc. According to GCC: “The purpose of the Drumchapel Local Development Framework will be to provide a structure for future development in the area. It will act as an overarching framework to identify urban planning priorities for Drumchapel and to help take them forward.” There are less than 20 comments on the map so far.
First featured: Digest 102, Item 1.12.
Website links: Drumchapel Commonplace map, Drumchapel survey link and background.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

1.11: Raeberry St Quietway (Connecting Woodside)

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: Raeberry St, North Woodside (west of Maryhill Rd).
Subject: Further project from Connecting Woodside with junction redesigns at either end of the street and new secure cycle parking. The Maryhill Rd end would be narrower and the crossing moved to make a direct link to Trossachs St (towards Garscube Rd and the canal). The new North Kelvinside/Woodside RPZ sets the car parking bays.
First featured: Digest 99, Item 1.12.
Website links: Raeberry St Quietway ‘storymap’, Raeberry St plans PDF, Raeberry St survey.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

Section 2: Consultation Feedback

2.1: Howwood to Paisley, Spaces for People route

Council: Renfrewshire.
Area: Route along Beith Rd, from Howwood through Johnstone to Paisley.
Subject: This temporary route using ‘wands’ was installed in summer 2021. A petition started in December 2021 calling for it to be removed (which currently has over 700 signatures). It was back in the news after a cyclist was injured on Beith Road (near Rannoch Road). However, the local press report quotes a councillor talking about deaths and near misses then a council statement saying “Police Scotland attended and have confirmed to us the road layout was not a factor in this accident and the driver was not at fault.” If you use the route and want to voice support, you can email feedback to ei@renfrewshire.gov.uk.
First featured: Digest 65, Item 1.2.
Website link: Spaces for People Storymap and route plans PDF.

2.2: Active Travel Strategy 2021–2031 (North Lanarkshire Council)

Council: North Lanarkshire.
Subject: This strategy has been in the pipeline since 2020 but only reached GoBike in late 2021. We’re not aware of any public consultation. It arrives along with plans for redevelopment of town centres and country parks plus NLC’s Town/Community Hubs (schools as community centres). While neighbouring South Lanarkshire is building segregated lanes on roads, North Lanarkshire are focusing on shared paths. The strategy has a single paragraph in the PDF version about road space reallocation. However, it has pages of detail about shared path construction. The focus on routes away from main roads may come from NLC’s work with Glasgow & Clyde Valley (GCV) Green Network. However, it’s disappointing it doesn’t address needs like cycle commuting or personal safety (many greenspace routes can’t be lit as it would disrupt biodiversity).
Website link: NLC Active Travel Strategy Storymap (see Transport Context) and NLC Active Travel Strategy PDF.

This time of year is known for excess and there’s a glut of consultations and responses in this issue. Contra-flow cycling is a theme with responses from Glasgow ruling it out while South Lanarkshire have quietly implemented it in East Kilbride.

However, EK’s Spaces for People project (as seen in featured image, above) is up for consultation and needs support to counter local criticism.

Without wanting to tread on the toes of our national consultations digest, Transport Scotland’s long-delayed pavement parking consultation has started. Most GoBike members will have experiences to add to that!

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

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. Hyndland, Hughenden And Dowanhill West, Traffic Management/Parking Controls
2. Ayr Road (South) Active Travel Improvements 
3. A803, Kirkintilloch Road (and Side Roads) Bishopbriggs TRO
4. East Kilbride, Spaces for People
5. Low Emission Zone – Full proposal
6. Dennistoun to Cranhill Liveable Neighbourhoods
7. Govan to Kingston Liveable Neighbourhoods
8. Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) Green Space Survey
9. Ruchill to Cowlairs Liveable Neighbourhoods
10. Langside to Toryglen Liveable Neighbourhoods
11. Malls Mire survey
12. Drumchapel Local Development Framework
13. Raeberry St Quietway (Connecting Woodside)
14. Helensburgh to Garelochhead active travel route

Section 2: Consultation Feedback

1. Carmunnock Road (Service Road) TRO
2. FOI response on Dennistoun and London Rd SfP projects (GCC)
3. Glasgow City Network
4. Motherwell train station works
5. East Renfrewshire Local Development Plan 2 adoption
6. Make Your Way Key Links: Douglas–NCN74 (A70)
7. Malls Mire Newsletter

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

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

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

1.2: Ayr Road (South) Active Travel Improvements

Council: East Renfrewshire.
Area: Ayr Rd south from Newton Mearns.
Subject: Build a replacement shared-use path on the north/west side of Ayr Road, between North Hillhead Road and the M77 overbridge.
(Note: the Ayr Rd, North consultation seems to have ended on 30 November with 712 comments.)
First featured: Digest 97, Item 1.7.
Website link: ERC Ayr Road South consultation page.
Deadline: 24 December.

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

Council: East Dunbartonshire.
Area: South Bishopbriggs towards the town centre.
Subject: Parking restrictions on the eastern side of the A803 from the end of Springburn Rd (at Colston Rd) to Bishopbriggs Cross, near the train station. Also, parking restrictions at junctions on side streets along the western side of Kirkintilloch Rd, from Coltpark Ave to Brackenbrae Rd.
First featured: Digest 101, Item 1.5.
Website link: A803 & Side Roads documents (combined PDF of plans and report).
Deadline: 7 January 2022.

1.4: East Kilbride, Spaces for People

Council: South Lanarkshire.
Area: East Kilbride town centre.
Subject: Spaces for People project – protected 2-way cycle lanes on Cornwall St (replacing a road lane and a bus stop) and zebra/cycle crossings. One-way lanes towards the train station on part of Brouster Hill and a short contraflow cycle lane(!) on Torrance Road. The quality is very high in places but dips elsewhere, especially at the Cornwall St taxi rank. The route is due to be extended east to Churchill Ave and west to the Queensway as part of EK’s Active Travel network. Had the Queensway link been done earlier, the lanes would probably have been a lot busier. The project has been criticised locally along with the duration of roadworks at a Places for Everyone project east of the station on West Mains Rd (adding a protected junction, such as those on Victoria Rd). Please support the SfP project – we don’t want another Bearsway or Holmston Rd situation!
First featured: Digest 89, Infrastructure Update.
Website links: EK SfP online survey and South Lanarkshire View article.
Deadline: 16 January 2022.

1.5: Low Emission Zone – Full proposal

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: City centre.
Subject: Phase 2 of the Low Emission Zone in the city centre (Phase 1 was buses only). Older, more polluting motor vehicles would be charged for driving into the zone. The boundary has changed slightly as shown in the image, above. Parts of some streets around the edges of the zone have been added to it and the GSA/Stow building has been left out. The LEZ is due to begin on 31 May 2022 but enforcement won’t kick in until a year later. When fines do come in they escalate for repeat offences. Some ‘grace periods’ and exemptions apply, including for city centre residents, so the full zone wouldn’t be implemented until June 2024.
First featured: Digest 90, Item 1.3.
Website links: Full proposal document, detailed map PDF and further background on the LEZ website.
Deadline: 20 January 2022.

1.6: Dennistoun to Cranhill Liveable Neighbourhoods

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: From Dennistoun (including the Necropolis but not GRI), Milnbank, Haghill, Riddrie, Carntyne to Cranhill.
Subject: One of four LN consultations using Commonplace maps and the Place Standard tool. Transport links include roads like Duke St, Alexandra Parade, Cumbernauld Rd and Edinburgh Rd plus a few train stations. Apart from a few parks most big destinations are towards the city centre end – Necropolis, Tennents brewery and City Park offices. Glasgow Royal Infirmary is just outside western edge of area. Dennistoun has held on to a few Spaces for People measures (from its failed LTN) but there’s very little infrastructure elsewhere. Consultation had started in the community but further events have been postponed. Over 370 comments on the map so far.
First featured: Digest 100, Item 1.9.
Website links: Dennistoun to Cranhill LN Commonplace map, Dennistoun to Cranhill Place Standard survey.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

1.7: Govan to Kingston Liveable Neighbourhoods

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: From ‘Greater Govan’ (including Cessnock, Kinning Park, Plantation) and Ibrox to Kingston.
Subject: ‘Everyday journeys’ around major transport links including Govan bus station, subway stations, Paisley Road West, Clyde Tunnel, Squinty Bridge/Clyde Arc and the forthcoming footbridge. Major destinations include Ibrox Stadium and the Southern General/Queen Elizabeth Uni Hospital (see next item). There’s some cycling infrastructure around Festival Park/Pacific Quay but no proper links to major routes like the nearby South West City Way. There have been over 190 comments on the map so far.
First featured: Digest 100, Item 1.10.
Website links: Govan to Kingston LN Commonplace map, Govan to Kingston Place Standard survey.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

1.8: Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) Green Space Survey

Organisation: NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde.
Area: The Southern General/Queen Liz hospital site in Govan.
Subject: A survey about greenspace and active travel at QEUH has been open for a few months. There are half a dozen survey questions, which include active travel and accessibility as well as greenspace and biodiversity.
First featured: Digest 101, Item 1.8.
Website link: QEUH survey, NHS GG&C article.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

1.9: Ruchill to Cowlairs Liveable Neighbourhoods

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: North of the canal from Ruchill (at edge of Maryhill) across Possilpark, Hamiltonhill, Rockvilla, Craighall, Keppochhill and Port Dundas to Cowlairs (plus Sighthill Park).
Subject: The edges of this area have been redeveloped with active travel routes along the canal. Nearby Sighthill is being completely rebuilt including a segregated cycle route on St Rollox Dr. Cowlairs, Ruchill and Possilpark have a lot of derelict sites. The Spaces for People lanes on Hawthorn St have added a west-east cycle route (with some gaps). The map has just over 80 comments.
First featured: Digest 96, Item 1.5.
Website links: Ruchill to Cowlairs LN Commonplace map, Ruchill to Cowlairs Place Standard survey.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

1.10: Langside to Toryglen Liveable Neighbourhoods

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: From Langside (at edge of Shawlands) across Battlefield, Mount Florida and part of King’s Park to Toryglen (and Polmadie).
Subject: A really random Liveable Neighbourhood area, including busy Langside and empty Polmadie.  There’s not much active travel infrastructure between the proposed SCW extension to Battlefield Rest and Malls Mire at Toryglen, except the protected bit of Aitkenhead Rd and the unprotected Spean St path. Over 350 comments so far.
First featured: Digest 96, Item 1.4.
Website links: Langside to Toryglen LN Commonplace map, Langside to Toryglen Place Standard survey.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

1.11: Malls Mire survey

Organisation: Urban Roots.
Area: Woodland park between Toryglen Asda, Polmadie Recycling Centre in Glasgow and Rutherglen Glencairn Football Club in South Lanarkshire.
Subject: An evaluation about the newly created park and paths. The site wraps around a regenerated housing estate, linking former wasteground with the woodland and ponds. Trails, outdoor play equipment and a bike pump track have been installed. Also, there are 3m wide shared paths to create a lit, mostly traffic-free route. It links Prospecthill Circus west to Polmadie Rd and east to the corner of Toryglen Rd/Pinkerton Ave in Rutherglen (about half a mile from Bike Town‘s workshop).
First featured: Digest 74, Item 3.4.
Website links: Malls Mire survey.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

1.12: Drumchapel Local Development Framework

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: The latest framework consultation, following previous strategic ones for Glasgow North, ‘Inner East’, etc. According to GCC: “The purpose of the Drumchapel Local Development Framework will be to provide a structure for future development in the area. It will act as an overarching framework to identify urban planning priorities for Drumchapel and to help take them forward.”
Website links: Drumchapel Commonplace map, Drumchapel survey link and background.

1.13: Raeberry St Quietway (Connecting Woodside)

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

1.14: Helensburgh to Garelochhead active travel route

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

Section 2: Consultation Feedback

2.1: Carmunnock Road (Service Road) TRO

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: Carmunnock Road, south-west Glasgow.
Subject: A seriously delayed response to GoBike member Tricia’s objection to the one-way streets in this traffic order (from early 2020!). GCC say:
“I refer to your objection to the above named Traffic Regulation Order and can advise that your objection was reported and considered. However, the Council have decided under its scheme of delegated functions to proceed with the proposal as advertised.The Order was made on 8 December 2021 and an advert will be placed in the Glasgow Times on 14 December 2021 stating that the Traffic Regulation Order has been made.I realise that this may not be the outcome you wished for, however, in terms of road safety, there was insufficient road width at this location to propose contra-flow cycling. Contra-flow cycling is being developed through the current strategies being produced but unfortunately we could not provide it in this instance.”
First featured: Digest 52, Item 1.10.

2.2: FOI response on Dennistoun and London Rd SfP projects (GCC)

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: ‘The Drives’, Dennistoun and London Rd at Celtic Park/Emirates.
Subject: GoBike member Brenda put in a Freedom of Information request to the council about the following:
“Copies of the police advice provided to Glasgow City Council which led to:
1. The removal between December 2020 and April 2021 of the exemptions for cycling (introduced under Spaces for People) at No Entry signs for streets in Dennistoun including Armadale Street, Craiglea Street, Meadowpark Street, Marne Street, Ingleby Drive, Whitehill Street and Craigpark.
2. The removal of the light segregation along the London Road Spaces for People cycle lane at Parkhead.”
GCC response is attached, below. They say they don’t have any records to answer Q2. For Q1, an email is attached listing police concerns. Ironically, the police don’t offer any real evidence to back up their opinions. So, it’s still not clear why GCC can’t do something that South Lanarkshire Council have recently done in East Kilbride (see above).
First featured: Digest 76, Item 3.1 (Dennistoun SfP).
Website links: GCC response on Dennistoun LTN/London Rd and Police Scotland comments about contraflow cycling in Dennistoun.

2.3: Glasgow City Network

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: A wee bit of feedback from GCC in response to a comment on the Glasgow City Network Commonplace map: “…in this plan the Sustainable Transport Corridors would have segregated cycling. These corridors will also need to deliver significant improvements to public transport through the Bus Partnership Fund and the wider activities of the Glasgow Bus Partnership. This is why we have highlighted them compared with the rest of the City Network.”
First featured: Digest 93, Item 3.1.
Website link: GCC response about ‘Sustainable Transport Corridors’.

2.4: Motherwell train station works

Council: North Lanarkshire.
Area: Motherwell train station and A721
Subject: An update on progress on the planning application last seen in Digest 92, 3.1. It’s been approved and work is scheduled for early 2022. The new bit of road from the roundabout won’t have a cycleway but should at least improve access. The redevelopment of the station itself is ongoing.
First featured: Digest 61, Item 1.1.
Website link: Motherwell town centre and rail station.

2.5: East Renfrewshire Local Development Plan 2 adoption

Council: East Renfrewshire.
Subject: The home straight in the marathon process for East Ren’s new Local Development Plan. It’s already been consulted on and submitted to the Scottish Government. Their Reporter has made recommendations, which ERC accepted. The modified plan was submitted to Scottish Ministers on 16 December. If there are no further changes it will be adopted by ERC.
First featured: Digest 47, Item 1.5 (response: Digest 49, 1.3).
Website link: East Renfrewshire LDP2 page.

2.6: Make Your Way Key Links: Douglas–NCN74 (A70)

Organisation: Community Action Lanarkshire.
Area: Rural South Lanarkshire – Ayr Rd/A70 from Douglas to NCN74.
Subject: A project which was in the process of applying for Places for Everyone funding – sadly, not all have been selected. Sustrans say: “Whilst the value of the Douglas to NCN route was acknowledged by the Panel, it was thought that this route was less well suited to the Places for Everyone programme than the Leadhills[–Wanlockhead] route, primarily as it was felt this route provided less opportunities for everyday journeys and would therefore have less impact on modal shift.”
Sarah O’Sullivan (Project Officer, Active Travel) mentions in her email: “how competitive the funding for Places for Everyone has become recently“. Also: “I am hopeful that other funding will be available to complete the path, if not to the strict Cycle By Design criteria, as required by the Places for Everyone funding, and have already discussed this with SLC [South Lanarkshire Council]”.
First featured: Digest 75, Item 1.3.
Website link: Sustainable Active Travel plans (includes Douglas and Leadhills).

2.7: Malls Mire Newsletter

Organisation: Urban Roots.
Subject: As above, a new woodland park that’s been created over the last year or so. This is the final Malls Mire newsletter about completed works and ongoing projects. It’s been nice to hear about developments and then see some of the completed site. For anyone who hasn’t made it there yet, bits of Malls Mire have started to pop up on StreetView. Thanks to Dr Gemma Jennings and the team for all their hard work and for keeping us updated.
First featured: Digest 74, Item 3.4.
Website link: Malls Mire Newsletter December 2021.

Take care and hope you can still have a Merry Christmas and a Guid New Year.

You’ll notice some changes to this Digest to make it quicker to read (and for your author to produce). This has been dictated by circumstances (lack of holiday cover). However, it will act as a pilot and some aspects may be retained longer term. 

This slimmed down version of the Digest is based loosely on a ‘listings’ directory and removes the (usually empty) ‘Forthcoming consultations’ section. In future, if anything is forthcoming it will be mentioned in this intro, as follows.

Forthcoming consultations: Liveable Neighbourhoods pilot areas  – consultation expected within the next month or so. 

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

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

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

1.2: Active Travel Discussion 

Council: East Dunbartonshire.
Subject: Active travel in the local authority area.
First covered: Digest 86, Item 1.2.
Website link: EDC Active Travel Discussion page. 
Deadline: 28 September.

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

Council: East Dunbartonshire.
Area: Bishopbriggs.
Subject: Waiting and loading restrictions.
Website links: Notice and Combined documents
Deadline: 1 October.

1.4: Secure City Centre Cycle Parking Survey

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: Secure cycle parking at city centre travel hubs and places of employment.
First covered: Digest 94, Item 1.10.
Website link: GCC city centre cycle parking consultation page and cycle parking survey. 
Deadline: 3 October.

1.5: Helensburgh to Garelochhead active travel route

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

1.6: Rethink Glasgow

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

Section 2: Consultation Feedback

2.1: Malls Mire newsletter

Organisation: Urban Roots.
Area: Toryglen, Glasgow/Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire.
Subject: Malls Mire Community Woodland is now open!
Website link: Malls Mire newsletter, August 2021.

2.2: Spaces for People – committee vote on retaining measures

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: Most of the temporary Spaces for People active travel measures will be made into permanent infrastructure. This includes all cycle routes, most city centre measures, all neighbourhood measures and one neighbourhood pavement widening (Kelvin Way).
First covered: Digest 87, Item 1.3.
Website link: GCC article on Spaces for People decision.

2.3: COP26 Active Travel route closures

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: GoBike have had messages from ‘Get Ready Glasgow’ about access around COP26 and mistakes in their map showing diversions. Also, we’re due to present our petition (about keeping active travel paths open around COP26) to a council committee next week.
First covered: Digest 94, Item 1.2.
Website links: GoBike COP26 webpage and GoBike twitter account.

This Digest covers most points of the compass in Glasgow and neighbouring areas to the west, south and east.

Quite a few local and national petitions have been launched recently so this Digest has an update on those (instead of infrastructure).

Petitions Update

• GoBike – Keep our paths open for COP26 (Glasgow residents only)
• Cycling UK – Help fix our failing road traffic laws
• Living Streets – petition to bring forward the ban on pavement parking (and there’s a launch event for a new Glasgow branch of Living Streets)
• Progress for GoBike member Patricia’s petition on public toilets
• A potential future petition about making cycling infrastructure fit for purpose by the broadcaster/author Ned Boulting

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

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. Glasgow City Council – Auldhouse Area Traffic Management Order (ends 20 Aug)
2. North Lanarkshire Council – Bellshill Entrance/Velo Park Project (until end of Aug)
3. East Renfrewshire Council – Ayr Road (A77): Spaces for People, Phase 2
4. Glasgow City Council – Low Emission Zone consultation (ends 2 Sep)
5. Rosemount Development Trust – Royston Road Masterplan (ends 3 Sep)
6. Glasgow City Council – Inner East Strategic Development Framework (ends 3 Sep)
7. Renfrewshire Council – Improving Barshaw Park Junction, Paisley (ends 5 Sep)
8. East Dunbartonshire Council – Active Travel Discussion (ends 28 Sep)

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

None this time.

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

1. Glasgow City Council – Active Travel Forum Network map
2. Urban Roots – Malls Mire partial opening (and newsletter July 2021)
3. Glasgow City Council – Maryhill Road/North Woodside Road/Hopehill Road
4. Glasgow City Council – TRNSMT Festival and Access to NCN75
5. Multiplex – Glasgow Uni campus contact changes (and newsletter August 2021)
6. Glasgow City Council – Garnethill Traffic Management and Parking Controls Order

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

1.1: Glasgow City Council – Auldhouse Area Traffic Management Order

The Auldhouse area order appeared in the last Digest 92, Item 1.8. It applies to a triangle of land in the Southside, just off Kilmarnock Rd and Nether Auldhouse Rd. The TRO deals with parking restrictions and making some lanes access only for motor vehicles. See our GoBike response to the Auldhouse Area order. See the Auldhouse plan PDF or the above link for the rest of the documents (ends 20 Aug).

1.2: North Lanarkshire Council – Bellshill Entrance/Velo Park Project

As seen in the last Digest 92, Item 1.9, the new velo park would be at the edge of Bellshill (next to Motherwell Rd/A721) with mountain bike trails down into Strathclyde Country Park. The project lead is due to meet local community groups in the next week or so. A GoBike member should be at one of the meetings so we’ll hopefully have feedback next time.

If you cycle in the park or the wider area, see the Bellshill Entrance & Velo Park info page. The page says the process should lead to a Sport Scotland application this month so email the council before the end of August.

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

As covered in Digest 91, Item 1.5, Ayr Rd through Newton Mearns has 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.

1.4: Glasgow City Council – Low Emission Zone consultation

As in Digest 90, Item 1.3 this consultation is about phase 2 of the Low Emission Zone in Glasgow city centre (between the M8, river and High St). Phase 1 applied to local buses but phase 2 will include all vehicles entering the zone area (unless exempt). However, enforcement is only due to start in June 2023.

The short survey asks you about issues like the LEZ area and the grace periods. See the Glasgow LEZ consultation page and LEZ online survey. Closes on 2 September 2021.

1.5: Rosemount Development Trust – Royston Road Masterplan

Projects about Royston Rd seem to be like buses – none for ages then two at once. The last Digest 92, Item 1.2, featured the Flourishing Molendinar project about the area at the eastern (hilly) end of Royston Rd. The western (flat) end of Royston Rd is the focus of this project by Rosemount Development Trust.

This section is a crucial link from the city centre/Sighthill (to the west) up towards Blackhill (to the east). Current plans only mention cycling in passing, which is a concern. If cycleways don’t connect right along Royston Rd it risks cutting off not only Blackhill but also active travel routes from places in North Lanarkshire like Stepps and Cumbernauld.

If you know the area at all, please put a word in for cycling. See the Royston regeneration survey and information boards (ends 3 Sep).

1.6: Glasgow City Council – Inner East Strategic Development Framework

East of High St out to Carntyne and Tollcross is the ‘Inner East’ area, covered in the latest SDF (as in Digest 90, Item 1.4). The ‘Connected’ section 4C mentions cycling infrastructure projects but also public transport and roads, including the so-called East End Regeneration Route (EERR) dual carriageway.

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

1.7: Renfrewshire Council – Improving Barshaw Park Junction, Paisley

In 2017, Sustrans identified this crossroads as a dangerous junction. It’s at the entrance to Barshaw Park in Paisley where Arkleston Rd and Hawkhead Rd meet Glasgow Rd (A761, which becomes Paisley Rd West in Glasgow). Arkleston Rd runs south from the M8 and is used for car parking next to Barshaw Park. The park itself includes a BMX track and a mini street layout for children learning to cycle.

This month, Renfrewshire Council announced they had won Places for Everyone funding for the junction.

The consultation has three options:

1. Glasgow Rd protected lanes (none on Arkleston Rd or Hawkhead Rd) plus ‘early start’ cycle traffic lights (Option 1 PDF)
2. All roads have protected lanes with ‘early start’ cycle traffic lights (Option 2 PDF)
3. A protected junction with protected lanes on all roads and bikes get their own signal phase (Option 3 PDF)

Experience from Edinburgh with ‘early start’ bike traffic lights is that not everyone wants/can get to the front of a traffic queue to make use of them. The last option seems best but it creates a bus stop in-shot with shared path alongside it (where Glasgow Rd would be narrowed from two lanes to one). The plans mention relocating the bus stop as another option (but it is next to the main park entrance). Any further protected cycle lanes on roads would be added in a later phase.

Nearly every comment about the plans on Facebook seems to be hostile to all three options (on posts by Renfrewshire Live, The Mill magazine or Friends of Barshaw Park). The most common point (apart from rants about cycling) was the lack of a right-turn filter/light from Arkleston Rd onto Glasgow Rd. If you know the area at all, see the Barshaw Park junction community survey to rate the options (ends 5 September).

1.8: East Dunbartonshire Council – Active Travel Discussion

This has featured since Digest 86, Item 1.2, with its ‘Ideas Map‘ for the area. It’s an opportunity to focus on active travel (walking, cycling and wheeling). 

Online discussion events restart from 21 August (Bearsden & Milngavie). See a full list of events and background info on the Active Travel Discussion webpage. Closing date – 28 Sep 2021.

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

None this time.

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

3.1: Glasgow City Council – Active Travel Forum network map

We last heard from GCC’s Active Travel Forum when it restarted in March (the ATF has stopped and started a few times in its history). The most recent meeting, in June, included a new proposal for a city network, which has now been published online. We’ve seen vague outlines before, like the City Ways map in the last Cycling Strategy. The new map isn’t that easy to follow (compared to similar network maps for South Lanarkshire Council). However, this new Glasgow network map does seem to be more systematic than any previous ones.

The presentation about the network map talks about the method behind producing it, including an algorithm for key destinations and roads >10m wide. Slides also mention soft segregation and filters as part of the network. So, it wouldn’t necessarily all be segregated but might go in quicker. The recent announcement about the Liveable Neighbourhoods project (and its Toolkit) may play a part in that.

Slide 10 talks about the density of the network, sets a timescale and another disclaimer:

“CITY Network Map

• Proposed city network to be in place by 2030
• Represents the required density of routes for a functional City Network
• Not all of these streets identified here will form the City Network as delivered but form the start of the planning and prioritisation process
• Delivered City Network must be of equivalent density and coherence by 2030 to enable easy everyday active journeys “

So, the current routes on the map may not be the final ones (and there’s no key).

Main route corridors (striped lines, clockwise from north):

• Springburn Road (A803)
• Alexandra Parade/Cumbernauld Road/Edinburgh Road (A8)
• Cumbernauld Road (A80)
• London Road (A74)
• Eglinton Street/Pollokshaws Road/Kilmarnock Road (A77)
• Paisley Road West (A761)
• Victoria Park Drive South/Dumbarton Road (A814)
• Great Western Road (A82)
• Maryhill Road (A81)

All of the above are (at least) four lane A-roads but it’s not clear if these are intended as the main cycle routes. However, London Rd already has a section of permanent cycleway at either end with more phases planned. London Rd also has sections of soft segregation (with large gaps), as do parts of Cumbernauld Rd and Gt Western Rd. The empty area in the city centre would presumably connect to Avenues project routes. Most of the striped routes reach the city boundary, apart from London Rd and Edinburgh Rd.

The pink routes on the map include permanent infrastructure like the recently completed Garscube Rd cycleway and the very much ongoing South City Way.

The following slide shows ‘iterations’ and distance/coverage (and has a key!).

Iteration/Distance map

The map seems to show a fairly widespread first iteration/version of the network. It would be followed by additions to fill in gaps between these routes for later versions. The colours show pretty good coverage for most areas of the city compared to now (from ‘iteration 6’, presumably in 2030). Most of the pink areas (>800m distance) are not residential – they include the Seven Lochs and Pollok Park.

All of this has to be taken with a big pinch of salt (especially the bits outside the GCC boundary at Renfrew and Thornliebank!). It also remains to be seen how it fits in with other council plans and priorities. For example, cycle routes seem to avoid the High St, despite the fact it’s not an Avenue but has its own High St Area Strategy project (as well as being part of the ‘Learning Quarter’ district plan and Inner East SDF). Elsewhere, there are bus priority lanes in the works for Paisley Rd West – will they trump cycle lanes?

The presentation also mentions themes and objectives for the forthcoming Active Travel Strategy (slide 17 onwards). Slide 21 has more detail on ‘Proposed Theme 1: Infrastructure & Networks’. Only time will tell how both the strategy and network map are put into practice. However, the map seems like a step towards a more comprehensive network. The proposals should go to committee later in the year.

3.2: Urban Roots – Malls Mire

Malls Mire gets a bit higher up the running order this time as the west and central areas of the new community woodland are due to open in mid-August. These will add much needed greenspace and a network of traffic-free paths in the Toryglen/Polmadie area. When the eastern end of the woodland opens, it will provide extra east-west links between the Southside of Glasgow and Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire.

Woodland paths aren’t a complete solution to the connection issues in the city network map but they’re certainly welcome. In future, Malls Mire may link to enhanced routes in South Lanarkshire Council’s Cambuslang/Rutherglen active travel network, like NCN756 towards Shawfield and Glasgow Green.

See the Malls Mire July 2021 newsletter for more information about the latest developments. Well done to Gemma and the rest of the team for all the progress so far.

3.3: Glasgow City Council – Maryhill Road/North Woodside Road/Hopehill Road

First covered in Digest 86, Item 1.1, this novel junction layout caused a bit of head scratching due to its minimalist drawing. Options for the crossing had already been in a consultation for Connecting Woodside. However, there was another more detailed drawing for the new junction layout (PDF).

GoBike sent a letter of objection and received the following reply:

“In response to your comments regarding the desire line to travel north from Hopehill Road to Maryhill Road. I would advise that the design for the above junction does not prohibit cyclists wishing to travel, on the carriageway, from Hopehill Road northbound onto Maryhill Road. Cyclists wishing to travel on the carriageway are both encouraged and supported through the inclusion of Advanced Stop Lines (ASL) at all arms of the junction, to support their journey along either Maryhill Road or Hopehill Road.

Please note, whilst it is the objective of the proposed to improve the conditions for cycling on North Woodside Road and, encourage the uptake of cycling in the local area by introducing additional infrastructure that is suitable for use by all ages and abilities. It is not our objective to dissuade or restrict confident cyclists from using Maryhill Road to continue their journey and as such, we have incorporated dropped kerbs within the design of the junction to make this possible.

As you have stated, should cyclists ‘routinely ignore’ the TRO restricting their movements whilst on the proposed cycle crossing, this would be a matter for Police Scotland. As we advised previously, once approved, a TRO is a legal order and is enforceable by law. If you do however have concerns regarding the speed of vehicles travelling on Maryhill Road, or any of the surrounding roads, I would be happy to bring this to the attention of our Road Safety Team to investigate further.”

It remains to be seen how intuitive, or not, this new junction turns out to be. Also, whether Police Scotland take any more interest in anyone ignoring the rules than they do with cars parked in bike lanes. Further phases of Connecting Woodside or results of the city network plan may have a bearing on the junction in future.

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

The busy NCN path in Glasgow Green was recently kept open during the Euro 2020 Fanzone in the park. GoBike member Bob wrote to GCC about keeping access to the path in Glasgow Green while it holds the TRNSMT music festival (pronounced ‘Transmit’, kids). The last edition of the festival, in 2019, had closed the route with very poor signage of the diversion. This led to a previous petition about keeping NCN75 open.

The council’s (edited) reply:

“…closure and diversion of the NCR 75 will only take place on the ‘Live Concert’ dates of this event. That will be Thursday 9 September – Sunday 12 September (4 days in total) and that all other dates during the build and break for the event, the NCR 75 will in the main be remain open.

…I would also like to advise that more permanent signage is in place around the diversion routes which when required can be opened to ensure users have a clearly marked route to follow in both directions. These signs will be supplemented with additional free standing signage at some locations. I believe those measures are fair and reasonable for the short term diversion of the route which are in line with other diversionary arrangements.

Lastly I note your objections to any closures but I should can advise that those proposed are governed under the delegated powers granted to the City and managed by Neighbourhoods, Regeneration and Sustainability and are not by their duration subject to consultation.”

TRNSMT takes place from Friday 10 – Sunday 12 September 2021 but it sounds like NCN75 will close on Thursday 9 Sep, while they set up.

GoBike convenor Thomas posted a thread on Twitter with photos of the diversion route along Adelphi St to the St Andrews suspension bridge. It includes the Gorbals section of riverbank which collapsed in 2017 and remains fenced off. While passable, it’s not geared up for the level of pedestrian and cycle use NCN75 gets on an average weekend.

We’ll try to find out why NCN75 was open for the Fanzone but closed for TRNSMT.

3.5: Multiplex – Glasgow Uni campus newsletter

The latest update from the Glasgow Uni campus August 2021 newsletter. It sounds like people in the West End are due to see more activity during August as the foundations of the new Business School are laid.

The contact for the project has changed to Fergus Shaw. Best wishes to the previous contact Kieran Ronnie, who helped us with an issue with the temporary traffic lights on University Ave.

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

In Digest 91, Item 1.3, we covered the parking controls for Garnethill. GoBike member Tim sent an objection to the plans. He had a response from the council on some of the points raised:

“I can advise that to accommodate the number of resident permits that are purchased for the Garnethill area we could not reduce the number of parking bays in the Garnethill area.

Please note that the reduction in permit price is being proposed to bring the Garnethill zone in line with all other restricted/controlled parking zones out with the City Centre(excluding Hillhead).”

Garnethill is one block from Sauchiehall St so most people would probably think of it as part of the city centre. It is close to main bus routes, train and underground stations but didn’t get any Bikehangar secure cycle parking. It’s also close to a large motorway junction at Charing Cross, which may have a bearing on the number of cars in the area.

The response also repeated previous statements about Police Scotland ruling out contraflow cycling on one-way streets.

Glasgow City Council’s consultation on its Spaces for People projects is in its last few weeks. There are also consultations and feedback about a few projects in the city. Elsewhere, there’s SfP in East Ren, ‘Discussion’ in East Dunbartonshire and a new road and potential new paths for Lanarkshire.

Infrastructure works continue in Glasgow and beyond for temporary lanes, permanent routes and secure cycle storage. So, there’s another round-up…

Infrastructure Update

• Bunhouse Rd and Old Dumbarton Rd seem nearly complete while work continues on Benalder St and Ferry Rd (for Yorkhill & Kelvingrove Cycle Village).
• Finnieston saw its first on-street secure ‘bikehangars’ (by Cyclehoop) with more due in the Southside and elsewhere. However, some people questioned why the city centre, North and East End were less well covered.
• Royston Rd pop-up lane works continue – might be finished by the end of SfP consultation!
• Some of South Lanarkshire’s towns and villages get 20mph zones, like in Bothwell. The council have also introduced mandatory 20mph zones around schools.
• Strathclyde Park’s widened path is complete near the playpark. Also, the east gate on spine road has moved to allow car access to the Beach car park (while stopping through traffic).

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

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. Community Action Lanarkshire – Make Your Way surveys for Crawford + Elvanfoot, Glespin, Rigside + Douglas Water (ends 13 June)
2. Glasgow City Council – Maryhill Road/North Woodside Road/Hopehill Road (Traffic Regulation) Order (ends 18 June)
3. Glasgow City Council – Spaces for People survey (ends 20 June)
4. Waverley Park Collective – Liveable Streets Waverley Park (amended deadline: 21 June)
5. East Renfrewshire Council – Davieland Rd, Giffnock Spaces for People project
6. North Lanarkshire Council – East Airdrie Link Road, Stage 2 survey
7. East Dunbartonshire Council – Active Travel Discussion (ends 28 Sept)

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

None this time.

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

1. Glasgow City Council – Planning decision about site to the south of Crawford St/Rosevale St/Beith St
2. Dennistoun Community Council – Update on Spaces for People scheme
3. Urban Roots – Malls Mire newsletter May 2021
4. Multiplex – Glasgow Uni campus newsletter June 2021

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

1.1: Community Action Lanarkshire – Make Your Way surveys for Crawford + Elvanfoot, Glespin, Rigside + Douglas Water

The Make Your Way project looks at sustainable travel in rural South Lanarkshire. It started in 2016 creating active travel maps (see: www.makeyourwayclydesdale.com). Since then it has evolved to offer Bikeability training, wayfinding and infrastructure. Previous MYW consultations appeared in Digest 75, Item 1.3. These led to plans for active travel routes to connect villages to the nearby NCN74.

A new lot of villages is due to follow similar steps. Crawford and Elvanfoot are both next to NCN74, south of Biggar. Glespin is off to the west (past Douglas) and Rigside/Douglas Water are to the east (south of Lanark). Some of these places may be familiar from Cycling UK or other group rides. Find the surveys at the following links:

• Crawford and Elvanfoot survey (C+E under 16s survey).
• Glespin survey (Glespin under 16s survey).
• Rigside and Douglas Water survey (R+G under 16s survey).

Surveys are also available from the box outside Crawford Village Hall, Elvanfoot phonebox, Glespin Community Group (glespincommunitygroup@hotmail.com) and Atwal’s Rigside.

The above surveys close on Sunday 13 June.

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

It’s third time lucky to explain this novel junction proposal for Maryhill Rd, which was first covered in May. However, there had been an earlier Stage 1 process to which GoBike responded. Sadly, none of our suggestions were taken on board.

The key features appear to be: the middle crossing is for bikes only, it’s diagonal and it’s completely separate from the surrounding toucan crossings. The issue may be that anyone cycling across who turns onto Maryhill Rd could cut across the line of people walking on the crossings at each arm of the junction (on their own green man) potentially with cyclists coming from behind their shoulder. That seems to be why the council wants to ban left and right turns onto Maryhill Rd from the diagonal cycle-only crossing.

There are other diagonal bike crossings being installed as part of the protected junction layouts on Garscube Rd (for the same project, Connecting Woodside). However, the segregated cycle lanes there will make a big difference and reduce numbers cycling on the carriageway. There’s also the issue about how practical this prohibition might be – will people ignore the ban (or maybe use a toucan crossing to turn onto Maryhill Rd instead)?

Regardless, we have the above proposal and prohibition, which the latest GoBike response about Maryhill Rd TRO objects to. We await to see if there will be any constructive dialogue. The TRO files were in Digest 86, Item 1.1 and closing date is Friday 18 June.

1.3: Glasgow City Council – Spaces for People survey

This consultation covers every temporary Spaces for People project in the city. These have been grouped into headings like ‘City Centre‘, ‘Neighbourhoods‘, ‘School Car Free Zones‘ and ‘Pop-up Cycle Lanes‘. There’s a wide range from across the city, a few of which have been in place in some form for about a year now. In contrast, others are still being finished (like Royston Rd in the Update, above). The quality varies, particularly around junctions, but most make cycling or walking across the city a bit less stressful and more accessible.

Do we want to go back to life without them? If not, there are plenty of ‘Retain it’ checkboxes to tick in the GCC SfP survey (and boxes to comment in too).

A closing date has been announced – you have until Sunday 20 June.

1.4: Waverley Park Collective – Liveable Streets Waverley Park

We first covered this Southside neighbourhood project in Digest 81, Item 1.8. The Liveable Streets project is run by the Waverley Park Collective and had 650 contributors to that first stage. Great to see this from a grassroots group – the depth of consultation and engagement is something the city council could learn from.

The next stage is consulting about three design options to improve road safety. These would use different combinations of filters, traffic calming and ‘pinch points’ to slow down/re-route motor vehicles.

See the Waverley Park options page for summaries of the designs with sliders and comment boxes under each one to give feedback. One of which asks which street you live in so it’s obviously aimed at locals. There are also videos about the options and overall process. It looks like a lot of time and thought has gone into the options and the website.

There’s no obvious closing date but the last stage didn’t last too long.

1.5: East Renfrewshire Council – Davieland Rd, Giffnock Spaces for People project

This Spaces for People project aims to deal with road safety and accessibility issues from bad parking to speeding. As in Digest 87, 1.4, it’s about Davieland Rd next to Rouken Glen Park in Giffnock, East Renfrewshire.

It proposes temporary measures to protect pedestrian and cycling space while retaining car parking. It also has an eye on the future as well. The survey asks about future priorities as well as a reaction to the current proposal.

The background and survey are both on the Davieland Rd consultation page.

1.6: North Lanarkshire Council – East Airdrie Link Road, Stage 2 survey

This project first came up in Digest 56, Item 2.1 (when the planned workshops were cancelled due to COVID-19). It was formerly known as the Airdrie Bypass plan, which is pretty much what it does (to take through traffic away from Chapellhall and Airdrie). However, it will now also connect to the new Monklands Hospital when it’s built at Wester Moffat.

Stage 1 of the project considered various routes. Now, Stage 2 has a preferred route, which is the longest option (going furthest north towards Cumbernauld). There was a workshop about active travel on the route but very few details in this consultation.

See the East Airdrie Link Road, Stage 2 survey for maps and videos of the route to give feedback. No obvious closing date but detailed design is due to start in autumn 2021.

1.7: East Dunbartonshire Council – Active Travel Discussion

This wide-ranging project first appeared in Digest 86, 1.2. The ‘Ideas Map‘ for the East Dunbartonshire area has over 300 contributions so far.

There are a few more online consultation events this week (including tonight for Bearsden/Milngavie) then the rest in August/September. See a full list of events and background info on the Active Travel Discussion webpage. The closing date for the whole thing is 28 September.

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

None this time.

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

3.1: Glasgow City Council – Site to the south of Crawford Street/Rosevale Street /Beith Street planning decision

This development first got a mention in Digest 50, 3.7. The site is next to NCN 7 on the way into Partick. It’s since come back with the city council emailing GoBike about the latest planning decision (Planning Application Reference: 19/02063/PPP). It gives the go ahead for the flats despite local objections – no real surprises there.

However, it comes with a long list of recommendations, including making it a car free development. Also, point ‘p’ is about active travel routes:

“p. A survey of pedestrian and cycle movements on the part of National Cycle Route 7 that falls within the site and that immediately adjacent shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the planning authority. The survey shall identify any enhancements to the path required as part of the proposed development to accommodate increased cycle and pedestrian movements associated with the development. Where enhancements are required to maintain pedestrian and cyclist safety, these shall be specified in the survey report. The approved measures shall be completed before any of the dwellings are occupied.”

It’s rare for a UK planning decision to ask for active travel paths to be dealt with before people move in. Paths usually come well after the fact (if at all).

3.2: Dennistoun Community Council – Update on Spaces for People scheme

This detailed update by Dennistoun Community Council was posted in May. Apologies to GoBike member Wesley for its belated appearance in the Digest. Nonetheless, it gives an insight into what went wrong with the Spaces for People scheme in Dennistoun. It never was the ‘Low Traffic Neighbourhood’ the city council claimed as the design didn’t stop ‘through traffic’ (it only had one filter). Severe delays in installation, removing cycle contraflows and chopping/changing the layout (even before it was finished) managed to alienate almost everyone in the area.

What is left are a few one-ways and extended pavements near schools. These have settled down and seem to work reasonably well. However, it is a long way short of what it could have been. After this experience there are question marks about how locals might react to changes in future. It looks like we won’t have long to wait as Dennistoun has been named as part of a ‘Liveable Neighbourhood’ pilot area.

3.3: Urban Roots – Malls Mire newsletter May 2021

Malls Mire, between Toryglen and Rutherglen has been making steady progress since first appearing in Digest 74, 3.4. This latest Malls Mire newsletter has news about new paths and other greenspace work across the site.

3.4: Multiplex – Glasgow Uni campus newsletter June 2021

Also progressing, but with a lot more steel and concrete, is Glasgow Uni’s new campus development. They’re already on their June 2021 campus newsletter with news about what’s going in ‘University Square’ and their latest piles.

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.

In this Digest there are two projects by housing associations to improve active travel connections. The South Lanarkshire, (Y)our Districts and Woodside consultations are each from a wider ongoing series of events but could play a big part in shaping the areas they cover. Lastly there’s a follow-up about East Renfrewshire and a few newsletters.

If you’re in the city, see Andy’s three infrastructure routes around Glasgow to take in new 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.

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. North Ayrshire Council – Ardrossan Connections Project, closes 3 February
2. South Lanarkshire Council – Active travel online consultations, all close 8 February
3. Glasgow City Council – (Y)our Districts Online Ideas Workshops – ‘Learning Quarter’, rescheduled online sessions Thursday 18th February
4. Queens Cross Housing Association – Woodside Making Places: updated masterplan and online public meeting – 25 February

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

None

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

1. Fenwick Rd, East Refrewshire – online meeting follow-up
2. New Gorbals Housing Association – Planning application 20/03363/FUL
3. Sustrans – Glasgow Cycle Counters
4. Urban Roots – Malls Mire newsletter
5. Multiplex – Glasgow University campus newsletters
6. North Lanarkshire Council – Local Development Plan Progress Update

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

1.1: North Ayrshire Council – Ardrossan Connections Project (closes 3 February)

As covered in Digest 78, Sustrans are running a Commonplace consultation about Ardrossan town centre for North Ayrshire Council and Ardrossan Community Development Trust. This project seems to focus on the on-road bit between NCN73 and NCN753. If you know the area, see the Ardrossan Connections Commonplace map. You’ll need to be quick as it closes tomorrow, 3 February.

1.2: South Lanarkshire Council – Active travel online consultations (all close 8 February)

Not one but three consultations, as covered in Digest 78. They’re for Blantyre/Bothwell/Uddingston; Larkhall and Strathaven/Stonehouse (and surrounding villages). NCN74 passes through these towns (except Strathaven) on a mixture of roads and shared paths. None have segregated cycleways for bikes only. What routes could be upgraded and added on to form a network? This is a great chance to ask for improvements.

Strathaven has a former rail line going east-west behind Sainsbury’s which could make a great cycle path. Most routes in Stonehouse are on road, including NCN74. The A71 cuts off part of its former rail line but it does have others towards Strathaven, Larkhall and Blackwood. In Larkhall, NCN74 moves onto shared paths from the back of the town centre towards Ferniegair and Chatelherault Country Park.

Blantyre currently has a section of NCN74 alongside the East Kilbride Expressway and Glasgow Rd. The latter could easily be widened before the section through Stonefield Park. It then links Station Rd, Blantyre via the David Livingstone Bridge over the River Clyde to Station Rd, Bothwell. The ‘Nature Trail’ here shows what can be done with a former rail line. A new section of NCN74 is due to link from the Raith Interchange to Laighlands Rd, Bothwell. This section currently features a hay bale acting as a filter to stop drivers using the shared path as a rat run!

NCN74 continues into Uddingston on Wilkie Rd, where a new toucan crossing on Bellshill Rd has improved the route. It also links to NCN75, which goes past the train station and Uddingston Grammar School. SLC have already drawn up a network plan for Cambuslang and Newton after a similar consultation. That raised the prospect of finally re-routing NCN75 to avoid the climb up Westburn Rd – a missing link in the Clyde Walkway route that would benefit many, including local school children. Equally, a segregated route along Glasgow Rd from Uddingston towards Glasgow would be very popular.

See SLC’s active travel consultations page for links to each survey/map. You’ve got less than a week to respond – deadline for all three is 8 February.

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

GCC’s ongoing Districts consultations were recently mentioned in Digest 78. The planned ‘Learning Quarter’ workshops were postponed with a new date to follow.

The new workshops have been announced for Thursday 18th February. There’s an afternoon session (2–4pm) and an evening session (6–8pm) both using Zoom. 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 and the North Glasgow Strategic Development Plan.

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

The Woodside Making Places project last appeared in Digest 65. It covers an area around St George’s Rd, between Maryhill Rd and Garscube Rd. These are mainly residential streets with large blocks of low, mid and high rise flats (plus a few tenements). As well as the new segregated cycleway on St George’s Rd, crossings will be added on N Woodside Rd and other measures include gardens and outdoor play areas (there are three schools nearby).

GoBike received an email from the Making Places team:

“Plans to transform the landscape of Woodside have been advancing since the last phase of community consultation in Summer 2020, and you can now see on the updated Woodside Making Places website how the masterplan has evolved in response to your comments, as well as consultations with stakeholders and statutory bodies. 

Please explore the updated masterplan design – which you can now zoom-in to and post additional comments directly onto. Your ongoing comments are valued, and will help us to further refine the design; you can see how we have responded to those submitted during the previous stage.”

The masterplan design is on an interactive map site called Placechangers (similar to Commonplace/Placecheck). Early comments seem to be from residents about anti-social behaviour and other concerns with the current environment, rather than the future plans. It should make for an interesting online public meeting on Thursday 25th February.

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

None this time.

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

3.1: Fenwick Rd, East Refrewshire – online meeting follow-up

Digest 78 covered the Fenwick Rd situation in Giffnock . This meeting took place on 18 January, right before its issue, and some local GoBike members took part. The meeting’s chair was Eastwood MSP Jackson Carlaw, whose background as a car salesman didn’t inspire confidence. However, it did represent active travel issues as mentioned in his email response:

“A number of reasonable concerns were expressed, not about the principle of the temporary secure route but more specifically about its width and appearance and how it might subsequently be extended beyond Church Road. I am grateful for the constructive comments and suggestions from active cyclists in the immediate area who have been able to engage with neighbours and others locally. Having previously lived immediately adjacent to this scheme for some twelve years with young children, I do appreciate the various views.”

He mentions meeting Lorraine Macmillan, East Renfrewshire Council’s Chief Executive:

“I did feed in the positive support for safer streets initiatives, preferably segregated where possible, but noted the views expressed that when the temporary arrangements at Fenwick Road end and when a more permanent scheme might be considered, that this learn from the experience gained and views of those locally. I also noted the need to ensure that any proposal to extend the scheme should not prejudice local trading but ensure that this is secured together with the interests of all users.

I also took the opportunity to note the considerably increased wider cycling and pedestrian use of local streets over the last year which we have all witnessed. Some key routes which attract many are frankly not currently as safe or suitable as they might be at present. Making them so should be an objective for the immediate future. Many years ago (I am reaching back to the late 1960s here!) I can recall sections of Mearns Road being equally unsuitable and a solution achieved then was for a strip of land on the other side of the previous pavement/hedge boundary to be secured for pedestrians and cyclists. This may be a way forward and worth exploring on certain popular routes now.”

While we might not be asking Mr Carlaw for design tips, at least it’s a fairly pragmatic response and not the one-sided view it might have been. It remains to be seen how the rest of the Spaces for People trial progresses and what happens when it’s removed. You can still have your say on that – see ERC Spaces for People surveys. 

3.2: New Gorbals Housing Association – Planning application 20/03363/FUL

This came in from Tricia via a former colleague who writes: “New Gorbals Housing Association has submitted designs to create a pedestrian link by opening up a railway arch between Laurieston Road and Cleland Lane. It’s part of a phased project aimed at improving pedestrian connections and public realm in the area, including turning adjacent greenspace into a park and reducing the width of four-lane Laurieston Road. Acting alongside Network Rail, which has planning permission to introduce commercial uses to a set of arches at Cleland Lane, the latest proposal will establish an east-west link to Gorbals Street, augmented at a later date with new paving and street crossings.”

The arch is just past the Five Ways junction (Brazen Head) on the South City Way. While the link isn’t strictly a cycle route there could be benefits for cycling between Laurieston and the Gorbals. There seems to have been a short consultation period, which unfortunately closed for comments on Tuesday 26 January. See the archway plans on GCC’s Planning portal, where you should be able to follow its progress.

3.3: Sustrans – Glasgow Cycle Counters

GoBike member Peter has been in touch with Sustrans about cycle counters over the past few months. Glasgow has had two public counters (with the digital numbers, etc.) for a number of years. The one at Glasgow Green (near Saltmarket) has been setting record-breaking figures throughout 2020. The other, at the spiral on the West City Way, hasn’t been counting anything for the past few years since it stopped working. The expectation was a new counter would appear elsewhere to replace it.

That is happening but we’re getting two new counters – one for the WCW counter and another to replace the current Glasgow Green counter. According to a reply from Sustrans:

“Further to your email below I can confirm that the two replacement cycle counters were installed in the following locations: 

1. NCN75 at St. Andrew’s Suspension Bridge 
2. NCN75 at Cuningar Loop Footbridge.”

Assuming the first location is on the north bank, that is a very busy path. However, not everyone would use it depending on where they were going in the East End. Whereas most of Glasgow cycled on the path near Saltmarket at one time or another last year.

The second location needs a bit of explaining. Cuningar Park (not officially a ‘Loop’ anymore) is on the Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire side of the Clyde. After the Commonwealth Games the footbridge linked it to the former Athletes Village in Dalmarnock. While more people discovered the park during lockdown in 2020 it’s still a bit obscure. A lot more people might use it if the bridge actually linked directly to NCN75 below it, but it doesn’t (although there is a way to get there round the houses, literally). If the counter is actually on the NCN/Clyde Walkway itself, near the bridge, then it makes a bit more sense.

If any of you have seen these in the wild, feel free to tweet/send in photos of how the figures are doing. Meanwhile, we wish the Glasgow Green/Saltmarket counter a well earned rest and a happy retirement!

3.4: Urban Roots – Malls Mire newsletter

We featured the first issue of the Malls Mire newsletter in Digest 74. The January 2021 issue has a rough timetable for the project with milestones to look forward to in spring and summer. The rest is about NatureScot (formerly Scottish Natural Heritage) and Urban Roots themselves. The area looks like it could shape up to be a nice link between Toryglen and Rutherglen.

3.5: Multiplex – Glasgow University campus newsletters

Your editor forgot to include Multiplex’s January newsletter (mainly about traffic management). So, it’s a double helping of Glasgow Uni campus news (four whole pages!). However, their February issue contains drainage works (from January) and a building named ARC (about 20 years after the Glasgow Caley ARC building). Where would we be without these West End avant garde types, eh?

3.6: North Lanarkshire Council – Local Development Plan Progress Update

GoBike received a brief update from North Lanarkshire Council:

“Our Local Development Plan – Modified Proposed Plan is currently progressing through the Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) examination process.

The DPEA have made a number of requests for further information. We are working to provide all information requested, meantime you can follow progress online.”

Just in case you were wondering how the plan was doing; now you know.