Town centres dominate this issue – one in South Lanarkshire (visualisation in featured image, above) and no less than eight in East Renfrewshire! Elsewhere, North Lanarkshire’s consultations continue and South Ayrshire looks at car parking. Glasgow has a few projects in both the West End and in the north of the city – one of the latter links with East Dunbartonshire.

On 26 March a vigil was held for Una Brandreth, who was killed while cycling in Bearsden a week before. The petition to improve road safety in the area now has over 2,000 signatures.

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

1.1: North Woodside Road (Outdoor Public Space)

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: This started as an idea from Websters Theatre for a temporary public events space in the cul-de-sac outside their building. It was put forward for a council programme called Animating Spaces but has since become part of the wider Connecting Woodside project. The latest plans feature a path, dropped kerb, cycle hire station and rain garden. The street is a useful link between the Kelvin Way and Great Western Road (and doesn’t currently have a drop kerb). While the plan might seem modest, removing two car parking spaces to fit it in might still get a negative reaction from some in the West End.
Featured: Digest 75, 1.1 (originally as “Websters Theatre – A New Public Space at Kelvinbridge”).
Website links: N Woodside Rd storymap and N Woodside Rd survey
Deadline: 12 April 2024.

1.2: Conservation Area Consultations (Coatbridge/Cumbernauld)

Council: North Lanarkshire.
Subject: Two consultations about lesser known Conservation Areas. The Coatbridge one is either side of Blairhill train station and the other is in Cumbernauld Village (the original settlement north of the town centre). While not directly related to cycling, the last few survey questions mention traffic and development.
Website links: Coatbridge: Blairhill and Dunbeth Conservation Area Consultation and Cumbernauld Village Conservation Area Consultation.
Deadline: 12 April 2024.

1.3: A803 Stage 2

Council: East Dunbartonshire (and Glasgow CC/City Deal).
Subject: The A803 includes Springburn Rd and Kirkintilloch Rd between North Glasgow and Bishopbriggs. Consultation in 2022 (with Atkins) led to three route options (by Arcadia).
Option 1 – bus lanes (mostly southbound) with nothing for cycling.
Option 2 – some southbound bus lanes and a shared path for walking/cycling. Except near Bishopbriggs town centre it zigzags off into a ‘quietway’ cycle route. Then back to a shared path before it gives up at Hawthorn St.
Option 3 – some sections of 2-way cycleway in north Bishopbriggs then shared path/quietway again until Hawthorn St (where it “will tie into a proposed cycle route that Glasgow City Council is developing”). However, what would happen in the meantime? Alternatives would include using grass verges/upgrading existing paths or actually taking road space from the A803 dual carriageway. However, EDC doesn’t offer those options.
A drop-in event has already taken place.
Website links: A803 Stage 2 storymap and A803 public consultation page (with downloads of plans for Option 1, Option 2 and Option 3).
Deadline: 21 April 2024.

1.4: Hamilton Town Centre Masterplan

Council: South Lanarkshire.
Subject: One of Scotland’s biggest towns gets a radical rethink to reduce retail and reintroduce residences. The same team who did East Kilbride’s plans are looking at potential demolition of both the New Cross and Regent shopping centres (and maybe the former Baird’s and M&S buildings). However, initial plans keep the 4/5-lane A723 around the south-eastern edge of the town centre, which severs it from neighbouring areas (Barncluith and Silvertonhill). The Masterplan material mentions active travel but very few images have cycle lanes. There are some inventive ideas but many cluttered shared spaces, which could do with some kind of segregation (like rows of trees, to take inspiration from the historic ‘Great Avenue’). The only current cycle route in the town centre (between Hamilton Central station and Strathclyde Park) is mostly paint, except a short stretch of shared path on Leechlee Rd protected by a hedge. The masterplan process is a golden opportunity to push for cycleways like recent ones in Glasgow or East Kilbride town centre.
Drop-in events (remaining):
4 April, 10am–4pm – Former Quiz shop unit, Regent Shopping Centre (Regent Way).
5 April, 10am–4pm – Asda, Palace Grounds.
Website links: South Lanarkshire View article, Hamilton Masterplan website and Hamilton Masterplan survey.
Deadline: 28 Apr 2024.

1.5: Connecting Yorkhill and Kelvingrove

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: Former ‘Cycling Village’ bid by YoKeCoCo (big Sustrans funding winner back in 2019). Since the pandemic it’s been rebranded as a GCC ‘Connecting…’ project.
Phase 1 – Yorkhill North includes previous plans for Radnor St, Haugh Rd, Gilbert St and Sandyford St (between Kelvin Way and SWG3). Another 2-way cycleway up Yorkhill St would link to infrastructure on Old Dumbarton Rd (behind the Kelvin Hall).
Phase 2 – widen footways along Kelvinhaugh St and add 1-way cycleways at the wide Argyle St junction.
Phase 3 – add bidirectional cycleways on Derby St to link from Kelvinhaugh St, across Argyle St and Sauchiehall St, to Kelvingrove Park.
Phase 4 – look at Corunna Street and Minerva Street (near Exhibition Centre train station). Also, there will be changes to car parking provision to better match the number of spaces and permit holders (currently two of the latter on Kelvinhaugh St for 203 spaces!).
Drop-in event: Thursday 18 April 2024 at 3.30–7pm in The Pyramid at Anderston, 759 Argyle Street, Glasgow G3 8DS.
See below for related Liveable Neighbourhoods projects and Traffic Regulation Order.
Website links: Connecting Y&K storymap and Connecting Y&K survey.
Deadline: 28 Apr 2024.

1.6: Yorkhill to Anderston: Liveable Neighbourhoods

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: The above Connecting Yorkhill and Kelvingrove work means the Liveable Neighbourhoods projects focus on Anderston (and part of Sandyford). These include adding some cycleways to the West City Way and tweaks to other sections. So, there’s a new cycleway for the quieter bit of Argyle St between the Buttery and Pyramid, near St Patrick’s Primary School. Some raised tables removed and the Elderslie St/Argyle St corner is remodelled. New 1-way cycleways go north of St Vincent St with a revised crossing on Elderslie St. Also, Kent Rd would get a 1-way section and some greenery. However, there are no upgrades for Berkeley St – the bus boarder and junctions at Elderslie St and Claremont St (near the Gaelic School) are untouched. North Claremont St is still disrupted by building work but it’s hard to follow the logic of the rest. Hopefully, the joint consultation event will provide some answers (18 April, as above). Also, these works raise questions about the level of provision in other LN areas.
Website links: Yorkhill–Anderston LN storymap, Anderston LN survey and Yorkhill to Anderston consultation (on GCC’s LN webpage).
Deadline: 28 Apr 2024.

1.7: Prestwick parking consultation 2024

Organisation: Ayrshire Roads Alliance (on behalf of South Ayrshire Council).
Subject: Proposals to add further streets to an existing residents car parking permit scheme around Main Street, Prestwick. The new town centre streets added at the northern end of the area include Berelands Road, Mieklewood Avenue and Links Road. The latter is part of NCN7, along with Station Rd and Kirk St.
Website links: Prestwick parking consultation webpage.
Deadline: 03 May 2024.

1.8: East Renfrewshire Town Centres

Council: East Renfrewshire.
Subject: Further consultation about eight East Ren town centres: Clarkston, Eaglesham, Giffnock, Barrhead, Busby, Neilston, Newton Mearns and Thornliebank. The last phase collected suggestions about changes to each place. Some of the most popular options are now available to choose in ‘Final verification surveys’. Questions are grouped under headings: ‘Roads, transportation and active travel’, ‘Buildings, retail and meeting spaces’ and ‘Green space and path networks’.
Featured: Digest 121, 1.14 (and 112).
Website links: East Renfrewshire Town Centres Commonplace site.
Deadline: 05 May 2024.

1.9: Flourishing Molendinar

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: A project started by St Paul’s Youth Forum and their On Bikes team. Their original base is on Langdale St, Blackhill which had one of the first Spaces for People streets created during lockdown. More SfP streets followed on Royston Rd, Provanmill Rd and Cumbernauld Rd before the wider project was taken over by Glasgow City Council. These (very) detailed draft plans would make those protected lanes permanent and add a new public space in the middle of Langdale St (on a block with no houses facing onto it). Also, they’d add crucial connections to places like Smithycroft High School, taming junction 12 of the M8 motorway in the process.
Public Drop in Events: Wednesday 24 / Thursday 25 April 2024, 3pm – 7pm.
Molendinar Community Centre, 1210 Royston Road, Glasgow G33 1HE
Website links: FloMo poster, FloMo plans sheet 1, FloMo plans sheet 2 and FloMo plans sheet 3.
Deadline: 13 May 2024.

Section 2: Consultation Feedback

2.1: South Lanarkshire Cycling Partnership meeting – 25 March 2024

Subject: SLCP members include councillors, officers and external groups like Sustrans, Camglen Bike Town and GoBike. The main presentation was about the finished active travel studies for Clydesdale (split into three areas). The council now has active travel studies covering the whole of South Lanarkshire.
The other main presentation was about funding changes – Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) has had its capital budget cut to zero. Also, funding that used to come via Sustrans is changing to direct funding from Transport Scotland. This has affected some ongoing projects but it looks like TS funding may go towards work around the new Hairmyres station (which goes to planning soon).
Updates included Bike Town planning expansion into East Kilbride, following their work there on bikes for refugees (with EK Integration Network) and tours of the new cycling infrastructure.
Also, some success for GoBike – following consultation, SLC are looking at an alternative route up from the Raith Interchange on Laighlands Rd/Bothwellpark Rd (instead of the steeper Langside Rd).

Section 3: Proposed Traffic Regulation Orders

3.1: East Dunbartonshire TROs

Subject: Order about disabled car parking spaces.
Website links: East Dunbartonshire TROs.

3.2: Glasgow City TROs and Traffic Calming

Subject: Traffic order for North Hanover St and Kyle St – in advance of works for the Avenues project. TRO plans show 2-way lanes are due to go on the eastern side of N Hanover St then a diagonal crossing will take them to the northern side of Kyle St (to connect with the new Sighthill bridge). A GoBike response raised several issues, especially about junctions/future connections including George Sq, Cathedral St, Cowcaddens Rd and Dobbies Loan. The GCC response answered some of our points but seemed to misinterpret others. Unfortunately, as GoBike are still quite stretched, we didn’t manage to get back to them before the public TRO went out. Deadline: 19 April 2024.
Other ongoing TRO consultations include Yorkhill Area/Radnor St and Duke St/John Knox St. The page also lists recent ‘made’ orders for St George’s St/Clarendon Place and the North East Active Travel Routes (NEATR).
Website links: GCC Proposed Traffic Regulation Orders and GCC Proposed Traffic Calming Schemes.

3.3: North Lanarkshire TROs

Subject: Changes to restrictions in Airdrie at the pedestrianised part of Graham St and on Wellwynd (next to New Wellwynd Parish Church). Deadline: 19 April 2024.
Website links: Graham Street and Wellwynd, Airdrie – Traffic Regulation (Consolidation) Variation Order.

Last call for a few Liveable Neighbourhood consultations. There’s a bit longer for Castle Semple at Lochwinnoch. Also, a skatepark proposal re-emerges under the M74.

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

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. Liveable Neighbourhoods – Yoker to Whiteinch
2. Liveable Neighbourhoods – Royston to Hogganfield
3. Castle Semple Country Park Vision
4. Devon Street Urban Park

Section 2: Consultation Feedback

1. Local Development Plan Newsletter 71

Section 3: TROs

1. East Dunbartonshire TROs
2. Glasgow City TROs

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

1.1: Liveable Neighbourhoods – Yoker to Whiteinch

Council: Glasgow City.
Areas: Yoker, Scotstoun, Jordanhill and Whiteinch.
Subject: A Liveable Neighbourhoods area in the north-west of the city. These areas featured in a recent cycling video by John Munro of Birmingham University. Within it, he highlighted the gap in cycling provision between the end of the old railway path at South St and the busy Thornwood Roundabout on Dumbarton Rd. Meanwhile, the former Jordanhill Training College site is one of the bigger new housing developments in the wider area. The MyGLN website seems to have been set up for this Liveable Neighbourhood and Royston to Hogganfield. It’s run by the companies Mott MacDonald, Urban Movement and New Practice. The latter recently paid tribute to Emma Newman on Twitter.
Website links: Yoker to Whiteinch LN consultation page.
Deadline: 19 March 2023.

1.2: Liveable Neighbourhoods – Royston to Hogganfield

Council: Glasgow City.
Areas: Royston, Sighthill, Germiston, Blackhill and Hogganfield.
Subject: Neighbourhoods in the north-east of the city between the M8 and the railway. Furthest west is Sighthill, which is nearing completion after a total rebuild in the last few years. East of Springburn Road are Royston and Germiston and their main street, Royston Rd. It hasn’t got any cycling infrastructure on the flat but was the subject of a project by Rosemount Development Trust in 2021. Where Royston Rd climbs up to Blackhill there’s the Spaces for People cycle lanes. Another project, Flourishing Molendinar, have big plans for Blackhill, Cumbernauld Rd (by Hogganfield Park) and the bridge to Smithycroft/Riddrie. Hogganfield Loch is part of the Seven Lochs Wetland Park (PDF map). So, better links to the rest of Glasgow would have wider benefits for people going to/from North Lanarkshire.
Website links: Royston to Hogganfield LN consultation page.
Deadline: 19 March 2023.

1.3: Castle Semple Country Park Vision

Council: Renfrewshire.
Area: Castle Semple Country Park, Lochwinnoch.
Subject: “Local residents and businesses are being invited to share their views on the tourism potential of Castle Semple Country Park in Lochwinnoch.” Active travel and a possible cycle hub are included in the survey questions. NCN7 runs past the loch on a former railway line, linking to Kilburnie, Johnstone and Paisley. However, active travel access between the park and other places, like Howwood, can be a bit patchy. The ‘virtual consultation event’ is similar to a previous one for Make Your Way.
Website links: Castle Semple virtual consultation.
Deadline: 26 March 2023.

1.4: Devon Street Urban Park

Organisation: Glasgow Urban Sports (GUS).
Area: Southside between Eglinton St and Pollokshaws Rd.
Subject: Formerly GUS M74, now revised and renamed… “The Devon Street Urban Park project is a proposal from Glasgow Urban Sports (GUS), a community led organisation, that aims to transform an unused area of land under the canopy of the M74 motorway, on the southside of Glasgow, to create a new public urban park and community leisure space.” While the project still involves building a skatepark it seems to have broadened out a bit to gain more community support. There are new partner organisations on board and a new survey to fill in.
Featured: Digest 92, Item 1.14.
Website links: Devon St survey, new GUS website.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

2: Consultation Feedback

2.1: Local Development Plan Newsletter 71

Council: East Dunbartonshire.
Subject: Updates related to EDC’s LDP2 (which is already approved and adopted). Only two this time but both of interest for active travel – one is EDC’s take on National Planning Framework 4. The other is a webpage for EDC’s upcoming Active Travel Strategy with plenty of evidence from previous consultation.
Website links: LDP Newsletter 71.

3: Proposed Traffic Regulation Orders

3.1: East Dunbartonshire TROs

Areas: Bearsden, Bishopbriggs, Clachan of Campsie and Kirkintilloch.
Subject: Orders about parking restrictions, electric charging and speed limits.
Website links: East Dunbartonshire TROs.

3.2: Glasgow City Traffic Calming/TROs

Areas: City-wide.
Subject: TROs: Raeberry St stopping up order is out for consultation until 24 March 2023.
Traffic calming: Three current schemes for Greenfield Avenue/Inveresk St, Waulkglen Road and Boghall Road.
Website links: Glasgow City Proposed TROs, Glasgow City Proposed Traffic Calming Schemes.

After the recent wave of consultations things have calmed down a bit. There’s a new consultation for Castle Semple Country Park in Renfrewshire. Also, something on the horizon for a roundabout junction in Pollok.

It’s the last call for Glasgow’s District consultations and one in Lanarkshire. The Southside Liveable Neighbourhoods consultations have finished but there’s a few more weeks for the north-west and north-east LNs.

Forthcoming consultations

Barrhead Road/Peat Road/Brockburn Road/Braidcraft Road roundabout junction

This busy, car dominated junction is north-west of Silverburn shopping centre. Initial plans were shared by a Greater Pollok councillor as mobile phone screenshots on Facebook. They’re a bit hard to see but there are no obvious active travel links. She suggests there could be a consultation in early March (or April) but no sign so far.

1: Current Consultations

1. North East Districts: Townhead, Cowcaddens, Learning Quarter and Merchant City DRF
2. NCN74 Uddingston to Bothwell realignment
3. Liveable Neighbourhoods – Yoker to Whiteinch
4. Liveable Neighbourhoods – Royston to Hogganfield
5. Castle Semple Country Park Vision

2: Consultation Feedback

1. Accessible and Inclusive Design Forum – committee report

3: Proposed Traffic Calming/Traffic Regulation Orders

1. East Dunbartonshire TROs
2. Glasgow City TROs

1: Current Consultations
(in date order for responses)

1.1: North East Districts: Townhead, Cowcaddens, Learning Quarter and Merchant City DRF

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: District Regeneration Frameworks for four areas in the north-east of the city centre. These were developed by teams of European and local consultants after previous consultation in late 2020. Each document has a comprehensive plan for its area (50+ pages). These include some fairly radical changes, especially around the M8. Also, there is a refreshing focus on opening up active travel routes through current barriers (improving permeability). However, these may be challenging to deliver. So, a show of support in the consultation should help make the case stronger.
Website links: North-East Districts survey, North-East Districts Combined Regeneration Handbook, Cowcaddens Regeneration Handbook, ‘Learning Quarter’ Regeneration Handbook, Merchant City Regeneration Handbook, Townhead Regeneration Handbook.
Deadline: 3 March 2023.

1.2: NCN74 Uddingston to Bothwell realignment

Council: South Lanarkshire.
Subject: A long-awaited consultation about plans to divert a section of NCN74 at Strathclyde Park. The current route loops up the (steep) Furlongs, onto Bothwell Rd, up alongside the East Kilbride Expressway to Glasgow Rd, down Station Rd in Blantyre to the pedestrian bridge and up to Station Rd in Bothwell. These proposals would change this to a much more direct route from the Raith Interchange, up the steep, pot-holed Langside Rd and across the busy Hamilton Rd on the way to Station Rd. There’s a potential alternative to SLC’s plans (slightly longer but less steep/busy) by turning right onto Laighlands Rd/Bothwellpark Rd then across to Olifard Ave/Appledore Cres. Also, there’s the question of conflict with pedestrians past Strathclyde Park loch. Elsewhere, the survey has two options to transform the approach to Uddingston train station and some other welcome junction improvements.
Website links: Uddingston to Bothwell survey.
Deadline: 6 March 2023.

1.3: Liveable Neighbourhoods – Yoker to Whiteinch

Council: Glasgow City.
Areas: Yoker, Scotstoun, Jordanhill and Whiteinch.
Subject: A Liveable Neighbourhoods area in the north-west of the city. These areas featured in a recent cycling video by John Munro of Birmingham University. Within it, he highlighted the gap in cycling provision between the end of the old railway path at South St and the busy Thornwood Roundabout on Dumbarton Rd. Meanwhile, the former Jordanhill Training College site is one of the bigger new housing developments in the wider area. The MyGLN website seems to have been set up for this Liveable Neighbourhood and Royston to Hogganfield. It’s run by the companies Mott MacDonald, Urban Movement and New Practice. The latter recently paid tribute to Emma Newman on Twitter.
Website links: Yoker to Whiteinch LN consultation page.
Deadline: 19 March 2023.

1.4: Liveable Neighbourhoods – Royston to Hogganfield

Council: Glasgow City.
Areas: Royston, Sighthill, Germiston, Blackhill and Hogganfield.
Subject: Neighbourhoods in the north-east of the city between the M8 and the railway. Furthest west is Sighthill, which is nearing completion after a total rebuilt in the last few years. East of Springburn Road are Royston and Germiston and their main street, Royston Rd. It hasn’t got any cycling infrastructure on the flat but was the subject of a project by Rosemount Development Trust in 2021. Where Royston Rd climbs up to Blackhill there’s the Spaces for People cycle lanes. Another project, Flourishing Molendinar, have big plans for Blackhill, Cumbernauld Rd (by Hogganfield Park) and the bridge to Smithycroft/Riddrie. Hogganfield Loch is part of the Seven Lochs Wetland Park (PDF map). So, better links to the rest of Glasgow would have wider benefits for people going to/from North Lanarkshire.
Website links: Royston to Hogganfield LN consultation page.
Deadline: 19 March 2023.

1.5: Castle Semple Country Park Vision

Council: Renfrewshire.
Area: Castle Semple Country Park, Lochwinnoch.
Subject: “Local residents and businesses are being invited to share their views on the tourism potential of Castle Semple Country Park in Lochwinnoch.” Active travel and a possible cycle hub are included in the survey questions. NCN7 runs past the loch on a former railway line, linking to Kilburnie, Johnstone and Paisley. However, active travel access between the park and other places, like Howwood, can be a bit patchy. The ‘virtual consultation event’ is similar to a previous one for Make Your Way.
Website links: Castle Semple virtual consultation.
Deadline: 26 March 2023.

2: Consultation Feedback

2.1: Accessible and Inclusive Design Forum – committee report

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: Originally called the Accessible Design Forum, this group was set up in the wake of concerns about the new Sauchiehall Avenue. It’s meant to be a platform for disability and active travel organisations to discuss upcoming plans. A report to GCC’s City Policy committee summarises its first few meetings and next steps. One of the key areas under discussion are so-called ‘floating bus stops’. These avoid conflict between buses and people cycling by putting segregated cycle lanes behind bus stops. Pedestrians cross to the bus stop island by a short mini-zebra. However, groups for visually impaired people say the use of uncontrolled crossings makes bus stops inaccessible for blind people. There are already floating bus stops on the South City Way and Garscube Rd with more due to follow in future projects. The same committee also heard updates on George Square/Avenues and the Clyde Metro.
Website links: AIDF report for City Policy committee.

3: Proposed Traffic Regulation Orders

3.1: East Dunbartonshire TROs

Areas: Bearsden, Bishopbriggs and Kirkintilloch.
Subject: Orders about parking restrictions, electric charging and speed limits.
Website links:East Dunbartonshire TROs.

3.2: Glasgow City Traffic Calming/TROs

Areas: City-wide.
Subject:TROs: Raeberry St stopping up order is out for consultation until 24 March 2023.
Traffic calming: Three current schemes for Greenfield Avenue/Inveresk St, Waulkglen Road and Boghall Road.
Website links:Glasgow City Proposed TROs, Glasgow City Proposed Traffic Calming Schemes.

Cycle parking is one of the topics in this Digest – the bike park inside Cadogan Square multi-storey car park (pictured, above) says something about the state of current facilities. Also, it contrasts with some of the points in Glasgow’s latest consultations; including about where cycling really sits in the transport hierarchy.

As shared paths are blocked around that big climate conference, there are question marks about whether the message on sustainable transport will get through. Drafts of two major strategies could set the tone for Glasgow in the next decade – both the Active Travel Strategy and Transport Strategy just happen to be out for consultation during COP26.

There are seven consultations for neighbouring areas but Glasgow will be hogging the headlines for the next few weeks. GoBike is running a ‘feeder ride’ from Lanarkshire in to the main climate demo on Sat 6 November. See other rides from around the city and beyond on Pedal on Parliament’s COP26 feeder rides page.

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

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. Cardonald Area TRO
2. Secure City Centre Cycle Parking Survey (deadline extended)
3. Milngavie TRO – Waiting & Loading Restrictions
4. Make Your Way: Key Links pathways
5. Draft Active Travel Strategy (GCC)
6. Nitshill Road (40mph Speed Limit) Amendment Order
7. Draft Glasgow Transport Strategy: framework
8. Draft Parking Management Plan (EDC)
9. Ayr Road (South) Active Travel Improvements 
10. Langside to Toryglen Liveable Neighbourhoods
11. Ruchill to Cowlairs Liveable Neighbourhoods
12. Ayr Road (North): Spaces for People, Phase 2
13. Tarbet to Inverarnan A82 road/active travel improvements
14. Helensburgh to Garelochhead active travel route
15. Rethink Glasgow

Section 2: Consultation Feedback

1. COP26 Active Travel route closures
2. St Andrews Drive (Sustainable Transport) Order 2021
3. Glasgow Uni Campus newsletter

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

1.1: Cardonald Area TRO

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: Cardonald, south-west Glasgow.
Subject: One-way streets, filters and parking restrictions near Cardonald train station, Lourdes Secondary School and elsewhere.
Website links: Cardonald press notice, Cardonald report, Forfar Ave/Kinross Ave map, Kingsland Drive map, Lintlaw Drive map and Tarfside Ave map.
Deadline: 29 October.

1.2: Secure City Centre Cycle Parking Survey

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: Secure cycle parking at city centre employers and travel hubs. These would include the main rail stations at Central and Queen St, as well as Buchanan Bus Station.
First covered: Digest 94, Item 1.10.
Website link: GCC city centre cycle parking consultation page and cycle parking survey. 
Deadline: EXTENDED – 1 November.

1.3: Stewart Street Car Parks, Milngavie TRO – Waiting & Loading Restrictions

Council: East Dunbartonshire.
Area: Milngavie.
Subject: Removing waiting restrictions at a town centre car park.
First covered: Digest 96, Item 1.3.
Website links: Stewart St Car Parks map, Notice for Revocation Of No Waiting – Stewart St Car Parks, Stewart St draft order and the 2013 Order.
Deadline: 1 November.

1.4: Make Your Way: Key Links pathways

Organisation: Community Action Lanarkshire.
Area: Douglas & Leadhills/Wanlockhead, rural South Lanarkshire (and Dumfries & Galloway). 
Subject: Shared use pathways between Douglas to NCN74 and Leadhills–Wanlockhead. Outdoor events in the local areas from 20–28 Oct.
First covered: Digest 75, 1.3.
Website links: Make Your Way Douglas, Leadhills and Wanlockhead article (for link to online survey). 
Deadline: 1 November.

1.5: Draft Active Travel Strategy

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: Active Travel Strategy to replace the previous Cycling Strategy. “The draft Active Travel Strategy and the Liveable Neighbourhoods Plan are both part of a suite of transport related plans and documents which will create a modern, resilient and sustainable transport system for Glasgow.”
First covered: Digest 97, 1.5.
Website links: GCC Active Travel info and downloads and GCC Active Travel Survey.  There’s also, an Active Travel ‘Storymap’ and now a CommonPlace map for the proposed city network. 
Deadline: 22 November (not 24th as previously stated).

1.6: Nitshill Road (40mph Speed Limit) Amendment Order

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: South-west Glasgow.
Subject: A few 40mph signs to be moved on Nitshill Rd to allow for the entrance to a new development. Usual reason given: ‘For preserving or improving the amenities of the area through which the road runs’.
Website links: Nitshill Rd map, Nitshill Rd report, Nitshill Rd press notice.
Deadline: 22 November.

1.7: Draft Glasgow Transport Strategy: Framework

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: “The new transport strategy will be city-wide, and provide a framework for investment and decision-making on transport issues up to 2030.” Note: specific transport projects won’t be covered until the ‘Glasgow Transport Strategy: Spatial Delivery Framework’ in 2022. Also, GCC say it links in with City Centre Transformation plan.
Website links: Glasgow Transport Strategy page, Draft framework document (39MB!), GTS ‘Story Map’ (some parts load slowly or are broken), GTS online survey.
Deadline: 26 November.

1.8: Draft Parking Management Plan

Council: East Dunbartonshire.
Subject: A “coordinated, operational plan for parking management.”
First covered: Digest 97, Item 1.6.
Website links: Draft parking management plan consultation page and survey.
Deadline: 30 November.

1.9: 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.
First covered: Digest 97, Item 1.7.
Website link: ERC Ayr Road South consultation page.
Deadline: 24 December.

1.10: Langside to Toryglen Liveable Neighbourhoods consultation

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: “Liveable Neighbourhoods will be accessible and healthy places that allow people of all ages and abilities, to play and socialise outdoors in their local area, as well as making walking, cycling and public transport the first choice.”
First covered: Digest 96, 1.4.
Website link: Langside to Toryglen LN Commonplace map.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

1.11: Ruchill to Cowlairs Liveable Neighbourhood consultation

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: From Ruchill (at edge of Maryhill) across Possilpark, Hamiltonhill, Rockvilla, Craighall, Keppochhill and Port Dundas to Cowlairs (plus Sighthill Park).
Subject: As above. See also GCC’s Liveable Neighbourhoods overview and Urban Big Data Centre’s article for further background.
First covered: Digest 96, 1.5.
Website link: Ruchill to Cowlairs LN Commonplace map.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

1.12: Ayr Road (North): 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.

1.13: Tarbet to Inverarnan A82 road/active travel improvements

Organisation: Transport Scotland.
Area: Loch Lomond north west shore (A82) in Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park.
Subject: New shared path added to re-aligned/improved A82. Scenic route north from Tarbet to Inverarnan (at head of Loch Lomond).
First covered: Digest 97, Item 1.11.
Website link: Tarbet to Inverarnan ‘storymap’.
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 covered: Digest 95, 1.5.
Website link: Helensburgh to Garelochhead active travel consultation.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

1.15: 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”.
First covered: Digest 95, 1.6.
Website link: Rethink Glasgow, Commonplace site.
Deadline: No obvious deadline. 

Section 2: Consultation Feedback

2.1: COP26 Active Travel route closures

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: NCN7/Clyde Walkway (Riverside to Lancefield Quay), West City Way (bridge over M8), Finnieston, etc.
Subject: The ongoing saga of active travel diversion routes for COP26. GoBike (and a few GCC councillors) have sent several messages to Get Ready Glasgow without getting many in return. See our recent post for further information. The quality of much of the signage, paths, ramps and segregation on the diversion routes leaves a lot to be desired. While there have been a few minor improvements, routes have been further chopped and changed by the council. The best way to keep up-to-date is to check GoBike’s social media.
First covered: Digest 94, Item 1.2.
Website links: GoBike on Facebook/GoBike on Twitter.

2.2: St Andrews Drive (Sustainable Transport) Order 2021

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: St Andrews Drive from Shields Rd to Pollok Country Park.
Subject: Parking and other restrictions to pave the way for the extension to the South West City Way. This is due to be a ‘soft segregated’ route along similar lines to Wallacewell Rd in the north-east of the city (see photos in info page).
First covered: Digest Extra Nov 2019.
Website links: SWCW Extension info page, GoBike response (Digest 85, 3.2).

2.3: Glasgow Uni Campus newsletter

Organisation: Multiplex.
Area: Glasgow Uni Campus.
Subject: Ongoing redevelopment of uni buildings and public spaces between Byres Rd/Church St and Kelvingrove Park.
Website links: October newsletter.

Last week saw ice return to Glasgow. At the same time the focus of getting Glaswgians to participate in active travel seemed to go out of the window. Footpath and cycle lanes were ice rinks. In the light of lots of disquiet from our members about the unjust priorities the council have set for gritting, we have decided it is time for action.

Priorities

Glasgow City Council are actively encouraging people to move from private cars to active travel. This would appear to be only for those days where ice is not forecast. On those days it would appear that the priority is to get the cars moving around Glasgow.

Many of our members tweeted the dire conditions they faced while trying to undertake their daily commute.

Leaving the bike and walking wasn’t really an option either. Those on foot were not fairing much better. Many had to resort to walking on the gritted roads as the foot ways were unsafe.

It seems unfair to encourage people to move from their car to walking or cycling, then abandon them as soon as the ice comes to town. For those whose New Year resolution was to leave the car and walk or cycle, I am sure they are having second thoughts now. To enable people to commit to walking or cycling to work, school or the shops, this needs to be an option all year round.

Deja Vu

It was a similar situation during the cold snap in December. There were multiple crashes on key cycle routes, including the South West City Way and the NCR 7 beside the transport museum.

Financial Impacts

Slips, trips and falls are the most common types of accident in life generally, but snow and ice increase this. For most falls on snow or ice result in minor bumps and bruises. If you are cycling usually the first thought is “how is the bike?”.

However, hundreds each year are less fortunate. They are admitted to hospital after suffering more serious injuries after falls during wintry weather.The cost of these admissions is considerable. Falls that result in a hospital admission cost an average of £5,000 each time. For older people this rises to £8,600. While a hip fracture costs the whole care system almost £40,000.

There needs to be a balancing of the cost of public health measures like gritting, with the healthcare costs associated with falls. The economic burden of falls on ice is substantial. Keeping footpaths and cycle lanes free from ice should be a public health priority.

Transport Poverty

Glasgow has always had a low car ownership level. Within those areas of Glasgow with traditionally lower incomes the number of people with access to a private car drops even further. For them walking and cycling is not active travel, but is how they get around.

Transport Poverty is a real factor to a number of people who have limited options. They don’t get duvet or snow days. They need to get to their work or they will not get paid. However, if trying to get to their work results in a fall and injury they often don’t get sick pay either.

Areas like Parkhead and Dalmarnock have 50% of children living in poverty. Access to work is a key factor in getting people out of poverty. Removing the ability for them to get to work safely is morally reprehensible.

Harder on Pedestrians than Drivers

Alastair Dalton’s piece from last year is still relevant today. He highlighted how pedestrians and cyclists are hit hardest when it snows.

We strongly agree with what Alastair wrote back then, in particular this:

There is never going to be enough money to clear every road and pavement, but there seems to be a clear inequity in how they are tackled.

Call For Action

Glasgow City Council, as a matter of urgency can not neglect their moral responsibility to reduce Transport Poverty and provide safe routes for people to walk and cycle.

We echo Chris Boardman’s request, that basic maintenance is provided on our foot paths and cycle lanes. We call for action from Glasgow City Council for a drastic reprioritisation of the winter maintenance policy that more fairly reflects the right for all people to get around, not just those who have access to a car.