Next we will head to the NCN route 7 path to Johnstone, before branching off through Linwood, and arrive back in Paisley around lunchtime. The return to Glasgow after lunch will be via Renfrew, and we will finish at the Riverside Museum.

The distance is 32 miles, mostly on paths and quieter roads, but occasional bits on main roads.

We will meet as usual at 10am at the north end of Bell’s Bridge, Congress Road, Glasgow.
Bring a packed lunch or buy something in Paisley.

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 City Centre Congestion Improvement, closes 08 March
2. Glasgow, Heathcot Avenue Drumchapel, proposed one-way operation, closes 08 March
3. Transport Scotland A830 Shlatach Road over Rail Bridge, Glenfinnan, reconstruction, closes 14 March
4. Strathclyde Passenger Transport (SPT) Regional Transport Strategy – Public Survey, closes 20 March
5. **NEW** Glasgow Broomielaw District Regeneration Framework, closes 05 April
6. North Lanarkshire Council Local Development Plan, closes 05 April

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

1. Battlefield Street Design – Public Consultation event 19 March 2019
2. Glasgow Byres Road Design Workshop, now postponed from 06 to 21 March
3. Renfrewshire, cycle lane from Renfrew to the Glasgow boundary at Shieldhall, who knows when?
4. Lanarkshire, South and North – sounding positive

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

1. Woodlands Phase 2 Consultation closed 03 March, GoBike response
2. GoBike monthly ride 03 March including a trip along the cycle facilities leading to the Knightswood BMX track.
3. Glasgow City Council (Maxwell Drive and Bruce Road) Traffic Calming Scheme 2018
4. Glasgow, University Avenue
5. East Dunbartonshire Council, Local Development Plan newsletter 50
6. Glasgow Sauchiehall Street and Elmbank Street one-way, Community Council meeting

Section 1: Current Consultations in date order for responses

1.1 Glasgow City Centre Congestion Improvement, closes 08 March

Do please support this proposal, which was featured in Digest 28, Item 1.3 and brings in some parking restrictions in the city centre, some amendments to taxi ranks and 7-day parking charges – all in the hope that motor traffic will flow better and people will try out the bus or the subway to get into town, or even walk or get on their bike. The City Council’s report is here and here’s a map of the area to be affected.

Here’s the letter of support that GoBike submitted last week.

1.2 Glasgow, Heathcot Avenue Drumchapel, proposed one-way operation, closes 08 March

Here is the Press Notice for these proposals, which were featured in our last Digest as Item 1.4. The city council is apparently concerned that two-way operation and parking at junctions is causing concern, not only for the motor traffic, but for pedestrians trying to cross the roads. GoBike is concerned that one-way motor traffic, with no opposing traffic, will tend to travel faster, that parking at junctions is already not allowed within the Highway Code and that absolutely no consideration has been given to active travel. Drumchapel is an area of the city with very low car ownership and no cycle facilities.
The GoBike letter of Objection to the proposals is here.

1.3 Transport Scotland A830 Shlatach Road over Rail Bridge, Glenfinnan, reconstruction, closes 14 March

This consultation for works well out with the area normally considered by GoBike was Item 1.5 in our last Digest, Digest 28 and we have responded with this letter. We thought it worth responding on the grounds that some of us might get this far away on our hols.

1.4 Strathclyde Passenger Transport (SPT) Regional Transport Strategy – Public Survey, closes 20 March

We featured this welcome survey last time too, Item 1.6 in Digest 28. If you haven’t already completed it, please do – it’s really quick and easy. Here’s the link to the survey.

1.5 **NEW** Glasgow Broomielaw District Regeneration Framework, closes 05 April

Glasgow City Council have published a draft District Regeneration Framework for the Broomielaw District – the link is here. Interestingly, the area covered is both north and south of the Clyde and the main document includes the following statements:

“The aim of this project is to promote the riverside boulevard, first and foremost, as a continuous pedestrian promenade, rather than as a busy car road.

• The amount of space taken by cars should be reduced to allow more space for separate bike lanes, wide pedestrian footways with enough space for external cafe/bar terraces and trees.
• Through car traffic along the riverside (other than local access) should be discouraged with a nett reduction of car trips along the river. This should be part of a larger review of the city centre car circulation.
• Road carriageway width should be reduced (currently dualled two way traffic with filter lanes) and design speeds reduced through passive street design measures. Centre
• Fastlink bus lane exacerbates severance along the quays. It should be reviewed and adjusted / integrated into the reduced carriageway layout. (GoBike emphasis)
• Crossing points should be located on natural ‘desire-lines’ straight, wider and safer and clearly indicate pedestrian and cyclist priority over cars. (GoBike emphasis)
• North-South streets should be connected to the quay roads from both North and South banks of the river with special attention to improving pedestrian and cycle access and connections at existing bridge crossings.”

This all seems quite promising and well in-tune with pronouncements from GoBike, so you might want to have a look at either the full document or the summary and complete the survey. GoBike committee member, Brenda, is reviewing the document and we are hopeful that her final summary will confirm the nirvana promised by the above extract!

1.6 North Lanarkshire Council Local Development Plan, closes 05 April

Folk in North Lanarkshire have been very quiet on this – please let us know if you have any views you’d want us to back on this! Here’s the flyer we published two weeks ago:

Information on the Modified Proposed Plan is here and the Local Development Plan Modified Proposal Plan is here – there might just be a prize for the first person who can find a mention of active travel or even public transport in the documents. But do please have a look at them!

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

2.1 Battlefield Street Design – Public Consultation event 19 March 2019

GoBike received this email on 28 February:

“Hello,
Over the past few months, we have asked for your opinion on various ways to improve the centre of Battlefield and Battlefield Road and have listened carefully to all that you’ve had to say, whether that be at events, meetings or online. So far, your views have helped shape our thinking and have guided us to create the first draft of the concept designs.
We’d now like to invite you to feedback on these designs and help shape the proposals going forward.
From the 18^th March until the 12^th April the design proposals will be available for public feedback when you can:

• Visit the website battlefieldproposals.commonplace.is to leave your comments
• View the designs at Langside Library or Langside Parish Church and complete a feedback form
• Attend the drop-in event at Langside Library on Tuesday 19 March between 3pm – 8pm to view the designs in detail, ask any questions and meet the team. Presentations will be held at 5pm and 7pm and refreshments are available throughout. Please find the Facebook event here and share with anyone else who lives, works or travels in the area.

I’ve also attached a poster for the consultation period if you are able to share it or put one up at your local community group, noticeboard, church, school etc.
To find out more about the project as well as other opportunities to get involved please visit our project website where you can subscribe for updates on the ‘News’ page: https://battlefield.commonplace.is/news

If you have any questions at all or would like further details on the project please don’t hesitate to contact me on my details below.
Best wishes

Community Engagement Officer | Street Design
Sustrans Scotland

Do get along to the event if you can, particularly if you live, work or travel in the area. GoBike has been involved in the working group meetings along with the local Community Council and other people and groups from Battlefield and this does all look promising from an active travel and neighbourhood – building point of view.

2.2 Glasgow Byres Road Design Workshop, now postponed from 06 to 21 March

We are somewhat concerned – on 20th December last year, four people from GoBike and Space for People Byres Road attended a meeting with Glasgow City Council and Sustrans, at which we were given the good news that it is feasible to have segregated cycle lanes on Byres Road. In addition, we were told that the design would be completed by the end of January and the Traffic Regulation Order issued soon after. We reported this in Digest 25, Items 2.2 and 3.4.

As we still await the TRO, we were, in February, invited to a workshop with other stakeholders, to be held on 06 March and the four of us made arrangements to attend. Then, on 27 February we were told that the event has been postponed to 21 February. Why? “ The date has been revised in order to maximise attendance from key stakeholder groups” the email invitation informed us. This date is not suitable for at least three people from the active travel community that we are aware of – could there possibly be more influential stakeholder groups than those who represent people who cycle?! We hope to have an update for you in our next-but-one Digest, due out on 02 April.

2.3 Renfrewshire, cycle lane from Renfrew to the Glasgow boundary at Shieldhall, who knows when?

So, who does know what is happening (see here)? It was all very frantic with the consultation events in Renfrew that we previously advertised on, then off, on and finally off. We know that some local councillors had been using their Facebook comments (which are never usually a great indication of balanced or informed opinion) as evidence that the proposed cycle lanes were “not wanted”. And they appear to have won the upper hand for now, the council stating that “further to initial consultation” the public information events will be rescheduled. Being that the actual consultation events were cancelled, and so the “initial consultation” hadn’t actually happened yet, we can only assume that they had been strong armed into cancelling by the councillors.

John, our Co-Convenor, called into the Tuesday consultation venue on his way home from work. Staff were there just in case people hadn’t heard of the cancellation. John, and another GoBike member, who also called in, were told that comments on the Commonplace map will be taken into account when the project is reconsidered. Unfortunately the survey is now closed, so the bikelash group might currently have the upper hand. Let’s hope that local councillors start to toe their party line on active travel, that sense does eventually prevail and we do get cycle lanes here.

2.4 Lanarkshire, South and North – sounding positive

News in from GoBike member, Derek Y, who attends the South Lanarkshire Cycling Partnership meetings. Lots is being discussed but, like the map mentioned below, not yet being made public. We await more definite news but it’s looking like progress:

“Map from Hamilton Active Travel presentation to SLCP. ‘High level’ overview of primary routes and ‘local links’. Not much detail about what form these would take but the consultant said most primary routes would be segregated off road. Local links may be like ‘quiet ways’ but not sure. It is progress but I was disappointed by lack of primary route in south of Hamilton.

Networks also in the pipeline for East Kilbride and Rutherglen/Cambuslang. East Kilbride active travel will be considered at a workshop this week.

More news to follow about a promising route in North Lanarkshire. Between North and South there’s quite a lot going on in Lanarkshire all of a sudden. I’d guess that increase in national funding is having an effect?”

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

3.1 Woodlands Phase 2 Consultation closed 03 March, GoBike response

Many GoBike members attended the two consultation events, looked at the proposals, spoke to staff, commented on-line and voiced their views on GoBike’s Slack workspace. From all of this we have developed and submitted this letter detailing our general welcome of the scheme but also voicing our concern about various points. Of particular concern is the hazardous road layout between St George’s Road and Sauchiehall Street, partly shown in this photograph.

Thanks to our member for their helpful input on this – more of that please!

3.2 GoBike monthly ride 03 March including a trip along the cycle facilities leading to the Knightswood BMX track.

Sunday’s GoBike ride was a delightful tour through the West End, up to Duntocher, down to Old Kilpatrick and out as far as Bowling, before heading back along the canal and cycle track to see the cycle-facility-free developments at Clydebank around the West Scotland College and new Leisure Centre. Next, a major attraction of the ride was riding the route to the new BMX park, constructed for the European Championships last year.

What a mish-mash this is with good quality segregated bi-directional cycle lanes, sub-standard bi-directional cycle lanes, all desperately needing to be brushed, shared footways of varying widths, painted-on cycle lanes with parking encroaching on the buffer zone, but at least the give-way and stop lines were either side of the cycle lanes. All, sadly, in line with the letters GoBike sent in at the time of the Traffic Regulation Orders back in 2017, see this letter about the segregated sections of the route and this letter about the footway redetermination. Unfortunately, there was pressure of time to get cycle facilities complete before the Games and GoBike was invited in to meet City Council staff in January 2018 and reluctantly we agreed to withdraw our concerns particularly about the shared footway section. Here’s the letter we submitted.

3.3 Glasgow City Council (Maxwell Drive and Bruce Road) Traffic Calming Scheme 2018

GoBike replied to the consultation on this proposed traffic calming scheme with this letter, which we published in Consultation Digest 25.

We have now received this disappointing response from the City Council:

“Thank you for your letter of 3 January 2019 regarding the traffic calming proposals for Maxwell Drive and Bruce Road, and I apologise for the delay of this response.

I note the points and suggestions you make and would assure you that when changes are made to the road network by Glasgow City Council, we seek to incorporate improvements for cyclists. However, this is not always possible and with respect to these proposals, the funding is not available to amend the layout to reflect your suggestions.     
By way of background, following receipt of the notification email of 14^th December 2018 about these proposed measures, officers were requested to attend February’s Pollokshields Community Council meeting to talk through the proposals, hence the delay of this response.

I trust that the foregoing clarifies the matter. If, however, you require any further information, please contact (details removed by GoBike)

Michael Brady
Group Manager – Traffic and Road Safety
Neighbourhoods and Sustainability”

Good that Pollokshields Community Council were involved. We are aware that they want a prompt response to the “boy racers” who drive at ridiculous speeds on some of our streets, and we are also aware that Glasgow City Council have a standard response when it comes to traffic calming and, guess what? It’s the installation of (funded) speed tables.

3.4 Glasgow, University Avenue

Since our last digest we have had a response from the University of Glasgow, who maintain that their plans make the street safer for cycling while continuing to avoid answering our questions, and who reiterate that the work will go ahead as planned. Read the full letter here.

Co-convenor Iona has responded to let them know that:

Our first focus on all of our campaigns is also safety, and that of all users of place, which is why University Avenue is bringing us such concern. Unfortunately we do not accept that the primary concern within your plans is the safety of everyone using University Avenue, or that University Avenue will be safer for all, as the safety of people using (or wishing to use) cycling for transport will remain unguarded. The plans for University Avenue do not account for the safety of staff and students arriving by bike, nor that of people travelling through the area. Cycling is, and will remain a dangerous activity on University Avenue.

Of course we welcome the needed improvements for pedestrians, and would always expect those to be first priority, but actually the planned prioritisation for University Avenue has put the private car and public transport above pedestrians, and those above cycling. This is directly contrary to the national transport hierarchy and your own active travel strategies. It is also worth noting that while the majority of users of the street are currently pedestrians, should safety conditions improve for cycling, a university campus would see a large uptake in people using bikes to travel to and through the campus. You can install state of the art cycle parking on campus but for as long as there is no safe cycling infrastructure to reach campus, active travel rates will remain low.

We have had numerous students and staff from the University contacting us to let us know that they were not consulted on your plans. We don’t see any public consultation process detailed online, and we know that Sustrans, the main sustainable transport organisation for Scotland were also unaware of your plans. Although a couple of our questions were answered at the meeting and we’ve been provided with info on another, we still have a number of questions outstanding as those remaining unscored below:

1. Is Glasgow University carrying out the work On University Avenue by way of Planning Gain? No
2. Did Glasgow City Council advise what was required for the road design? (Questions 3-5 assume Yes to this question)
3. What date the council informed you of requirements?
4. Was this advice either in writing or by reference to Planning Guidelines?
5. Which department and officer provide this guidance?
6. What are the current traffic levels on University Avenue?
7. What traffic reduction level are the University looking for?
8. What quantitative research has been carried out on cycle traffic on University Avenue? Could this be shared with us?
9. Does the University have a target for growth in cycling and what is this?  37% of staff and students at Glasgow University have said they would cycle more if there were safer routes. The University has targets of reducing drive commutes from 27% (2015) to 15% by 2025 and to increase cycling to 15% by 2025.
10. When will the Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) Public Notice for University Avenue be published? Sitting with council
11. Could you please share the scope and timescale of the public consultation on University Avenue, including details of: who was notified about any events; any surveys carried out; if any online consultation was held.
12. Which independent active travel organisations were consulted?

We know that there is space to account for the safety of all users of University Avenue, including people on bikes. To retrofit would compromise an ideal design and so we hope to hear from you very soon.”

We continue to push on University Avenue and are still trying to find out how these plans could have been passed by the council. Since our last digest, we have had messages of support for our campaign for better active travel provision on the street from Sustrans, who have been surprised to hear that segregated lanes are not a part of the proposals, and from Patrick Grady MSP (SNP) and Patrick Harvie MSP (Greens) who have both spoken with the university and continue to look for answers from the council. There has been mention of retrofitting soft segregation on the lanes but as this solution is only temporary and would still be on only one side of the street, on lanes that are too narrow, and disappear to throw cyclists out into unprotected traffic at the top of the hill, we continue to push for proper safe space for cycling on the important network link, and keep our eyes peeled for the TRO. Keep up to date with the campaign here.

3.5 East Dunbartonshire Council, Local Development Plan newsletter 50

Received on 01 March, East Dunbartonshire’s latest LDP newsletter, giving us the news that over 200 responses (including 1 from GoBike) were submitted to the Local Transport Strategy consultation. Quite a bit of news for EDC residents, and others, in this newsletter.

3.6 Glasgow Sauchiehall Street and Elmbank Street one-way, Community Council meeting

As reported in Digest 28, Item 3.4, John and Tricia attended the February meeting of the Blythswood and Broomielaw Community Council 2 weeks ago. We explained our concern about the change in the northern part of Elmbank Street becoming one-way southbound and the Community Council members and the two City Councillors who attended were very sympathetic to the issue. Two members of the Community Council had already been out and looked at our concern about a legal cycle route from Charing Cross and the King’s Theatre to Sauchiehall Street, and the Community Council agreed to write to Andy Waddell, Director of Operations, Neighbourhoods and Sustainability . They were supported in that by Councillor Christy Mearns and Bailie Philip Braat, who has since sent us this message:

” Many thanks for copying us into your email correspondence about about the cycling issue at Elmbank Street. Christy and I will support as best as we can.
Best wishes
Philip

Bailie Philip Braat
Depute Lord Provost”

So, at last, two years since we first raised this concern, we have a glimmer of hope!

And with that good news, we’ll let you get on and enjoy whatever you are doing next.