Then we will go into Erskine on the New Town’s path network, to end up at the waterfront. Next will be the Erskine Bridge, then return through Clydebank to Glasgow on the Loch Lomond path.

26 miles, a mix of paths and back streets, only a few short bits on busier roads, and little in the way of climbing. Potentially stopping in Clydebank for lunch.

Meet at 10:00 Sunday 05 April at the north end of Bell’s Bridge near the SEC.

For more information about GoBike rides see here

Next we will follow some new cycle facilities, including the now completed Renfrew to Paisley cycleway. We will also see some new provision in Blackhall and Hawkhead, before joining NCN route 7 back into Glasgow, and finish at Festival Park.
20 miles, mostly on paths and quieter roads, with a short set of steps in Renfrew.

We will meet 10am at the north end of Bell’s Bridge, Congress Road, Glasgow.

For further details of GoBike rides see here

Argyll & Bute

Tarbert Ferry Terminal to Whitehouse – Community Path

Further consultation on a path between Tarbert’s ferry terminal, on Loch Fyne, across the top of the Kintyre peninsula to Kennacraig ferry terminal/Whitehouse. There are concept designs for the route between the two, alongside the A83. This is a Stage 2 consultation (Stage 1 was in 2024). There was an in-person consultation event in Tarbert that has passed. This path to the south-west seems to be separate from the project to create a path to the north-east (Tarbet to Inverarnan).
Links: Tarbert to Whitehouse Community Path (Engagement Hub), large plan image (ZoomHub), Tarbert–Whitehouse survey, Feedback Map and ABC website page.
Deadline: Tuesday 30 September 2025 (17.00).

East Dunbartonshire

LDP3 – Call for Ideas and Sites Consultation

Part of the Council’s continuing work to prepare its next Local Development Plan (LDP). The plan will guide what land in East Dunbartonshire is used for development. The call for ideas is about planning policy and spatial strategy. The call for sites is for general ideas or developers with plans about how to develop areas of land. The call for sites may be an opportunity to lobby for active travel routes.
Two drop-in information sessions (Kirkintilloch/Milngavie) have already passed.
Links: LDP3 web page, LDP3 call for ideas survey and LDP3 call for sites survey.
Deadline: Monday 15 September 2025.

East Renfrewshire

Parks & Green Spaces

ERC say: “We want to learn about your experience of visiting and using parks and greenspaces in East Renfrewshire. Which parks are your favourite? What do you like about them? What do you think could be better? The results of the survey will be used to inform the new Open Space Strategy and Local Development Plan 3.”
East Ren parks and green spaces with important active travel links include: Rouken Glen Park, Balgray Reservoir and Whitelee Wind Farm. There are also some ‘missing links’, like the wasteground and disused bridge between Williamwood train station and Eastwood Health & Care Centre.
Link: East Ren parks and green spaces consultation.
Deadline (extended): 12 September 2025.

Thornliebank Consultations

Feedback about completed projects in Thornliebank, including access improvements to Thornliebank Playing Fields.
Link: Thornliebank Consultations page and Thornliebank Projects Feedback survey.
Deadline: no obvious deadline.

Inverclyde

Proposed Installation of Road Humps – Kirn Drive, Gourock (ETRO)

Following previous consultation, Inverclyde Council propose traffic calming on Kirn Drive in Midton, Gourock. The road would be made one-way between Arran Rd in east and Divert Rd in west with humps added. Also, Staffa Street would be made one-way from Ivy Crescent to Kingsway east. An Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) usually lasts 18 months to pilot a change.
Link: Kirn Dr, Gourock TRO page.
Deadline (extended): 1 September 2025.

North Ayrshire

Montgomerie Park, Irvine

North Ayrshire Council is planning the development of 188 new homes at Montgomerie Park, Irvine. Following previous consultations, the final plans for the site are available to view. A proposed road at the south of the new estate seems to include a cycle path but there are no details on width/surface.
Link: Montgomery Park page and final plans (PDF).
Deadline: Sunday 31 August 2025.

Renfrewshire

Outcomes of previous consultations

Renfewshire Council’s new website has an ‘Outcome available’ section with feedback from previous consultations. These include: Erskine Town Centre consultation and Johnston Civic Squares consultation.
Link: Renfrewshire Council consultations and ‘Outcome available’ page.

South Lanarkshire

Update on Hamilton Town Centre Masterplan

An update from South Lanarkshire Council is mostly about progress with property. Sadly, this includes demolishing the facade of the former Vogue Bingo hall on Keith St (apparently as it’s now unsafe). Other negative news includes the trial reintroduction of cars on Quarry St being made permanent. Quarry St used to be pedestrianised – see featured image at top of post from 2012 (with Vogue building in background). Car parking had crept up since the pandemic (leading to the trial). There should be disabled parking and it always had some access for loading, etc. However, officially opening the street to all cars removes safe space for walking, wheeling and cycling (even if it’s still one-way and not really a through road).

Also, work is starting to look at renewing the Duke St multi-storey car park – it’s due to be demolished (apart from the section under Wyler Tower!). However, the plan is to build a new multi-storey in the same place, on the wrong side of the road from the shops! It could potentially have been moved behind Quarry St, in the footprint of the current Regent Shopping Centre, if road access had been adjusted (see alternative plans, ignored by SLC). There is due to be an improved pedestrian/cycle path behind the Duke St car park, to Hamilton Central station, but it doesn’t seem like the rest of the town centre will be very cycle-friendly.

Local Action Fund

The Local Action Fund is £50,000 for each of the 20 council wards in South Lanarkshire. Several projects have already been awarded but there is funding remaining in some wards. There doesn’t seem to be a formal consultation or application process – constituents have to contact their councillors, who will decide where the remaining funds go.

For example, Rutherglen South, Ward 11, reportedly has £23,200 still to be spent by Councillors Robert Brown (who has attended GoBike hustings in the past), Margaret Cowie and Carol Nugent. Could some of the funding go towards improving local active travel routes?

East Renfrewshire

Parks & Green Spaces

ERC say: “We want to learn about your experience of visiting and using parks and greenspaces in East Renfrewshire. Which parks are your favourite? What do you like about them? What do you think could be better? The results of the survey will be used to inform the new Open Space Strategy and Local Development Plan 3.”
East Ren parks and green spaces with important active travel links include: Rouken Glen Park, Balgray Reservoir and Whitelee Wind Farm. There are also some ‘missing links’, like the wasteground and disused bridge between Williamwood train station and Eastwood Health & Care Centre.
Link: East Ren parks and green spaces consultation.
Deadline: 14 July 2025.

Glasgow City

North Laurieston Masterplan – Stage 1

This seems to be in early stages so not many details about plans yet. Laurieston area on south bank of Clyde sits between city centre and Gorbals. South Portland Street’s Avenues Plus project (linking from suspension bridge) has been paused for this masterplan.
Drop-in event: Tuesday, 24 June, between 2-8pm (with a presentation at 6.30pm) in the Savings Bank, 57 Bridge St, Glasgow G5 9JB.
Links: North Laurieston event tweet and North Laurieston microsite.
Deadline: no obvious deadline.

City Network feedback – South & Inner North areas

Report on consultation process and next steps. GCC say: “Around 60% of the comments were positive, 24% negative, and the rest neutral. Positive comments generally supported active travel infrastructure; negative comments questioned the use of funds or raised unrelated issues… Engagement was stronger in the South”. The second stage of consultation added a few short routes in each area based on earlier suggestions.

Consultation events included the Saracen Street Active Travel Project with a choice of two routes – one on Saracen St and an alternative route on Sunnylaw St behind it. This downgrading of routes off of main roads onto back street ‘Quietways’, with little or no traffic calming, has happened in both areas. However, it has had more effect on the South area, along with routes being “paused”. While there is still a skeleton network, it’s been eroded from the initial ambitions. Most recently seen in Kilmarnock Rd planned bike lanes being moved due to opposition. The good news is nine routes will be taken forward (four Inner North and five South).

National funding changes mean “current City Network and Liveable Neighbourhood programmes will be reviewed and consolidated to maximise delivery opportunities.” We’ve yet to see what happens with the other Phase 1 area, Greater Govan, after a recent meeting held by shop keepers opposed to cycle lanes. However, it puts a big question mark over the 2030/31 timescale.
Links: Plans for 11km of City Network routes and City Network Inner North & South report (PDF).

Liveable Neighbourhoods update (Tranche 3, Stage 2)

There are in-depth reports for four areas. GCC say: “The initiatives which have been shaped by community input are detailed in reports for the Cardonald to Mosspark, Knightswood to Anniesland, Lambhill to Milton and Ruchazie to Easterhouse areas…”
But… “Due to recent changes in national funding structures, efforts are now underway to enhance collaboration across our services, investigate new delivery methods for the Liveable Neighbourhoods programme, and identify additional funding sources that can support the development of prospective projects to construction.”
Links: Potential Neighbourhood projects and LN Programme Tranche 3 report (PDF).

North Ayrshire

Local Development Plan 3 – Call for Ideas

NAC say: “Individuals, community bodies, organisations, landowners and developers are invited to submit their ideas for what should be included in LDP3. This may include ideas for the development of land or buildings; ideas relating to policies to be included in LDP3 and applied to the assessment of future planning applications, or any other aspect of the new local development plan.”
Links: NAC LDP3 info page and LDP3 survey.
Deadline: Monday 30 June 2025.

North Lanarkshire

East Airdrie Link Road – Stage 3

Formerly ‘Airdrie bypass’, now due to link to new hospital site. No cycle lanes and pavement seems to have been removed since earlier plans. Latest stage is “…part of the Pre-Application Notice (25/00593/PAN), which was submitted on 28 May 2025 and is the first stage in the process of applying for planning permission.”

Drop-in events:

• Airdrie Library – Tuesday 17 June 2025, 2pm to 7pm
• Chapelhall Library – Thursday 19 June 2025, 2pm to 7pm
• Cumbernauld Library – Tuesday 24 June 2025, 2pm to 7pm

Links: EALR stage 3 consultation – feedback in person or via email: EALR@northlan.gov.uk.
Deadline: Sunday 10 August 2025.

Renfrewshire

Johnstone Civic Squares

“Following completion of the Johnstone Town Centre Vision in spring 2024, Page\Park Architects were appointed by Renfrewshire Council to develop enhancements for the two Civic Squares in the town – Houstoun Square and Ludovic Square – as well as the Houstoun Court precinct which provides a key link between the squares.”
Links: Johnstone Squares consultation and display boards (PDF).
Deadline:  22 June 2025.

here are 3 of them, with Andy.

Here’s the route and here are 6 of the 7 riders on the cycle path out to Kilmacolm,

We got a view of the Quarriers Village and proceeded on to Kilmacolm for lunch in the cosy (compared to outside) Carriages pub.

Then it was on towards our goal, but in the open countryside, the wind and the rain got the better of us and we headed down to Port Glasgow for the train home. We certainly enjoyed the sun – when it chose to appear, and Andy did say that he will re-programme this route for another time

The next ride will be on Sunday 06 July, heading south to Calderglen Country Park and East Kilbride. Details are here

From there, we will head to Linwood to join the NCN route 75 railway path. After a lunch-stop in Kilmacolm, we will leave the path to take the forest trail through to the Loch Thom reservoir itself. After a stop at the visitors’ centre, we will then probably split into two groups to arrive back in Greenock for the train back to Glasgow, with an optional leisurely visit to the Greenock Cut for those not in a hurry.
38 miles, with most of the climbing on the unpaved forest track to Loch Thom, and before that a couple of short sections on main roads.

We will meet at the north end of Bell’s Bridge, between the Armadillo and the Clyde at 10:00.

See here for more details of GoBike rides

The 184-metre, twin-leaf bridge has been built as part of the £1.3bn Glasgow City Region City Deal. It swings open to allow river traffic such as the PS Waverley to move freely along the River Clyde. The opening was also reported on the STV News and the BBC News

The bridge forms part of a newly opened 5km active travel route connecting Yoker and Clydebank to Pailsy town centre.

You can check when the bridge will be open to river traffic and therefore unavailable to pedestrians, cyclists and motor traffic on the dedicated webpage https://www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/renfrew-bridge

Photo source: Colin Mearns Clydebank Post https://www.clydebankpost.co.uk/news/25149275.renfrew-bridge-welcomes-public-across-glasgows-river-clyde/

Fourteen of us set off from the SEC this morning, crossing over the river and through Cessnock to Bellahouston Park (including a quick toilet stop).

We went through Leverndale (see photo above) and Hawkhead, making our way past Paisley Canal Railway Station before heading down to Elderslie and Johnstone for a break in Howwood (see photo below)

After the breather we made our way to the cycle route along the old railway but branched off to go through Linwood and Ferguslie Park to reach Paisley for a lunch stop.

The last leg of the ride took us through the busy Barshaw Park, then Hillington and on to finish the ride at a very busy Govan Bridge and Riverside Museum, with lots of people out enjoying the sun.

Many thanks to Derek for the photos!

Our next ride will be on Sunday 04 May, when we step up the distance to 45 miles to go north east to Palacerigg Country Park, for a cafe lunch (or bring your own) with very little on main roads.

See here for more details of GoBike Rides

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.

We went on paths old and new with quite a change in the Paisley area from when we had been there last about two years ago.

Yes, we tried out a nice, new, well-paved path to the east of the White Cart Water, but as you can see from the map, it doesn’t quite meet up – let’s hope it does by our next visit! We turned around, having a chat with local dog walkers on the way and made our way through Barshaw Park and back to the Govan Partick Bridge where the ride ended.

Not a significant amount of climbing, as can be seen – one of our flatter rides in fact. Lots of new stuff for just about all of us.

Next month’s ride is on Sunday 03 November and will take us out to the south-east of the city. See here for more details.