One of the reasons for the lack of government consultation may be due to the upheaval in Government from the change in First Minister and also the double change in Transport Minister. Sadly, Kevin Stewart resigned due to ill health and we wish him well with his recovery. Fiona Hyslop was very recently appointed as Transport Minister.

Government published a ‘policy prospectus’ in April outlining it’s new priorities including a section on Net Zero and Just Transition which includes statements on active travel and transport.

This time we delve into guidance on local living and 20 minute neighbourhoods. I hope you find it helpful.

Section 1: Current Consultations

(in date order for responses)

1.1: Scottish Government – Local living and 20 minute neighbourhoods – planning guidance

The Scottish Government is seeking views on draft guidance for local authorities on local living and developing plans for 20 minute neighbourhoods (20MN). 20MNs was a key theme within the 4th National Planning Framework but until now details were sketchy regarding how government expected councils to roll these out.

This draft guidance sets out more of the thinking behind 20MNs, the overall local living theme and the process that government wants councils to take in communities to understand the context, collaborate with communities, plan, design, implement and review.

The guidance is on the whole useful and the local living diagram on p19 helpfully shows the multiple elements which must be addressed in developing a 20MN (see Fig 1, below).

Previously I felt that government messaging on 20MN focused too heavily on planning and the need for councils to ensure local services are brought closer to people. Our concerns at Cycling UK was that not enough emphasis was on the need to improve local roads and create safe active travel infrastructure so that people could access those services by cycling, walking or wheeling.

The guidance does at least now show that how people move through the 20MN and the type of public space within the 20MN all need attention from the start.

If you are to write a response I suggest commenting on the following:

• Question 3 – In the Movement section key considerations to add in the ‘moving around’ section include – junctions, secure cycle storage on residential streets (bike hangars), public bike share schemes, joined-up cycle networks, speed restrictions e.g. 20mph zones, school streets and play streets.
• Question 4 – The structured approach is a positive inclusion in the guidance, however in understanding the context more guidance is needed on helping councils, stakeholders and members of the community to envision a positive future rather than dwell on solving current problems. For example, the transformation to 20MNs will take many years and therefore decisionmakers and members of the community should be guided to understand that the context in the future will be different to now and the plans need to match with that future reality rather than the current norms.
• Question 5 – The same need to ‘sell a vision of the future’ is especially important in the collection of qualitative data and therefore the guidance should provide more detail on how to facilitate discussions around a vision of the future rather than just slight improvements to current norms.
• Question 6 – The guidance needs more detail in some places. In planning and designing 20MNs the guidance needs to point to all the relevant guidance and how it must be followed, for example Cycling By Design.
• Question 8 – The case studies are helpful but it should be noted that these are early examples and the scope what can be achieved in 20MNs will grow as the concept becomes embedded in planning and the way councils work. The Stewarton case study highlights the challenge of retrofitting into existing communities and this includes, in many places, fitting safe cycling infrastructure into existing road networks. The Drymen case study helpfully shows that councils should treat ’20 minutes as a guide time rather than an absolute’.

This final point raised in the Drymen case study gets to the heart of the issue with 20MN in Scotland. Local living and developing 20MNs should be a process rather than an end point. Councils must make every effort to enable to live active lifestyles and live locally now rather than in ‘x’ years to come when every element of the guidance has been met.

The point of 20MNs must be to enable and facilitate local living. We want people in communities feel encouraged and enabled by the process to transform their way of living and travelling as soon as possible and for their lifestyles to improve as the efforts to develop local 20MNs grow too. However, this may take some flexibility in the interpretation and application of the 20MN concept and guidance. The 20min round trip concept is applicable to walking but many people who can ride a bike will be able to travel much further in a 20 minute round trip and have a larger/wider area within their idea of what is local and accessible by active transport.

Being flexible in the application of the concept would allow councils and people in communities to feel that local living is possible in the short term rather than thinking it will take a long time to be realised.

Closes 20 July 2023

1.2: Transport Scotland – Scotland’s Pavement Parking Prohibitions – Consultation on Enforcement Regulations for Local Authorities

Pavement parking is a scourge on our streets and is hazard and frustration for pedestrians and disabled people using pavements. But it’s also dangerous for anyone cycling as often this selfish activity narrows the space on the road or places an obstacle to negotiate. And don’t get me started on parking across a cycle lane!!

This consultation asks for opinions on fines and the technicalities of how enforcement will work.

Closes 28 July 2023

1.3: Scottish Government – Just Transition Discussion Papers

Just Transition for Transport

Just Transition for the Built Environment

The Scottish Government has published three sectoral discussion papers about how to deliver a just transition to a more sustainable future.

The Transport paper will clearly be important to respond to but I also recommend looking at the Built Environment document and provide opinions on how we create safe space in the places where we live and work for getting about sustainably.

There’s no deadline for responses and instructions to reply via an email address. I will try to provide a guide to responses in a forthcoming digest.

No deadline set

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

None

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

None

Contents

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. **NEW** SCVO charity awards, vote for Living Streets Pavement Parking Campaign online, closes 04 September
2. Glasgow City Council, Hermiston Road (Shettleston) Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 08 September
3. Glasgow City Council, Muirhead Road (Baillieston) Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 09 September
4. Glasgow City Council, Newlands Park Area Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 09 September
5. South Lanarkshire Council, Hamilton, Abercorn Drive and Chestnut Crescent, Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 11 September
6. **NEW** Glasgow City Council, Auchinleck Avenue, Robroyston, Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 17 September
7. **NEW** Glasgow City Council, Maxwell Drive, Pollokshields, Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 17 September
8. **NEW** Glasgow City Council, Maxwell Park Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 22 September
   **Additional Item: Glasgow City Council response on Traffic Calming**
9. Scottish Government, Town Centre Action Plan Expert Review Group, online survey, closes 30 September
10. UK Department of Transport, Review of the Highway Code to improve road safety for cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders, closes 27 October 2020

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

1. South Lanarkshire Council, East Kilbride cycling routes
2. Glasgow City Council, Transport Strategy, City Centre Transformation Strategy and Liveable Neighbourhoods Plan consultation commences 21 September
3. North Lanarkshire Council, new roads to Ravenscraig

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

1. GoBike Digest Survey results
2. Glasgow City Council, Helensburgh Drive Traffic Calming, 1 year on
3. North Lanarkshire Council, New Road Plans on the Agenda!
4. East Dunbartonshire Council, Local Development Plan Newsletter No 58
5. Glasgow City Council, Renewal of Planning Consent, Glasgow Harbour, initial response
6. Scottish Government, Response to Town Centre Action Plan Review submission
7. Glasgow City Council, Govan Partick Strategic Development Framework consultation update
8. Glasgow City Council, Draft River Strategic Development Framework consultation update

Section 1: Current Consultations, in date order for responses

1.1 **NEW** SCVO charity awards, vote for Living Streets Pavement Parking Campaign online, closes this Friday, 04 September

GoBike supported moves to ban pavement parking and, as we reported in Digest 65, Item 3.4, we are bitterly disappointed that the new legislation has not yet come into effect. Living Streets played a pivotal role in the campaign for the ban. Tricia is a personal member of Living Streets and here’s the email sent out to the organisation’s members on 17 August:

“Living Streets Scotland’s
pavement parking campaign has been nominated for the SCVO charity awards

Dear member,

Living Streets is thrilled to have been nominated for the SCVO charity awards for our work on pavement parking in Scotland.

The ban in October 2019 was the culmination of over a decade of campaigning by Living Streets Scotland and disability charities, and we could not have done it without your support – thank you!

The Scottish Charity Awards recognise the best of the voluntary sector in Scotland, and our nomination recognises the 10-year campaign led by Living Streets and the Responsible Parking Campaign. 

Now we need your votes!
Members of the public can have their say and vote for their favourite campaign. 

VOTE FOR LIVING STREETS

In the meantime, it is clear that speed cushions are not an effective measure:

• they either push bikes into the gutter or into the centre of the road rather than allowing riders to maintain a primary position on the road
• many current vehicles are so wide that, even as larger and larger speed cushions are used, they can straddle the cushions necessitating only a minimal reduction in speed, if any
• they do not prevent motor drivers using residential streets as rat runs
• they deteriorate, as shown on the feature photo for this Digest and again in Item 3.2 below
• we are not aware of any evidence that speed cushions reduce maximum speeds or make roads safer for people to cross them

The points above plus the prospect of a Liveable Neighbourhoods Plan for Glasgow form the basis of this letter that GoBike has just sent to Glasgow City Council in respect of the 6 schemes and the letter sent to South Lanarkshire Council featured in Item 1.5 below.

1.2 Glasgow City Council, Hermiston Road (Shettleston) Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 08 September

This was included as Item 1.10 in Digest 67 and given that Hermiston Road is just 2 streets to the west of Greenfield Road, also proposed for the speed cushion treatment, see Item 1.8 in Digest 67, which, in turn runs parallel to the main road, Springboig Road, it seems sensible to address this area as a “liveable neighbourhood”, see Item 2.2 below. Both roads are being used as alternatives to Springboig Road and we suggest that a series of modal filters be installed to prevent motor traffic using the area as a short cut.

1.3 Glasgow City Council, Muirhead Road (Baillieston) Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 09 September

Muirhead Road featured as Item 1.11 in Digest 67 and this is not as obvious a rat run. However, if the road were closed to through motor traffic, apart from buses and emergency vehicles, at the railway station, then the road would be quieter. Motor traffic would still have the option of, north of the railway, access via Glasgow Road / Main Street to Glasgow and the motorway system and south of the railway, where there is a lot of residential development, access to Glasgow and the motorway system via Boghall Road. Significant amounts of public money have been spent on motorway construction in this area and motor traffic should be directed towards it.

1.4 Glasgow City Council, Newlands Park Area Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 09 September

The Newlands Park scheme was Item 1.12 in Digest 67 and is presumably proposed to stop vehicles speeding as they try to cut through from Merrylee Road to Kilmarnock Road. The roads being proposed for speed cushion treatment are Beverley Road, Calderwood Road, Carlaverock Road and Lubnaig Road. This is an affluent area so probably many of the motors will be large enough to glide over the cushions with little, if any, discomfort to the passengers. Reducing traffic overall with a series of modal filters would be a far more fitting solution.

1.5 South Lanarkshire Council, Hamilton, Abercorn Drive and Chestnut Crescent, Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 11 September

Digest 67 featured this proposal as Item 1.13 and here’s the link to the details. Last October in Digest 46 we publicised proposals for a modal filter on Silvertonhill Avenue, which we very much supported. However, it seems that the residents do not wish to lose their freedom for uncontrolled road use and the current proposals are for speed cushions and parking restrictions.
The survey is, apparently, limited to local residents, but if you do wish to comment just enter the street you live in and hope to proceed.

Here is the letter of concerned objection that GoBike has submitted today.

1.6 **NEW** Glasgow City Council, Auchinleck Avenue Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 17 September

This area of Robroyston is just to the north of the M80 and the shopping area, with carparks of course, which includes the Robroyston Asda. A vast amount of public money has been spent on the roads in this area, not just the M80, but all the connecting roads such as the new roundabout and all the roads to the south of the motorway, where many new houses are being built. There’s the new station too, but are there cycle lanes to it? Shared footways south of the motorway and nothing to the north of the motorway, which isn’t really the way to encourage active travel. It’s a bit scary on the bike round here.

Even with all the new roads, drivers still want a short cut and are cutting through this residential area. Surely the obvious answer is to get them to use these expensive roads by putting modal filters on these 2 roads?

However, the City Council propose speed cushions and here’s the specific detail from their email of 20 August:

“Details of the proposed Scheme
The proposed Scheme (as depicted on the attached plan) will comprise of:-

• 7 sets of 3 (differing width) speed cushions
• 9 sets of 2 (differing width) speed cushions
• The supply and installation of 32 bollards

Please provide any comments you wish to make on these proposals within 28 days. 
Please reply directly to LESTraffic@glasgow.gov.uk.“

The 6 plans attached are:
Auchinleck-Avenue-TC-Proposals
Auchinleck-Avenue-TC-Proposals-Section-1-Btwn-roundabout-and-north-of-Cumnock-Rd
Auchinleck-Avenue-TC-Proposals-Section-2-Btwn-north-of-Cumnock-Rd-and-east-of-Pathead-Gardens
Auchinleck-Avenue-TC-Proposals-Section-3-Btwn-west-of-Glenbuck-Drive-and-north-of-Saughs-Avenue
Auchinleck-Avenue-TC-Proposals-Section-4-Btwn-Saughs-Avenue-and-south-of-Auchinleck-Avenue
Auchinleck-Avenue-TC-Proposals-Section-5-Saughs-Avenue

The cushion spacing varies from a kerbside gap of 0.5 to 1.0m, making it tricky to maintain a primary position of about 1.0m from the kerb without going over the cushions. 2 modal filters, one on the north and one on the south part of the Auchinleck Avenue loop would be much less expensive and time consuming to install and might even encourage residents to cycle to Asda!

1.7 **NEW** Glasgow City Council, Maxwell Drive Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 17 September

Maxwell Drive in Pollokshields, Glasgow, is a wide road and, if you look carefully at the photograph below, it’s just possible to see a cycle lane painted on the road – it’s under the parked cars, so no surprise there!

The email from the City Council, received on 20 August, contains this critical information:

“Details of the proposed Scheme
The proposed Scheme (as depicted on the attached plan) will comprise of:-

• 2 sets of 3 x 2m wide cushions
• 2 sets of 4 x 2m wide cushions
• 4 sets of 3 x 1.9m wide cushions
• 1 set of 4 x 1.9m wide cushions
• The supply and installation of 22 bollards

Please provide any comments you wish to make on these proposals within 28 days.    
Please reply directly to LESTraffic@glasgow.gov.uk.”

The plans attached to the email are:
Maxwell-Drive-TC-proposals-Section-1-Btwn-St-Andrews-Drive-and-Maxwell-Grove
Maxwell-Drive-TC-proposals-Section-2-Between-Maxwell-Gardens-and-east-of-Woodrow-Road
Maxwell-Drive-TC-proposals-Section-3-Btwn-west-of-Woodrow-Rd-and-east-of-Woodrow-Pl
Maxwell-Drive-TC-Proposals-Section-4-Btwn-number-106-and-number-136
Maxwell-Drive-TC-proposals-Section-5-Btwn-number-152-and-Nithsdale-Rd

Reinstating the cycle lanes would be a start here and, at a decent width with any parking on the outside, the width of the road would be reduced such that traffic would move more slowly. With separated cycle lanes people walking or cycling would have some protection from the motor traffic thus making the area much safer.
Unfortunately, the plans fail to show that there have ever been cycle lanes here and the kerb to cushion dimensions vary between 0.6 and 1.0m width.

1.8 **NEW** Glasgow City Council, Maxwell Park Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 22 September

This proposal covers Fotheringay Road from Darnley Road west to Springkell Avenue, Springkell Avenue from the railway south to Titwood Road and Dolphin Road from Fotheringay Road to Titwood Road.

The City Council’s email arrived on 25 August and here is the critical section of it:

“Details of the proposed Scheme
The proposed Scheme (as depicted on the attached plan) will comprise of:-

• 5 sets of 3 x 2m wide, 75mm high, speed cushions on Dolphin Road,
• 6 sets of 3 x 2m wide, 75mm high, speed cushions on Fotheringay Road,
• 11 sets of 3x 2m wide, 75mm high, speed cushions on Springkell Avenue
• The installation of bollards beside the proposed speed cushions.

Please provide any comments you wish to make on these proposals within 28 days.
Please reply directly to LESTraffic@glasgow.gov.uk“

Here are the relevant plans:
RS.19.96-Maxwell-Park-proposals-Dolphin-Road
RS.19.96-Maxwell-Park-proposals-Fotheringay-Road-section-1
RS.19.96-Maxwell-Park-proposals-Fotheringay-Road-section-2
RS.19.96-Maxwell-Park-proposals-Fotheringay-Road-section-3
RS.19.96-Maxwell-Park-proposals-Fotheringay-Road-section-4
RS.19.96-Maxwell-Park-proposals-Springkell-Avenue-section-1
RS.19.96-Maxwell-Park-proposals-Springkell-Avenue-section-2

From the plans it may be seen that the kerb to cushion gap varies from 0.7m to 1.0m, but this width, as may be seen from the view of Fotheringay Road above, is no use for cycling if you have to bump over setts. The alternatives are to either cycle 3m out from the kerb, or to cycle on the footway (tut, tut) to avoid the cushions.

GoBike member, John, who lives in the area and who has young children, would by far prefer to see traffic reduced by a series of modal filters and he refers to the speed cushions on nearby Terregles Avenue which are starting to break up. Some of you will know that Springkell Avenue was closed to motor traffic for quite some time when the railway bridge was reconstructed and Dolphin Road was stopped up for a year during the Shieldhall Tunnel works and John reports that the area was very pleasant at the time with only a modicum of motor traffic.

Additional Item: Glasgow City Council response on Traffic Calming

In Digest 67, in the general item 1.4 to 1.8, we published this letter in response to 5 traffic calming schemes. Today, 01 September, we have received this very disappointing response:

MESSAGE SENT ON BEHALF OF KEVIN HAMILTON, HEAD OF ROADS, NEIGHBOURHOODS AND SUSTAINABILITY

Dear Ms Fort,
Thank you for your undernoted enquiry.

I can advise that this section within the Council is focused on reducing injury accidents throughout the city. The section has limited funding and resources available to implement traffic calming schemes and in order to make sure these resources are directed at the locations with the greatest potential for casualty reduction, a site risk assessment is undertaken for each request. This process assesses the location against criteria including the history of injury accidents, measured vehicle speeds and the presence of any local amenities such as being close to a nearby school or nursery.

I can further advise that in our experience, cushions with a width of 1800mm or less have little impact in reducing the speed of vehicles travelling over them. Previously, this has led to complaints by local road users following the installation of cushions as they consider them to be ineffective. It is therefore our intention to propose cushions of no less than 1900mm and no greater than 2000m for all future traffic calming schemes, depending on the available width of the carriageway.

I can also advise that the Local Transport Note for Traffic Calming (LTN 1/07), which gives guidance on the design, effectiveness and installation of traffic calming measures, states that “Distances between cushions, or cushions and the kerb, should not generally exceed 1200mm, with 1000mm as an ideal maximum. These dimensions are designed to deter drivers of small vehicles from attempting to drive in the gap.” Whilst we would always aim for 1000mm, the gap between cushions and the kerb is likely to differ at each location depending on the available width of the carriageway.

Whilst I appreciate your concerns regarding our proposed traffic calming schemes and note your suggestions for each location, I can advise that your suggestions would involve the re-design of roads, introduction of traffic signals and the promotion of Traffic Regulation Orders as well as a host of other measures. The provision of such measures would involve considerable costs and resources, both of which are unavailable to this section, and I am unable to consider their introduction at this time.

I trust that this clarifies the current situation.

Kevin Hamilton
Head of Roads, Neighbourhoods And Sustainability

This response is disappointing, not simply because it ignores some of our arguments, not simply because this department of Glasgow City Council does not have the funds to make thorough improvements to the city but also because the Scottish Government et al are still spending large amounts of public money, ie our money, on such private motor dominated schemes as the dualling of the A9 and the City Deal projects that North Lanarkshire is so keen on.

1.9 Scottish Government, Town Centre Action Plan Expert Review Group, online survey, closes 30 September

No doubt you have seen increased use of public space during lockdown, not just with more people cycling but exercise classes being held in public parks and, if we are very lucky, or perhaps with good planning and management, we can get this to continue.

In Digest 66, Item 1.4 we gave details of this survey and in Digest 67, Item 1.3, was the GoBike letter in response to the questions posed on the website, which had to be submitted by 21 August. Also on the website is a link to a short, easy-to-do survey, where you may support your views for people-friendly urban centres. Do please respond to it (I have already done so, on a personal basis, and going back to the site tells me so, but the survey is easy to find on the opening page of the website).

1.10 UK Department of Transport, Review of the Highway Code to improve road safety for cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders, closes 27 October 2020

We are working away on our response to this consultation and hope to be able to publish it later this month.

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

2.1 South Lanarkshire Council, East Kilbride cycling routes

GoBike member, Derek, attended the South Lanarkshire Cycling Partnership meeting on 24 August and reports that segregated cycle lanes are to be consulted on for East Kilbride. There are no details as yet, but as soon as we hear we will let you know.

2.2 Glasgow City Council, Transport Strategy, City Centre Transformation Strategy and Liveable Neighbourhoods Plan consultation commences 21 September

On Bikes, based in the north-east of Glasgow, recently held an event at which a Sustrans officer, currently embedded with Glasgow City Council, told the audience that consultation on the City Council’s Transport Strategy, City Centre Transformation Strategy and Liveable Neighbourhoods Plan would commence on 21 September and will last for 6 weeks. GoBike will be looking out for these and will report back in the Digest.

All 3 are about “prioritising people over traffic” but what is the Liveable Neighbourhoods Plan? It was reported on in this document from the City Council’s City Administration Committee and the pertinent information is on page 4 in sections 3.8 and 3.9. Here they are:

“3.8 The Liveable Neighbourhoods Plan (LNP) for Glasgow aims to reduce the city’s dependency on cars and make walking, cycling and public transport the first choice. It is essential that our residents benefit from safer, quieter streets that facilitate play, walking and cycling. Through a place-based approach, the LNP will help to limit the city’s contribution to climate change and develop an inclusive network of accessible and revitalised neighbourhoods designed for the benefit of all, with integrated green infrastructure and enhanced public spaces.

3.9 This will be achieved through a variety of physical interventions and behavioural change measures including filtered permeability, traffic reduction around schools, improvements for walking and cycling, secure bike storage and management of residential parking. Through collaborative and purposeful engagement, the LNP will transform streets and neighbourhoods into more pleasant, safe and attractive environments with noise and air pollution being tackled through measures that encourage active travel, helping to reduce
inactivity and ultimately improve public health. Progress towards making sure our neighbourhoods are more protective, comfortable, and enjoyable for people spending time there will be measured through inclusive mechanisms such as the Place Standard Too“

It sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? The cynic might ask whether the rush to get all the speed cushions in is to clear a shed load of them before the enlightened thinking comes into play. The 2 Strategies are detailed in the same document.

2.3 North Lanarkshire Council, new roads to Ravenscraig

See item 3.3 below for consultation details.

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

3.1 GoBike Digest Survey results

Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete our recent Digest survey. Overall people appreciate the Digest, and recognise its value. Not surprisingly people expressed particular interest in consultations in their own area, and would welcome template responses to help them respond more quickly to consultations. Some respondents find the Digest rather lengthy, but again recognise this might be due to the number of consultations.
Many apologies – this Digest is particularly long, so thank you for reading this far!

Please do get in touch with us via consultations@gobike.org, if you were one of the respondents who said they’d possibly be interested in helping to produce the Digest or respond to the consultations (which most of you did – which is great!)

Tricia, the current author of the Digest, is standing down from this role in November, and we are looking for several GoBike members to collectively keep the Digest going. Whether you responded to the survey or not please get in touch via consultations@gobike.org if you are interested in being involved – and for all those interested we will arrange a zoom call to outline the different roles/pieces of work involved in creating the Digest – we look forward to hearing from you. (The survey was completely anonymous, so we don’t know who you are!)

If you are looking for a quick way to respond to consultations, GoBike responds on behalf of its members (and we hope we are getting it right!) So GoBike’s letters are your letters and you may either simply email the contact address and say that you agree with and support the GoBike letter of (date) or attach a copy of the letter to your response.

3.2 Glasgow City Council, Helensburgh Drive Traffic Calming, 1 year on

In Digest 42, issued 03 September 2019, Item 1.7, we reported on proposals for traffic calming on Helensburgh Drive, Jordanhill Drive, Ryvra Road and Seggielea Road, the leafy area to the west of the High School of Glasgow and north of Jordanhill School. The view above, of Helensburgh Drive clearly shows the setts in the gutter (the new cycling zone for people not willing to cycle over cushions, in the middle of the road or on the footway). Here’s the letter that GoBike submitted to express our concerns and to suggest modal filters on 02 September last year, ie in the speed cushion 2019 season (August and September being the season)!

GoBike member Caroline, who lives in the area, has been in touch to say that speed cushions were indeed placed on these roads at the beginning of this year and they are already breaking up.

She went on to comment “Considering all of the SUVs in the area a majority of drivers simply sail over them without having to curb their speed at all. Also what are they using as surface dressing, weetabix? It’s eroded already.  Unsure why they didn’t use modal filters to curb rat runners & slow down the local racers.” 

Roll on Liveable Neighbourhoods!

3.3 North Lanarkshire Council, New Road Plans on the Agenda!

An email notice on 18 August tells us:

“Ravenscraig road plans on the agenda 

Plans for new roads and improvements to open up access to the Ravenscraig regeneration site will be considered by councillors this month.

Our Enterprise and Growth Committee will hear an update on the design and construction of the £127.2 million Ravenscraig Access Infrastructure project.

The project provides new and improved transport infrastructure to connect Ravenscraig north to the M8 and south to Motherwell and the M74.

The four elements of the project are:

• a new dual carriageway from the Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility to Motherwell, crossing the west coast main line railway;
• a new roundabout with traffic signals at Airbles Road and Windmillhill Street, connecting to the dual carriageway;
• completion of the dualling of Airbles Road; and
• the dualling of the A723 from Ravenscraig to the M8.

It is part of the council’s Glasgow City Region City Deal programme to connect the main motorway networks.

The cost of the council’s Ravenscraig Access Infrastructure project is £127.2 million, including £71.2m for the connection to Motherwell and the M74 and £56m for dualling the existing A723 from Ravenscraig to the M8 at Newhouse.

The cost of the project are supported by the Glasgow City Region City Deal, providing £61.9 million, with £65.3 million being provided from the council over six years, from 2020 to 2026.

The first construction works will be creating the west coast main line crossing which is anticipated to take place in 2022, with construction of the new road to Ravenscraig and roundabout starting in 2023. Dualling of the A723 is planned to begin in 2023/24 and the work on Airbles Road in 2024/25.”

GoBike has not been made aware of any public consultation on these plans but GoBike member, Derek, has sent further information with a link to this page on the North Lanarkshire Council website and GoBike has now asked to be notified when detailed consultations go live.
It’s likely that the junction at the foot of Airbles Road, where it meets Hamilton Road will be popular with motor users as tailbacks are common at this pinch point. There is to be a large roundabout on Windmillhill Street just outside the Civic Centre and the Airbles Road Centre (community hospital), which won’t make walking or cycling to either of the places any easier.
All these new roads could have segregated cycle tracks, if the will was there, but we aren’t holding our breath.

3.4 East Dunbartonshire Council, Local Development Plan Newsletter No 58

Here’s the latest Newsletter from EDC, the second to be published in August, which we received on 21 August.

3.5 Glasgow City Council, Renewal of Planning Consent, Glasgow Harbour, initial response

We have received 2 responses to our submission opposing the renewal of the Planning Application (see Digest 67, Item 1.9), the first on 19 August and the second on 20 August:

“Dear Ms Fort,
I have passed GoBike’s representation to our admin team to be registered. Please note for future reference, representations can be submitted directly to planning.representations@drs.glasgow.gov.uk.
Kind regards,
For Duty Planner.“

“Thank you for the feedback Tricia. The link below takes you to the page that advises how to make representations on planning applications https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/makeacomment
Thanks
Planning Enquiries”

The first reply will be helpful for any future planning applications that we respond to.

3.6 Scottish Government, Response to Town Centre Action Plan Review submission

Here’s the acknowledgement for our letter of response received on 20 August:

“Good evening Tricia,
Many thanks for your written evidence to support the Town Centre Action Plan Review. It is very much appreciated the time and effort you have taken to assist us with your valuable insights to help formulate a robust set of actions.
After reviewing all of the evidence we receive we may be back in touch to explore particular avenues with you to gain further insights.
Thank you for your time.
Project Executive
Scotland’s Towns Partnership“

Please don’t forget to complete the survey, see Item 1.9 above.

3.7 Glasgow City Council, Govan Partick Strategic Development Framework consultation update

In Digest 33, issued 30 April 2019 we printed the first response to our submission on this Framework. On 28 August 2020 we received this update:

“Dear Ms Fort,

I am writing to update you with regard to the adoption of the Govan-Partick Strategic Development Framework (SDF), which you commented on during the consultation phase.  The Govan-Partick SDF was formally adopted as statutory Supplementary Guidance to the Glasgow City Development Plan (2017) on 31^st August 2020.  You can view the adopted Govan-Partick SDF here.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you again for your input to the consultation process, which we gave careful consideration to as we worked towards the adopted Govan-Partick SDF.  In line with the Scottish Government guidance we produced a Table of Responses, which shows how every comment made was taken account of through the redrafting process.  You can view the full Table of Responses, including our response to your own comments, here.   For reference purposes you can view the consultative draft Govan-Partick SDF here. 

It has taken considerably longer than was anticipated at the time of the consultation to bring the SDF to formal adoption.  The first major delay was caused by the impact of revised climate change modelling for the River Clyde which emerged in early 2019.  This required the Council to review the proposals contained in the Govan-Partick SDF in light of the potential impacts of higher tide levels on the River Clyde.  However, whilst this caused delay, we believe that this has been time well spent developing an approach which will be resilient in relation to the impacts of climate change.  The other major delay to the process has been caused by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Thank you again for taking the time to contribute to the shaping of the SDF.  If you do have any questions or comments with regard to the adopted SDF you can contact us via DevelopmentPlan@glasgow.gov.uk 

Best regards
Spatial Strategy Team
Development & Regeneration”

3.8 Glasgow City Council, Draft River Strategic Development Framework consultation update

Our submissions for this, and the above Strategic Development Framework, were both in Digest 27, Item 1.2 and here’s the update that we received on 28 August – could have been a busy day in the Spatial Strategy Team??

“Dear Ms Fort,

I am writing to update you with regard to the adoption of the River Clyde Strategic Development Framework (River Clyde SDF), which you commented on during the consultation phase.  The River Clyde SDF was formally adopted as statutory Supplementary Guidance to the Glasgow City Development Plan (2017) on 31^st August 2020.  You can view the adopted River Clyde SDF here.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you again for your input to the consultation process, which we gave careful consideration to as we worked towards the adopted River Clyde SDF.  In line with the Scottish Government guidance we produced a Table of Responses, which shows how every comment made was taken account of through the redrafting process.  You can view the full Table of Responses, including our response to your own comments, here.   For reference purposes you can view the consultative draft River Clyde SDF here. 

It has taken considerably longer than was anticipated at the time of the consultation to bring the SDF to formal adoption.  The first major delay was caused by the impact of revised climate change modelling for the River Clyde which emerged in early 2019.  This required the Council to review the proposals contained in the River Clyde SDF in light of the potential impacts of higher tide levels on the River.  However, whilst this caused delay, we believe that this has been time well spent developing an approach which will be resilient in relation to the impacts of climate change.  The other major delay to the process has been caused by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Thank you again for taking the time to contribute to the shaping of the SDF.  If you do have any questions or comments with regard to the adopted SDF you can contact us via DevelopmentPlan@glasgow.gov.uk 

Best regards
Spatial Strategy Team
Development & Regeneration“

3.9 Glasgow City Council and Sustrans, Stockingfield Bridge – waiting for an update

In Digest 64, Item 3.5, we gave you news that construction of the new bridge was about to start and that we hoped to get you details of a diversionary route before too long. Well, sorry, we still don’t have those details but here are 2 photographs confirming, first, that work has started and second, that a bridge over the canal will be much better than the current underbridge, particularly if we get as much rain as we did before last Friday morning, when these pictures were taken.

A bit of a damp note to end on, but things must surely get better!

Contents:

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. Streets for All Glasgow Commonplace Map, a joint GoBike, Glasgow Eco Trust and On Bikes initiative, please add your views and concerns
2. ** NEW** Renfrewshire Council Spaces for People consultation, closes 26 July
3. East Renfrewshire Council, Spaces for People Commonplace Map, closes 31 July
4. Glasgow City Council, help shape the future of (Y)our City Centre Districts

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

1. GoBike is going to consult its members on the Consultation Digest!

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

1. Glasgow, Woodside Making Places, response to GoBike Submission
2. Glasgow, South City Way, Bus Gate prior to completion
3. Glasgow, Byres Road, Space for Distancing measures prior to cycle lane construction
4. Parking and the Transport (Scotland) Bill, when will it come into effect?
5. A Deposit Return Scheme for Scotland, 2 years to wait!
6. North Lanarkshire Council, work begins on Motherwell Station

Section 1: Current Consultations

1.1 Streets for All Glasgow Commonplace Map, a joint GoBike, Glasgow Eco Trust and On Bikes initiative, please add your views and concerns

Back in Digest 55, Item 1.1 in early March, we alerted you to the Streets for All Glasgow Commonplace Map, an initiative from GoBike in coordination with Glasgow EcoTrust and On Bikes. This was somewhat overshadowed by the Glasgow City Council and the East Renfrewshire Council Spaces for People Commonplace Maps, looking for concern areas where social distancing for active travellers was difficult or impossible to achieve. The Glasgow City Council map has now closed for comment and the East Renfrewshire Council map closes on 31 July, see Item 1.2 below.

The Streets for All Glasgow Commonplace Map is still open for your contributions. We have longer term aims than the Spaces for People maps, so please do get your fingers tapping and tell us not just where social distancing measures are needed but where dropped kerbs, better crossings, segregation from motor vehicles and all the measures that could improve your cycling experience are needed.

We will then be able to take these forward to the City Council in a measured way to make our city a better place to live and move.

1.2 **NEW** Renfrewshire Council, Spaces for People consultation, closes 26 July

News just in: Renfrewshire Council have a Spaces for People Fund consultation taking place, but it closes soon, midnight on Sunday 26 July. Here’s some of the information from their website:

“As part of this, we plan to create nine cycleways for active travel, but we want your views on the proposed plans.

These are located at:

• Howwood to Paisley corridor (including Elderslie Gap)
• Glasgow Road (West), Paisley
• Barrhead Road, Paisley
• Causeyside Street, Paisley
• Central Paisley and West – including Ferguslie, St Mirren and Kilbarchan Rd
• Inchinnan Road, Paisley
• Greenock Rd, Inchinnan
• Inchinnan Road, Renfrew
• Paisley to Renfrew

View the proposals

You can see the  proposed outline plans on this PDF document [2MB]

Give us your feedback

Let us know what you think on the proposed cycleways by emailing us at ei@renfrewshire.gov.uk Your feedback can be submitted until midnight on Sunday 26 July 2020.”

This is quite and impressive set of proposals, many on major roads, so please do have a look at the details and put your comments in. GoBike has submitted this letter today, which might give you a few pointers.

1.3 East Renfrewshire Council, Spaces for People Commonplace Map, closes 31 July

East Renfrewshire Council is consulting on Spaces for People until the end of this month, ie a week on Friday, 31 July. Here are details of their Transport Response to Covid 19 and here is a direct link to the ERC Spaces for People Commonplace map. Please do contribute if you know the area.

1.4 Glasgow City Council, help shape the future of (Y)our City Centre Districts

Just about everyone who lives in Glasgow or visits from surrounding areas goes to one or more of these areas, ie the Merchant City, Cowcaddens, Townhead or the Learning Quarter so must have views on how improvements could be made. Please do enter them on the Commonplace Map. No closing date given but don’t delay.

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

2.1 GoBike is going to consult its members on the Consultation Digest!

Yes, we are going to consult GoBike members who are on Slack about the Digests. The editor of the Digests will be standing down at the GoBike AGM in November and we want to know what you, if you are a GoBike member (and it’s easy to join), think of these publications and even whether you might wish to get involved in their production. Watch out on the GoBike Slack Consultation channel for news of the survey.

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

3.1 Woodside Making Places, response to GoBike Submission

In Digest 63, Item 1.8 we detailed this public realm consultation by Urban Realm and included the detailed response from GoBike, drawn up by GoBike member, Brenda, with contributions from GoBike member and local resident, Alasdair.

On 07 July, almost in time to be in our last Digest, we got this excellent email back from the Woodside Making Places team:

“Dear Tricia,

Thank you for taking the time to thoroughly look over the plans; we agree that it would be preferable to have a face-to-face assessment of the plans, however at the moment, this is not something we are going to achieve unless Scottish Government restrictions change.

Going through points in your letter:

• Some roads are excluded primarily for budgetary reasons – we are keen to spend on people-focussed improvements, rather than descend into a road resurfacing project.
• We will look at opportunities for continuous footways with reduced radii at points mentioned – we would agree that this could be a very useful addition.
• We will consider the width of the paths and aim to provide 4m where possible.
• The area is relatively permeable at the moment, and we have picked up on a few existing desire lines, the next stage will review comments from the resident consultees and also bear in mind your note about ensuring permeability.
• We are looking at a variety of cycle storage, from individual (or family sized) lockers capable of taking trailers / cargo bikes etc. to ad hoc visitor parking (Sheffield-type stands). The refurbishment of the tower block included some cycle storage. The location of these will be reassessed at the next stage of design based on the criteria you have provided. The Oakgrove shelter is a sketch at this stage and not intended as sole cycle storage for the school, we would expect this to be funded through the Cycle Friendly School initiative; the shelter would primarily serve parents / visitors / residents.

In response to specific details raised in your letter:

• The shared path along Braid Street is currently shown 4m wide.
• We will be reviewing parking along Raglan Street and Braid Street in line with your comments – this is great advice as a way to treat parking in this situation.
• There is a large level difference between Unity Place and the back of the flats at Braid Street, the path that zig-zags through the green space is designed to be an accessible gradient and is the primary route between the two; the steps are a quicker cut through.
• Karol Path has a multi-level set of issues; primarily the existing trees (much enjoyed by residents) are causing issue with the paving. The balance between retaining existing natural capital and access by people needs to be struck.
• We will investigate the viability between the west of Torridon Court and North Woodside Road, however this needs to work with the existing trees, and provide an accessible route. From a quick look, it would appear that this would be similar in length to the accessible route that we have shown going to the new plaza area at the junction of St. George’s Road and North Woodside Road.

We will be consulting on further phases and hope that there are clarifications and refinements which reflect your helpful advice and points of discussion above. Thank you again for your input. 

Best regards,
The Woodside Making Places Team“

Yes, they had read and taken note of our letter and not simply assigned it to either the Support or Objection box. We look forward to further dialogue and to overall improvements in this area.

3.2 Glasgow, South City Way, Bus Gate prior to completion

In Digest 25, Item 1, issued on 10 January 2019 we gave details of the proposals for continuing the South City Way from the Brazen Head pub at Cumberland Street along Gorbals Street and over the Clyde at the Victoria Bridge to the junction at the Clutha pub.

You might have noticed that construction on this section has not yet started? GoBike’s co-Convenors, Thomas and John, held an online meeting recently with Councillor Anna Richardson, who gave them this information:

• The appointed contractor is unable to start on site just yet.
• To improve cycling in the meantime the City Council has decided to install the bus gate, which was part of the consultation, at Cumberland Street for the southern section of Gorbals Street, ie from the Brazen Head junction to Cleland Street, just south of the Citizens’ Theatre. This will prevent private cars from travelling north on Gorbals Street between 7am and 7pm.
• Also, a cycle lane will be formed on Victoria Bridge.

While it’s disappointing that the South City Way is delayed (again), these 2 moves will improve road conditions for cycling.

3.3 Glasgow, Byres Road, Space for Distancing measures prior to cycle lane construction

At the same meeting GoBike was told that the construction of cycle lanes on Byres Road is not yet to be started but, to allow for social distancing, the following 2 measures will be put in place:

• The footways at both sides will be widened to allow social distancing for pedestrians
• Parking will be banned.

While these measures are not what GoBike and Space for People Byres Road campaigned for, the removal of parking will make cycling significantly better and we will all be able to enjoy the wider pavements on Byres Road in the meantime.

3.4 Parking and the Transport (Scotland) Bill, when will it come into effect?

GoBike has been campaigning for a ban on pavement parking since at least September 2015 as this post on our website demonstrates. We have responded positively to consultation too.

Anyone who has been out and about during lockdown will have seen that pavement parking is endemic; car after car after car with either 2 or all 4 wheels on the pavement outside flats and houses. The photo above was taken in a residential area in Glasgow, the feature photo for this Digest shows pavement parking, not far from their place of work, by employees on a route into Renfrew. This really does cut down the space for walking and cycling, so just what is happening?

MSP Sheila White’s Pavement Parking Bill was subsumed into the Transport (Scotland) Act, which the Scottish Parliament voted to pass on 10 October 2019.  The Bill received Royal Assent on 15 November 2019, ie over 9 months ago. No news of any progress on the Transport Scotland website and even Living Streets don’t have any update on their website.

Something to follow up with your MSP? Please do.

3.5 A Deposit Return Scheme for Scotland, 2 years to wait!

The Scottish Government consulted on a Bottle Deposit return scheme in 2018 as featured in Digest 15, Item 1.5. It may now be seen, on the Scottish Government website, that the scheme was approved in May this year and will go live in July 2022. Details of The Deposit and Return Scheme for Scotland Regulations 2020 may be seen here.

What’s this got to do with cycling, some might ask? Anyone who cycles around our towns and residential areas can’t have failed to see broken glass, let alone litter, and it’s the very fortunate person who hasn’t had a puncture on broken glass. Surely we all hope that with the implementation of the scheme there will be enough people who see the financial benefit of returning their bottles, to at least save a few tyres?

3.6 North Lanarkshire Council, work begins on Motherwell Station

GoBike responded to a Planning Application for a cycle access path to Motherwell Station earlier this year, as featured in Digest 61, Item 1.1, which will be a wee bit better than the existing. We received this update from North Lanarkshire Council on 17 July:

“ScotRail have appointed Balfour Beatty to carry out the works to redevelop Motherwell Rail Station. The station plans are the first phase of a wider project to create a transport integration hub in Motherwell town centre. The second phase on Muir Street will be carried out by the council in 2021.

The station works are being led by ScotRail. Transport Scotland and Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) are also providing funding for the £14.5m project. Work started on 29 June with the demolition of an old building at the bottom of Platform 1 to make way for a new staff car park and will continue at the station itself in early August.

The taxi rank at the front of the station will close later in July to make way for ScotRail staff portacabins. Taxi pick up and drop will remain available on Muir Street. Two disabled parking bays will also be provided close to the station entrance during the works.  

For further information about the project, please visit: www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/motherwellstation ” 

It looks as it it will be a wee while, though, before access to the station is upgraded, but do take care near the works if you use Motherwell Railway Station.

______________________________

We’re moving out of lockdown and into the holiday season with only a few weeks before the schools go back.
Do enjoy the rest of the summer! More news early in August.

Contents

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. Glasgow, Mossvale Road school parking petition, closes ASAP!
2. Glasgow, Pollok Park Transformation, closes 26 September
3. UK Government, Department for Transport, Carbon Offsetting in Transport, closes 26 September
4. Glasgow, Polnoon Avenue, Traffic Calming, closes 30 September
5. East Dunbartonshire, Proposed Traffic Regulation Order – Schools and Bearsden Town Centre, closes 07 October
6. **NEW** Glasgow (Belmont) (Traffic Management) Order 2005 (Variation No.2) Order 201_ – Consultation, Parking, closes 15 October
7. East Dunbartonshire, Proposed Traffic Regulation Order – Killermont Avenue, Rannoch Drive and Woodvale Avenue, parking/loading restrictions, closes 21 October
8. Consultation on Scotland’s National Transport Strategy, closes 23 October

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

1. Glasgow, Byres Road revised TROs- will they be issued soon?

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

1. Glasgow, Mount Florida, GoBike response to the City Council reply to our objection to the removal of two-way cycling to allow for increased storage of stationary cars.

Section 1: Current Consultations, in date order for response

1.1 Glasgow, Mossvale Road school parking petition, closes ASAP!

Featured in the Evening Times, yesterday, 23 September, is this petition from a concerned parent in Hogganfield worried about all the footway-parking large cars that people use to take their children in to the two schools on Mossvale Road. The Glasgow pilot, which was covered in Digests 34 and 35, only covers 6 schools with none being in the north or east of the city. We saw last week, in Digest 43, Item 1.6 and in Item 1.5 below, that East Dunbartonshire now has more ambitious plans than Glasgow.

Do please read the petition, from Change.org and help increase the numbers asking for this policy of banning cars from school gates to be extended far and wide.

1.2 Glasgow, Pollok Park Transformation, closes 26 September

The Burrell Collection is closed for renovation and upgrade and the City Council is expecting a big flurry of visitors when it reopens next year. Work is ongoing to cater for these visitors, not only those who arrive by private car, but all those people who arrive by public transport or who walk and cycle, but not forgetting everyone who visits Pollok Park for the enjoyment of being in the park.
Comments on the proposals, which may be found here are invited by email until Thursday. There is further information and a video here and you are asked to submit your comments by email to: PollokCountryParkTransformation@glasgowlife.org.uk

Quite a few GoBike members went along to the public consultation event on 10 September and, while we are generally very supportive of the proposals, there are significant improvements we think could be made to ensure that the balance between active and private motor travel reflects current stated policy both by the City Council and the Scottish Government. Comments submitted now will be considered before the planning application and traffic regulation order to allow the work to be done are issued.
The GoBike letter of response, submitted last Thursday, 19 September, is here.

1.3 UK Government, Department for Transport, Carbon Offsetting in Transport, closes 26 September

This consultation has been mentioned in our last two Digests and the link to the relatively short consultation paper is here. One of our members has described carbon offsetting as simply rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. We have tried to reflect the view that while carbon offsetting might be one tool in the box to address our current issues of congestion, pollution and global warming, there are far more pertinent issues that need to be addressed. Here’s the letter that we submitted last Friday, 20 September.
There’s still time to add your voice – the closing time is 11:45pm on Friday.

1.4 Glasgow, Polnoon Avenue, Traffic Calming, closes 30 September

This is the most curious traffic calming scheme we have seen and it flies in the face of all the guidance about creating streets for people. All the details issued by the City Council were given in Digest 43, Item 1.5. Here’s a detail from the plans that were issued:

You will notice that no overall dimensions are given for the roadway and thus there is no precise figure for the roadway width in which to avoid the speed cushion. Those of us who cycle where there are traffic islands will be aware that these pinch points are the sites of accidents waiting to happen. Islands do help people to cross the road, but so do zebra crossings and given that drivers are known to use the wrong side of the road if there is someone cycling legally past a traffic island, where would that leave the poor pedestrians? We have made what we consider to be robust alternative suggestions, quoting available guidance, in this letter that we submitted on Thursday 19 September.
Please do add your voice to our concerns about such a move.

1.5 East Dunbartonshire, Proposed Traffic Regulation Order – Schools and Bearsden Town Centre, closes 07 October

The details of these two proposals were given in Digest 43, Item 1.6 and address two issues. The first is the unfortunate fact that the stipulations of parking at junctions given in the Highway Code may only be enforced if there is a Traffic Regulation Order and the second is the exciting news that East Dunbartonshire propose to ban loading and unloading outside 10 primary schools. This could actually mean that children will have to walk part of the way to school!
Here is our letter of support to these moves, which we submitted on Thursday 19 September.
Please do add your support if you live, work or travel past junctions or primary schools in East Dunbartonshire.

1.6 **NEW** Glasgow (Belmont) (Traffic Management) Order 2005 (Variation No.2) Order 201_ – Consultation, Parking, closes 15 October

Hamilton Gardens is on the site of the old BBC buildings on Hamilton Drive just off Queen Margaret Drive and it seems that commuters by car will seek out any wee space they can to leave their vehicle while they go off to work.

Here’s the email that we received last week from the City Council and it explains the concern:

” Date: 17 September 2019 at 15:20
Subject: FW: THE GLASGOW CITY COUNCIL (BELMONT) (TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT) ORDER 2005 (VARIATION NO.2) ORDER 201_ – Consultation

MESSAGE SENT ON BEHALF OF KEVIN HAMILTON, HEAD OF ROADS, NEIGHBOURHOODS AND SUSTAINABILITY
Dear Sir / Madam
THE GLASGOW CITY COUNCIL, (BELMONT) (TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT) ORDER 2005 (VARIATION NO.2) ORDER 201_

The Council propose to consider the introduction of the above named Traffic Regulation Order and I wish to establish the preliminary views of your organisation prior to the publication of these proposals.

Background to the proposed Order
Glasgow City Council’s policy is to dissuade commuter parking and encourage more sustainable methods of transport. The Belmont area was identified as being negatively affected by commuter parking and general adverse parking practices including indiscriminate and obstructive parking. Following this, parking controls were put in place. 
Since these controls have been implemented, a new development has been completed in Hamilton Gardens.  This is now an area that we are looking to include within the existing Belmont parking controls.  In view of this the statutory process for proposing parking controls throughout this area has now commenced.

These proposals will improve road safety and pedestrian safety by prohibiting unsafe and obstructive parking.  This would also minimise access problems for any emergency service vehicles such as fire appliances and other services such as cleansing vehicles, etc. for refuse collection.

Area affected by the proposed Order, The roads affected by these proposals are:-
Hamilton Gardens

Details of the proposed Order, The proposed Order (as depicted on the attached plan) will comprise of:-
No Waiting at any time
These restrictions are proposed where waiting is deemed unsafe or undesirable.

Please provide any comments you wish to make on these proposals within 28 days (reply by 15th October 2019).
In the meantime, should you require any further information or clarification on any points arising from the proposals, do not hesitate to contact my assistant (name and phone number removed by GoBike).
Should the Council proceed with these proposals; a copy of the Notice of the proposed Order will be forwarded to you intimating an opportunity to lodge any objections to the proposals.
Yours faithfully“, etc

GoBike will be getting our support in for this as soon as we can – our streets are for moving, not stationary, traffic and Hamilton Drive provides a handy, cycling cut-through, avoiding a busy section of Great Western Road. The fewer cars there the better for us.

1.7 East Dunbartonshire, Proposed Traffic Regulation Order – Killermont Avenue, Rannoch Drive and Woodvale Avenue, parking/loading restrictions, closes 21 October

All the details for this proposal to restrict parking/loading just off Maryhill Road near the car dealership and the golf club were given in Digest 43, Item 1.7.

This is a residential area and parking near the exit to Maryhill Road is a barrier to people who wish to cycle through here. GoBike will be supporting this move.

1.8 Consultation on Scotland’s National Transport Strategy, closes 23 October

This is now the fifth appearance of this consultation in our Digests and our response will be submitted before the deadline. Responses will help set government strategy for the next 20 years so it’s important that views of the active travel community are heard.
Here’s the link to the government website and consultation details.

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

2.1 Glasgow, Byres Road revised TROs- will they be issued soon?

On 30 August we were emailed with the news that Glasgow City Council are working to issue consultation documents for the revised layout of Byres Road in September. Nothing has been heard yet but as soon as we get the information we will get it out to you.

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

3.1 Glasgow, Mount Florida, GoBike response to the City Council reply to our objection to the removal of two-way cycling to allow for increased storage of stationary cars.

Back in Digest 39, Item 1.4 we published all the details we had received about proposals on waiting and loading restrictions in Mount Florida. We were told that the community want more parking spaces and thus streets are proposed to be made one-way and echelon, or angled parking is to be extended in the area.

GoBike submitted this letter objecting to the removal of two-way cycling, among other concerns, on 22 July.

On 27 August Glasgow City Council replied to us with this email.

We have made further investigations, both of echelon parking and the supposed hazards of contraflow cycling and we commend these links to you:

• Contraflow Cycling, a briefing from the European Transport Safety Council, which reports on studies showing that cycling against the flow of traffic is less hazardous than either cycling with the flow or making large detours on busy streets to avoid one-way sections.
• Echelon parking, a document from the USA, which strongly recommends that drivers reverse into angled parking places, listing the advantages of such a practice. The main positives are that the driver is able to see oncoming traffic and passengers, particularly children, exit the car towards the footway and not into the roadway.

We have sent this reply to Glasgow City Council today, 24 September, in which we also mention a Scottish Government document, Designing Streets and refer to Nairn Street in Yorkhill, see below, where contraflow cycling has been authorised.

____________________________________________

That’s it for now. Hope you enjoy the September weekend, whatever you are doing. The next Digest is planned for 15 October – but, if we hear news of proposals for Byres Road, we’ll be in touch.

Contents

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. **NEW** Glasgow University Campus Development drop-in session, TODAY, 12 – 2pm
2. Glasgow, St Enoch District Regeneration Framework Public Consultation, closes 06 September
3. **NEW** Scottish Government, Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee, Pre-Budget/Financial scrutiny on roads maintenance in Scotland, closes 06 September
4. **NEW** Glasgow, Cleeves Quadrant Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 09 September
5. **NEW** Glasgow, Kingsland Drive Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 09 September
6. **NEW** Glasgow, Leithland Road Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 09 September
7. **NEW** Glasgow, Helensburgh Drive Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 11 September
8. Glasgow, Connecting Woodside, St George’s Road and West Princes Street, on-line consultation closes 13 September
9. **NEW** UK Government, Department for Transport (DfT), Carbon offsetting in transport, closes 26 September
10. Consultation on Scotland’s National Transport Strategy, closes 23 October

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

1. Glasgow, Pollok Country Park Public Consultation Event 10 September
2. Advance Notice: Byres Road Public Realm Traffic Regulation Orders

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

1. University Avenue temporary closures – free of motor traffic weekends
2. East Dunbartonshire Council: LDP Newsletter No. 51, August 2019
3. Glasgow City Council response to our concerns on Parking Proposals for Mount Florida
4. Glasgow University Avenue, GoBike responds to the City Council’s rebuff of the Objection to the Traffic Regulation and Parking Controls Order
5. Renfrewshire City Deal, work starts on Scotland’s advanced manufacturing innovation district
6. Glasgow, Beith Street, Planning Application for 48 flats, 19/02063/PPP to be built adjacent to National Cycle Route 7, GoBike objection
7. Glasgow, Connecting Woodside, St George’s Road and West Princes Street, consultation event 27 August

Section 1: Current Consultations, in date order for response

1.1 Glasgow University Drop-in Session for University staff and Residents TODAY, 12 – 2pm

Here’s an email that one of our supporters received yesterday afternoon:

“Please note that there will be a drop-in session for University staff and local residents about the University’s Campus Development Programme tomorrow (Tuesday 3 Sept).

It will be held in the Common Room of the Maths & Stats modular on University Place between 12:00–14:00.

Members of the project team will be on-hand to answer questions about issues including:

• Improvements to University Place
• Improvements to University Avenue
• James McCune Smith Learning Hub construction
• Future plans for the former Western Infirmary site
• Demolitions scheduled on Church Street “

We’ll let you consider the meaning of the word “improvement”!

1.2 Glasgow, St Enoch District Regeneration Framework Public Consultation, closes 06 September

Here’s the GoBike response to this consultation and here are the main points of interest and concern.

• Many of the statements in the Framework are ones we fully support, eg “fully accessible pedestrian/cycle routes along both banks (of the Clyde)”
• The current cycle infrastructure design guide for cycle infrastructure is Cycling by Design, which is almost 10 years old; we need cycle infrastructure that matches the world’s best
• We need to be clear that it will take political will and courage to transform Glasgow
• Streets must be designed for people, not motor traffic
• There is no time to waste
• Solutions need to be found for junctions; these are the danger points for active travellers and their design needs to be done before the streets between junctions
• Comprehensive cycle storage must be provided at all residential properties
• The provision for events to be held on Glasgow Green must ensure that through routes for walking and cycling are kept open

Do please write in to support our views or submit your own to ian.elder@glasgow.gov.uk

1.3 **NEW** Scottish Government, Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee, Pre-Budget/Financial scrutiny on roads maintenance in Scotland, closes 06 September

Transform Scotland have informed us of this consultation that closes next week, which has been called by the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee, with this information:
“The Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee has launched a call for evidence on Pre Budget/Financial scrutiny on roads maintenance in Scotland. The Committee is seeking views on the efficacy of the current approach to roads maintenance in Scotland and the adequacy of current associated expenditure levels. Particularly on the following:
• How have recent spending decisions on roads maintenance affected the quality
of Scotland’s roads, road users, businesses, public services, and the economy?
• If spending on roads maintenance continues at current levels, what could be
the likely effects on the above groups.
• How could any negative effects of reduced road spending best be addressed?
• Is the current model of funding and delivering roads maintenance, which is split
between Transport Scotland and local authorities, the most economic and
efficient option?
The deadline for submissions is Friday 6 September. For more information and to submit evidence please see the attached information sheet.“

Here’s the link to the Transform Scotland reference and here’s the link to the information sheet (repeated from above) with details of how to get your comments in; the email address for responses is rec.committee@parliament.scot

And, putting us to shame, our sister group in Edinburgh are ahead of us on this, see: https://twitter.com/spokeslothian/status/1165726542963650561?s=12

Here’s the GoBike response, in which we raise the need to repair “tram-line” defects in roads and ensure all cycle facilities are well maintained. This will encourage people to switch their travel mode from car to bike and reduce the damage done to our roads – and to our health. We’ve gone slightly controversial on the topics of contracting out and can we expect a good service if we don’t pay for it? Do read it, though, and submit your views by Friday.

1.4 **NEW** Glasgow, Cleeves Quadrant Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 09 September

Here’s a road in Nitshill, G53, almost designed for boy racers, but where are people supposed to walk, where are people, particularly children or the infirm, supposed to cycle?
The City Council has pulled the following out of the “speeding cars” drawer, in this email sent to us on 20 August:

“MESSAGE SENT ON BEHALF OF KEVIN HAMILTON, HEAD OF ROADS, NEIGHBOURHOODS AND SUSTAINABILITY
Dear Sir / Madam
The Glasgow City Council, (Cleeves Quadrant), Traffic Calming Scheme 20__

The Council propose to consider the introduction of the above named Traffic Calming Scheme and I wish to establish the views of your organisation.

Background to the proposed Scheme
The scheme is aimed at improving road safety by reducing vehicle speeds as a recent speed survey found the average speed to be 34mph and the 85^th percentile speed to be 41mph.

Roads affected by the proposed Scheme
The list of roads affected by these proposals are:-
·        Cleeves Quadrant

Details of the proposed Scheme
The proposed Scheme (as depicted on the attached plan) will comprise of:-
·        8 sets of 3, 1.6m, 75mm high speed cushions.
·        1 set of 2, 1.9m, 75mm high speed cushions.
·        The installation of bollards beside the proposed speed cushions.

Please provide any comments you wish to make on these proposals within 21 days (Reply by 09 September 2019). Reply to LandServices.Mailroom@glasgow.gov.uk.

In the meantime, should you require any further information or clarification on any points arising from the proposals, do not hesitate to contact my assistant (name and number removed by GoBike).
Should the Council proceed with these proposals; I will write to you again and confirm this.
Yours faithfully …” etc

Here are the documents associated with the proposal: Plan 1, Plan 2 and Plan 3. It can be noted from the drawings that the minimum gap between the cushion and the edge of the road is 0.5, which is a touch narrow for comfort and what might look like raised junctions are in fact red lines on the drawings simply denoting junction areas. There will be no treatment of the junction areas.
People who are aware of driver behaviour on speed cushions will notice that there is quite a gap between cushions for acceleration and deceleration! Could be noisy.

Here is the GoBike response in which we object to the proposal in its current form and we suggest that stopping the road off to through traffic, while maintaining cycle access would be a better option.

1.5 **NEW** Glasgow, Kingsland Drive Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 09 September

20 August was a good day for buying shares in speed cushions! Here’s the second proposal sent to us that day, for Kingsland Drive above and Thurston Road below, in the Cardonald/Hillington area, G52. The new scheme will start from the cushions in the foreground of the view above and continue west to Thurston Road.

“MESSAGE SENT ON BEHALF OF KEVIN HAMILTON, HEAD OF ROADS, NEIGHBOURHOODS AND SUSTAINABILITY
Dear Sir / Madam
The Glasgow City Council, (Kingsland Drive), Traffic Calming Scheme 20__

The Council propose to consider the introduction of the above named Traffic Calming Scheme and I wish to establish the views of your organisation.

Background to the proposed Scheme
The scheme is aimed at improving road safety by reducing vehicle.

Roads affected by the proposed Scheme
The list of roads affected by these proposals are:-
·        Kingsland Drive
·        Thurston Road

Details of the proposed Scheme
The proposed Scheme (as depicted on the attached plan) will comprise of:-
·        5 sets of 3 (differing widths) 75mm high speed cushions.
·        3 sets of 2, 1.7m, 75mm high speed cushions.
·        The installation of bollards beside the proposed speed cushions.

Please provide any comments you wish to make on these proposals within 21 days (Reply by 09 September 2019). Reply to LandServices.Mailroom@glasgow.gov.uk.

In the meantime, should you require any further information or clarification on any points arising from the proposals, do not hesitate to contact my assistant (details removed by GoBike).
Should the Council proceed with these proposals; I will write to you again and confirm this.
Yours faithfully ...” etc

The plans referred to are: Plan 1, Plan 2 and Plan 3. It’s clear from the Google Earth shots above that footway parking is endemic in this area although I have been told that there wasn’t much when Glasgow City Council staff surveyed the area. This will already deter people from walking and cycling, and residential areas should be better than this. Where’s the ban on footway parking just when it’s needed?
Gaps between the proposed cushions and the kerb vary here from 0.6m to 1.0m and could easily be blocked by parked vehicles – when all the properties have private land off-road where they could store their vehicle(s).

This is the GoBike response in which we object to the proposals in their current form, suggesting that instead residents should be encouraged to park off-road and that chicanes, with cycle bypasses, should be introduced to cut sight lines and speeds.

1.6 **NEW** Glasgow, Leithland Road Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 09 September

Leithland Road, in Pollok, G53, is the third on the list for speed cushion treatment and here’s the email received from the City Council on 20 August:

“MESSAGE SENT ON BEHALF OF KEVIN HAMILTON, HEAD OF ROADS, NEIGHBOURHOODS AND SUSTAINABILITY
Dear Sir / Madam
The Glasgow City Council, (Leithland Road), Traffic Calming Scheme 20__

The Council propose to consider the introduction of the above named Traffic Calming Scheme and I wish to establish the views of your organisation.

Background to the proposed Scheme
The scheme is aimed at improving road safety by reducing vehicle speeds.

Roads affected by the proposed Scheme
The list of roads affected by these proposals are:-
·        Leithland Road

Details of the proposed Scheme
The proposed Scheme (as depicted on the attached plan) will comprise of:-
·        5 sets of 2, 1.6m – 1.8m, 75mm high speed cushions.
·        The installation of bollards beside the proposed speed cushions.

Please provide any comments you wish to make on these proposals within 21 days (Reply by 09 September 2019). Reply to LandServices.Mailroom@glasgow.gov.uk.

In the meantime, should you require any further information or clarification on any points arising from the proposals, do not hesitate to contact my assistant (details removed by GoBike).
Should the Council proceed with these proposals; I will write to you again and confirm this.
Yours faithfully …” etc

Again this is a residential street that is being marred by the thoughtless storage of motor vehicles. It’s clear that some residents have taken steps to garage their cars off-road but others seem to think the roadway is theirs, as well as the footway. 20mph roundels have previously been painted on the road but clearly they are no deterrent to the determined driver.

GoBike has submitted this letter of response. We suggest that, similarly to Kingsland Drive, those residents who don’t already park off-road should be encouraged to do so and buildouts/chicanes, with cycle bypasses, should be introduced.

1.7 **NEW** Glasgow, Helensburgh Drive Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 11 September

We are moving more into the leafy suburbs with the fourth of the set. This is the area near the High School of Glasgow and Jordanhill School and various sports facilities. Here’s the email we were sent on 21 August:

“MESSAGE SENT ON BEHALF OF KEVIN HAMILTON, HEAD OF ROADS, NEIGHBOURHOODS AND SUSTAINABILITY
Dear Sir / Madam
The Glasgow City Council, (Helensburgh Drive), Traffic Calming Scheme 20__

The Council propose to consider the introduction of the above named Traffic Calming Scheme and I wish to establish the views of your organisation.

Background to the proposed Scheme
The scheme is aimed at improving road safety by reducing vehicle speeds.

Roads affected by the proposed Scheme
The list of roads affected by these proposals are:-
·        Helensburgh Drive
·        Jordanhill Drive
·        Ryvra Road
·        Seggielea Road

Details of the proposed Scheme
The proposed Scheme (as depicted on the attached plan) will comprise of:-
·        13 sets of 3 (differing widths) 75mm high speed cushions.
·        The installation of bollards beside the proposed speed cushions.

Please provide any comments you wish to make on these proposals within 21 days (Reply by 11 September 2019).
Please reply directly to LandServices.Mailroom@glasgow.gov.uk.

In the meantime, should you require any further information or clarification on any points arising from the proposals, do not hesitate to contact (contact details removed by GoBike).
Should the Council proceed with these proposals; I will write to you again and confirm this.
Yours faithfully …” etc

Here are the documents sent with the email: Plan 1, Plan 2, Plan 3 and Plan 4.

As you can see from all the screenshots just about every property either has off-road parking or the capacity for such. You might also notice that every street in this area has setts in the gutters, which will make for bumpy cycling if you try to avoid the cushions by cycling at the edge of the road.

We consider that speed cushions are inappropriate here since they will push bikes onto the bumpy setts in the gutters. It’s very likely that the streets here are used to access Jordanhill School and we suggest that roads be stopped off to motor vehicles, leaving only one through route from Anniesland Road to Jordanhil School and that buildouts or chicanes, allowing cycle access, should be installed on that route. Here’s the letter of response.

1.8 Glasgow, Connecting Woodside, St George’s Road and West Prince’s Street, on-line consultation closes 13 September

The drop-in consultation events have been and gone and we have a report back in Item 3.7 below , but you can leave your comments on the Commonplace map. There is more information on the Connecting Woodside project here.

1.9 **NEW** UK Government, Department for Transport (DfT), Carbon offsetting in transport, closes 26 September

Transform Scotland alerted us to this one, with this link. Here’s the link to the UK Government website holding the Department for Transport document – only 18 pages, so quite short for a document of this type!
The email address for responses is Environmental.Strategy@dft.gov.uk
If you have any views do help us out by submitting them to consultations@gobike.org and we’ll use them in the GoBike response. Thanks.

1.10 Consultation on Scotland’s National Transport Strategy, closes 23 October

We gave this link in Digests 40 and 41, Item 1.3 and we will be working on the GoBike response straight after the submission for the St Enoch consultation. Do have a look and put your own views in; we need a greater focus on active travel and public transport and the more responses the better.

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

2.1 Glasgow, Pollok Country Park Public Consultation Event 10 September

This is the event postponed from 22 August and will take place at Pollokshaws Library on Tuesday 10 September from 12noon until 8pm.
There were links to the documents supplied by Glasgow Life in Digest 41, Item 2.2. If you haven’t been involved to date this is your chance to get along to the Library and give your views towards improving active travel in and around Pollok Park. It’s open to all.

2.2 Advance Notice: Byres Road Public Realm Traffic Regulation Orders

Exciting news – progress on Byres Road and let’s hope it’s good. Here’s the email that we received from Glasgow City Council last Friday afternoon, 30 August:

“Dear Stakeholders,

At the end of April 2019, the Council’s Neighbourhoods, Housing and Public Realm Committee approved concept designs for Byres Road subject to further design development.  Design work is ongoing however the Council will shortly be in a position to commence the statutory consultation process to promote new Traffic Regulation Orders that are required for implementation of the proposed works. 

Following consideration it is proposed that three separate Traffic Regulation Orders will be promoted to address the following issues:

Byres Road- Introduction of 20mph Speed Limit

This order will propose the introduction of a 20MPH speed limit on Byres Road to improve road safety and bring speed limits into line with surrounding residential areas.

Byres Road- Traffic Management and Parking Controls

This order will facilitate the proposed public realm improvements in Byres Road, including footway widening and new cycle lanes. The Order will propose a reduction in on-street car parking bays, the introduction of protected cycle lanes, additional disabled parking, the removal of the left-turn filter lane at the junction of Byres Road and Great Western Road and the introduction of a one-way arrangement on Byres Road and Church Street south of the Church Street junction.  The location of bus stops, loading bays and taxi ranks will be largely unchanged by the Order, although a new daytime taxi rank is proposed at Church Street to complement the University redevelopment works.

Hillhead- Traffic Management and Parking Controls

This order will propose the conversion of “residents only” parking bays to “shared use” bays in order to bring the parking regime in Hillhead into line with other residential areas within the west-end.  The order will also include proposals to pedestrianise Ashton Lane / Great George Lane with service access limited to specific times and controlled by drop-bollards. Residential access to the rear of Ashton Road will be maintained.

Please note that this communication is an advance notice of the forthcoming consultation – it is not the start of the consultation.  Officers are currently preparing the necessary documentation to commence the consultation process in September 2019. Public notices will include full details of the proposals and will advise members of the public of the deadline for the receipt of written submissions outlining grounds for objection or support of the proposed measures.  All submissions will be reviewed at the end of the consultation period and revisions considered dependent on the level and validity of objections received.

Best Regards,

Chris

Chris Burrows
Principal Officer- City Deal (Waterfront & West End)”

We will be looking out for these and hoping and checking that they meet with our aspirations. We’ll keep you informed.

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

3.1 University Avenue temporary closures – free of motor traffic weekends

Yes, you might have noticed that University Avenue was free of motor vehicles at the weekend and there’s another one coming up, 14/15 September. Here’s the email (with the important bits in bold) that one of our members sent on:

From: Internal Communications <communications@glasgow.ac.uk>
Subject: University Avenue temporary closures
Date: 26 August 2019 at 15:09:44 BST
To: Internal Communications <communications@glasgow.ac.uk>

Dear neighbour, 
University Avenue will be temporarily closed to traffic in both directions over the weekends of 31 August/1 September and 14/15 September. The closures will start at 06:00 on Saturday and finish at 06:00 on Monday. The first will allow installation of a key part of the new James McCune Smith Learning Hub – the link bridge between the new building and the existing Boyd Orr Building. The second is to allow for the removal of the remaining tower crane. In both cases the road will be closed between the junctions for Ashton Road and University Gardens. The footpath on the west-bound carriageway, closest to the Wolfson Medical Building, will remain open so that pedestrians can still use the Avenue. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. Please note that the University and Multiplex will be holding a drop-in session on 3 September for our neighbours and staff. It will be held in the Common Room of the Maths & Stats modular building on University Place between 12:00–14:00 – please see map attached. It will be an opportunity to ask questions of the project team involved in the construction works happening around campus. For further information, please contact campus-development@glasgow.ac.uk or visit https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/campusdevelopment/

So it can be closed completely for two weekends but can’t accommodate cycle lanes for the full length?

3.2 East Dunbartonshire Council: LDP Newsletter No. 51, August 2019

Keeping us up-to-date with what’s going on around the north and north-east of Glasgow, here’s the latest Local Development Plan newsletter from East Dunbartonshire Council:

3.3 Glasgow City Council response to our concerns on Parking Proposals for Mount Florida

On 22 July as we reported in Digest 39, Item 1.4, GoBike submitted this letter to Glasgow City Council objecting to their plans to introduce angled parking by making streets one-way in Mount Florida.
We have now, 27 August, received this detailed reply:

“MESSAGE SENT ON BEHALF OF ANDY WADDELL, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, NEIGHBOURHOODS AND SUSTAINABILITY
Dear Ms Fort
THE GLASGOW CITY COUNCIL, (MOUNT FLORIDA), (TRAFFIC REGULATION) ORDER 201_
Thank you for your correspondence regarding the above named Traffic Regulation Order.
I can advise that these proposals have been implemented following discussions with the local community council.

Proposed one way streets
With regards to the proposed one way roads, the southern section of Clincart Road currently has vehicles parking parallel to the kerb on both sides, however, if the one way proposals are implemented, there is a desire from the local community to park their vehicles at an angle facing into the kerb on one side of the road in order to maximise parking provision.  The section of Bolton Drive that would become one way under these proposals currently has angled parking on one side of the road and parallel parking on the other.  As such, the road width between parked vehicles would be of similar width to roads within the West End of Glasgow where Police Scotland have previously raised concerns with one way except cyclists proposals.

The northern section of Clincart Road (between Cathcart Road and Florida Street) currently has vehicles parking at an angle on both sides of the road which leaves a minimal amount of space for a vehicle to pass through.  For the same reason as stated above, it is unlikely that Police Scotland would support one way except cyclists at this location due to the limited carriageway width between the parked vehicles.

The middle section of Clincart Road (between Bolton Drive and Florida Street) currently has parallel parking on both sides of the road, however, if a one way operation is implemented, it is possible that vehicles may change to angled parking on one side of the road.  If they continued to park in the manner as they do just now, allowing contraflow cycling within this small section of road could lead to confusion given that it would not be permitted on the other sections of Clincart Road.

The carriageway width between parked vehicles on Florida Street is approximately 3.8 metres however, as mentioned above, allowing contraflow cycling on one street where it is not permitted within its adjacent streets would likely create confusion for both drivers and cyclists. 

It should also be noted that on one way roads, the Council aim to have a minimum carriageway width of 3.5 metres for vehicles to pass through.  In accordance with Cycling by Design 2010 (Revision 1, June 2011) guidelines, dedicated cycle lanes for cyclists should be no less than 1.2 metres in width.  As such, if the carriageway width on one way roads for vehicles/cyclists to pass one another is less than 4.7 metres, the Council would be unlikely to propose contraflow cycling on the grounds of road safety. 

Buildouts
With regards to a number of proposed buildouts at bus stops on Cathcart Road, the reason for doing so is to maximise parking and loading provision adjacent to local businesses.  As you may be aware, if buildouts were not considered, bus stop cages would require to be marked on the road at a length of at least 25 metres which would have a knock on effect on parking and loading provision for local businesses.

Parking/loading restrictions at junctions
Whilst I note your comments relating to the Highway Code, I can advise that parking attendants can only carry out enforcement where there are restrictions in place which are covered by a traffic regulation order.  As such, the proposed waiting/loading restrictions are necessary in order to prevent the current indiscriminate and obstructive parking practices being experienced within the area.

Restricted Parking Zone surrounding Hampden Stadium
Restricted Parking Zones (RPZ) are generally implemented within areas which suffer from high levels of commuter parking.  Whilst there are a number of railway stations within the Mount Florida area, there has been no major concerns expressed to the Council relating to commuter parking.
As such, unless there is a sudden increase in commuter parking within the area, there is no requirement to proposed a RPZ surrounding Hampden Stadium at this time.

Having considered the above, should you wish to withdraw your objection I would be pleased if you would inform me by 17 September 2019 by writing to Andy Waddell, Director of Operations, Neighbourhoods and Sustainability, Exchange House, 231 George Street, Glasgow, G1 1RX or by e-mailing land@glasgow.gov.uk
If you do not wish to withdraw your objection then there is no requirement for you to write to us again.
Your objection will be considered and included within the final report which will inform the decision. Once a decision has been taken in regards to these proposals I shall write to you again and advise of the outcome.
Yours sincerely ...” etc

There we have it: if residents and businesses want parking, they got it, even to the detriment of the active travel community and all the grand documents that the City Council and Scottish Government produce.
Note too, how open the City Council is to angled parking, even though drivers will then reverse out into the roadway when they have very limited visibility of the road, a move not endorsed by the Highway Code.
Here’s a good analysis of angled parking that a GoBike member found: https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2008/01/03/the-case-against-pull-in-angle-parking/ Even though it’s quite old and from the US it’s to the point.
Did we ask in our submission for separate cycle lanes on these one-way streets to facilitate contraflow cycling? No, we didn’t, yet the response uses the excuse that the streets, once they have been narrowed to allow all this parking are too narrow for a “dedicated cycle lane”. Contraflow cycling is the default in Cycling by Design and is common practice elsewhere and is even a feature of some Glasgow streets. It would be good to have a discussion on permeability for cycle traffic with both the City Council and Police Scotland, to discover the source of this oft-quoted objection!

We are considering a response.

3.4 Glasgow University Avenue, GoBike responds to the City Council’s rebuff of the Objection to the Traffic Regulation and Parking Controls Order

No doubt most of you remember our campaign of last winter and spring to ensure the maintenance of the through cycle lanes on University Avenue and their upgrade from the painted lines of the Colleges Cycle Route to lanes physically separated from motor traffic?
On 07 June we submitted this letter of Objection to the TRO that introduced painted cycle lanes on the uphill sections only but maintained two-way traffic and allowed loading.
On 13 August we received this email reply from Glasgow City Council, which we reproduced in full in Digest 41, Item 3.8.
As noted last time, we were not favourably impressed with that reply and on 30 August submitted this reply to Andy Waddell, Head of Operations, Neighbourhoods and Sustainability at the Council, with a copy to Michael Matheson, MSP and Minister of Transport, the Active Nation Commissioner, Lee Craigie, Councillor Anna Richardson, Patrick Harvie MSP and Patrick Grady MP.

GoBike members spend so much time responding to Traffic Regulation Orders that are clearly not in compliance with the Connectivity Commission, the target of 10% of journeys by bike by 2020 that was first downgraded to an aim, then an aspiration and now a lost dream and all the other high-level documents lauding active travel. Once there is work to do on the ground a knee-jerk reaction appears to set in and the motor vehicle reigns supreme. We need policies that operate at all levels to promote walking and cycling and the good health that activity promotes.

3.5 Renfrewshire City Deal, work starts on Scotland’s advanced manufacturing innovation district

Here are some of the details of the latest newsflash about the Renfrewshire City Deal progress – the full document is here.

“A new manufacturing district in Renfrewshire which will create thousands of new jobs for the sector is a step closer as work has now started on the site of the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS).

Renfrewshire pupils from Inchinnan Primary were also on hand to plant a tailor-made time capsule on the site, packed full of local manufacturing mementos together with the children’s ‘dream inventions’ – covering everything from glasses that can see emotions to a self-navigating bike.

Work has now started on constructing the enabling infrastructure, which includes new roads, bridges, cycling routes and pedestrian walkways, being delivered by the Glasgow Airport Investment Area (GAIA) project which is funded through the £1.13 billion Glasgow City Region City Deal, jointly funded by the UK and Scottish governments.”

3.6 Glasgow, Beith Street, Planning Application for 48 flats, 19/02063/PPP to be built adjacent to National Cycle Route 7, GoBike objection

GoBike’s just-in-time objection to this proposal is on the City Council’s planning portal, use the reference number 19/02063/PPP or “Beith Street” to search. Once there are more than 6 objections a planning application has to go to committee; this one has well over a hundred, so let hope it’s drummed out. Here’s our objection if you don’t wish to search.

We are generally not able to respond to Planning Applications but we were alerted to this one because it impacts on National Cycle Route 7, which is in a parlous state as it runs along a shared footway at the west end of Beith Street.

If you are on your local Community Council and/or you hear of a Planning Application that will affect cycle routes do let us know.

3.7 Glasgow, Connecting Woodside, St George’s Road and West Prince’s Street, consultation event 27 August

We are indebted to one of our members who attended this event for this feedback:

“The section of St George’s Road, which was the focus of the event, is fairly straightforward. There are three key issues:

1. Where the bidirectional lanes will cross from the east side to the west side, north of St George’s Cross – not yet fixed.
2. The junction with North Woodside Road
3. The pedestrian crossings north of North Woodside Road. They appear to have decided that the main crossing should be at St George’s in the Field, which leads to a pend into Braid Square. The carriageway would also be ‘punched at this point to force drivers to slow and to alternate between north and southbound vehicles. It was shown as a zebra. The existing crossing at the nursery, might be retained (with ‘pinching’), but, if the North Woodside Road junction is signalised (which is an option) then the crossing would move to close to the junction.

A good point was that the display included a map of the entire Connecting Woodside area, with drawings and visualisations of The Underline, the reestablishment of St George’s Cross as a public space, the West Prince’s St Drawings, The south St George’s Road drawings, The Garscube Road drawings, the proposals for Cambridge Street and for a Renfrew Street ‘avenue’. This gave a sense of context, for the actual section being discussed.”

There is still time for you to respond to the on-line consultation – it’s open until 13 September. See the details here.

So there’s your exciting bumper bundle of joy and despair. Back in two weeks with more for you.