Contents

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. **NEW** NHS Lanarkshire, new Monklands Hospital, closes 18 October
2. **NEW** East Renfrewshire Council, Community online consultation on proposals for Barrhead South, closes 21 October
3. UK Department of Transport, Review of the Highway Code to improve road safety for cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders, closes 27 October
4. Glasgow City Council, Connecting Communities, Transport Strategy Public Conversation, Your Views, closes 30 October
5. **NEW** Glasgow City Council (City Centre) (Traffic Management) Order 2010 (Variation NO.27) Order 202, waiting and loading, plus EV parking, closes 30 October
6. **NEW** The Guardian Newspaper, Why we need media reporting guidelines for road safety, closes 08 November
7. **NEW** The Scottish Government, Programme for Reviewing and Extending Permitted Development Rights (PDR) in Scotland – Consultation on Phase 1 Proposals, closes 08 November
8. Transport Scotland, Scotland’s Road Safety Framework to 2030 – Draft public consultation, closes 01 December

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

1. Glasgow City Council, 01 October, confirmation of speed cushion installation on 6 schemes, Ladyloan Avenue, Muirhead Road, Gartocher Road, Maxwell Drive, Prospecthill Circus and Warriston Street
2. Glasgow Science Centre, Planning Application, acknowledgement of GoBike response
3. Multiplex University of Glasgow Campus Development – October 2020 Newsletter
4. City Deal Renfrewshire, Glasgow Airport Investment Area – traffic management works second phase
5. Glasgow City Council, 08 October, confirmation of speed cushion installation on 2 schemes, Newlands Park and Greenfield Road Area
6. North Lanarkshire – East Airdrie Link Road: Active Travel Stakeholder Group, report of 30 July meeting
7. North Lanarkshire – City Deal funding approved for Ravenscraig Infrastructure Access project

Section 1: Current Consultations, in date order for responses

1.1 **NEW** NHS Lanarkshire, new Monklands Hospital, closes 18 October

We are aware that Monklands Hospital in Airdrie is due to be replaced and a new hospital built at another site, at one of the 3 options shown above. These are, from left to right: Gartcosh, Glenmavis and Wester Moffat. We understand that active travel links will be considered, whichever option is selected – and the request is out for the public to give their views.

The information from NHS Lanarkshire is here:  https://www.nhslanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk/get-involved/consult-engage/monklands-engagement/
Here’s the email address for your submission: MRP.Team@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk

If you live, work or are otherwise interested in this area, please do respond and get the active travel view in.

1.2 **NEW** East Renfrewshire Council, Community online consultation on proposals for Barrhead South, closes 21 October

2 years ago, on 24 October there was a consultation event for the Barrhead Travel Links, which we mentioned in several Digests, the last being Digest 21, Item 1.1. There is now an online consultation, which you may access here. It’s a very simple questionnaire, with just one box for your views, so will only take a few minutes of your time.

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

This is the final outing for this consultation. It is hoped that you have read the blog we published on this topic. You still have time to do so – and do please respond. All the information is in this blog and we need to ensure that views from those of us who cycle, walk and perhaps even ride a horse, outnumber those commentators who maintain that they own the roads because they pay “road tax”. Here’s the letter, penned by Brenda with some assistance from Calum, that GoBike sent in last Tuesday.

We received this email acknowledgement for our submission on 09 October:

“Many thanks for submitting a response to the Highway Code consultation to improve road safety for cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders. Your views are very important to us and your comments will be considered when we undertake full analysis of all replies.

A summary of responses, including the next steps, will be published within three months of the close of the consultation.

Highway Code Review 2020
Great Minster House
33 Horseferry Road, London, SW1P 4DR
Follow us on twitter @transportgovuk”

So don’t expect overnight changes then!

1.4 Glasgow City Council, Connecting Communities, Transport Strategy Public Conversation, Your Views, closes 30 October

All the details for this online consultation were in Digest 70, Item 1.9 and here’s the link to how you may participate; it’s very easy to find out what the City Council is saying and to put in your views. Please do.

1.5 **NEW** Glasgow City Council (City Centre) (Traffic Management) Order 2010 (Variation NO.27) Order 202, waiting and loading, plus EV parking, closes 30 October

GoBike responded to the Stage One (limited) consultation on this back in March this year with this letter. We have now received the full public consultation with the following email that arrived on 08 October. Changes have been made since the initial proposals were issued:

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

Dear Sir or Madam,

THE GLASGOW CITY COUNCIL, (CITY CENTRE) (TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT) ORDER 2010, (VARIATION NO.27) ORDER 202_

Further to my consultation email of 13 February 2020 regarding the above named Traffic Regulation Order, and in accordance with statutory procedures, I now enclose a copy of the press notice of the proposed Order, relevant maps, statement of reasons and detailed report.

There has been some changes to the proposals which are specifically:

• The previous definition of Hanover Court has now been split into two sections namely North Frederick Street and North Frederick Path as per the attached plan;
• The previous proposed new electric vehicle only parking spaces on Bell Street, Bothwell Street, Collins Street, Holland Street, Ingram Street, Rose Street and Rottenrow East have been removed from the proposals;

Details of the proposals will also be available on the Glasgow City Council website at www.glasgow.gov.uk/proposedtro . 

As stated in the attached documentation, any person wishing to object to the proposed Order should send details of the grounds for objection in writing to Kevin Hamilton, Head of Roads, Exchange House, 231 George Street, Glasgow, G1 1RX  or by e-mail to lestraffic@glasgow.gov.uk by Friday 30 October 2020.

Yours faithfully

Kevin Hamilton
Head of Roads, Neighbourhoods and Sustainability“

Here are the drawings that were attached to the email:

11.01-Publication-of-Proposals-Press-Notice-Advertised-09.10.2020
09.01_-_Draft_Report
08.01_-_Statement_of_Reasons
Publication-Douglas-Lane
Publication-Electric-Bays-Inner-Area
Publication-Electric-Bays-Outer-Area
Publication-Hanover-Court-renamed
Publication-Motorcycle-Bays
Publication-Proposed-Candleriggs-Development

This appears to be an improvement on the initial proposals, although there is no mention of the contraflow cycling for Candleriggs that was promised at Stage One, so we will be asking about that in the GoBike response.

1.6 **NEW** The Guardian Newspaper, Why we need media reporting guidelines for road safety, closes 08 November

This is a fascinating survey and one that affects us all; the use of language in reporting what happens on our roads. GoBike member, Derek M, sent it in and here’s the link to the Guardian newspaper.

This is just one quote from the article:
There is excellent reporting out there – , but there is also less thoughtful output. For example, the majority (61%) of coverage of cyclists is broadly negative, focusing on road danger, criminality or bad behaviour, although studies have shown cyclists are generally far more law-abiding than motorists.

Do please read the article and put your thoughts in the short open-question survey.

It’s no doubt that it’s the use of pejorative language in the media that affects us all who cycle and could well be relevant in the recent suffering of GoBike member and ex-co-Convenor and Pedal on Parliament campaigner, Dave Brennan. See here for details from our sister organisation Cycling UK.

1.7 **NEW** The Scottish Government, Programme for Reviewing and Extending Permitted Development Rights (PDR) in Scotland – Consultation on Phase 1 Proposals, closes 08 November

This consultation, advised to us by GoBike member, John, and Cycling UK Scotland, relates to cycle storage for houses, tenements and on-street – a topic close to many people’s hearts. It’s Section 7 of this document that relates to active travel and it’s easy to fill in the survey section – if you agree with the proposals. Do please support this relaxation in planning requirements.

1.8 Transport Scotland, Scotland’s Road Safety Framework to 2030 – Draft public consultation, closes 01 December

This consultation first appeared in Digest 69, Item 1.13 and it’s certainly worth taking a look at the proposals. There’s quite a bit about improving road safety, but not a lot of detail about how it will be done. Indeed, training of motor drivers is outwith the current remit of the Scottish Government, but it is a move in the right direction.

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

None that we have been made aware of, but plenty of current ones to keep you busy and the hint of one in our very last item, 3.7, below, concerning road links from Ravenscraig to Motherwell.

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

3.1 Glasgow City Council, 01 October, confirmation of speed cushion installation on 6 schemes, Ladyloan Avenue, Muirhead Road, Gartocher Road, Maxwell Drive, Prospecthill Circus and Warriston Street

Yes, the most-used photo of the year, more speed cushions confirmed for these 6 streets. The proposals have been approved as we first published them in Digest 66 and Digest 67 with the exception of:

• Muirhead Road: Proposed set of speed cushions situated at number 27/29 will now be situated at number 31
• Warriston Street: Proposed set of speed cushions situated at number 154 will now be situated at number 162.

The amended information is shown on these drawings:

RS.20.58-Muirhead-Road-TC-proposals-Full-view-after-consultation
Warriston-Street-Full-view-of-proposals-after-consultation

Sadly, no information is given as to why residents do, or do not, want speed cushions outside their house!

3.2 Glasgow Science Centre, Planning Application, acknowledgement of GoBike response

The consultation to reroute the cycle route past the Science Centre featured as Item 1.5 in Digest 69 and here’s the letter of objection that GoBike submitted on 15 September. This letter was based on a much longer and much more detailed letter that GoBike member, Brenda, had written and the funny thing is that there are only 2 public comments on the planning application portal – one from Brenda and one from GoBike! Thus, if public comment counts for anything, this planning application will be rejected ….

Here’s the acknowledgement letter that was received on 02 October.

3.3 Multiplex University of Glasgow Campus Development – October 2020 Newsletter

Here’s the link to this month’s newsletter, received on 06 October.

3.4 City Deal Renfrewshire, Glasgow Airport Investment Area – traffic management works second phase

Here’s the update we received on 07 October:

Note that because of the nature of the works the bridge will be closed to people walking and cycling – it’s a popular route for cycling so do please be aware and plan your route accordingly.

3.5 Glasgow City Council, 08 October, confirmation of speed cushion installation on 2 schemes, Newlands Park and Greenfield Road Area

Here’s that photograph again confirming that we heard on 08 October that these 2 schemes will go ahead as proposed; details were first in Digest 66. Item 1.9 for Greenfield Road and Digest 67, Item 1.12 for the Newlands Park area. However we are informed that for the Newlands Park area “During the consultation process, it was highlighted by residents that they felt St Bride’s Road should be included within this scheme in order to avoid it becoming a potential rat run. I can advise that a standalone, formal consultation process will be undertaken for this location.” This demonstrates that the Council is listening to people who ask the right things!

3.6 North Lanarkshire – East Airdrie Link Road: Active Travel Stakeholder Group, report of 30 July meeting

In Digest 66, Item 3.3, was news of North Lanarkshire’s Active Travel Stakeholder Group and GoBike member, Derek Y, has now received minutes of the meeting of 30 July. There’s a lot of information included so if your leisure, work or general interest takes you into North Lanarkshire, do please have a look.

3.7 North Lanarkshire – City Deal funding approved for Ravenscraig Infrastructure Access project

Here’s the latest, received on 08 October, from North Lanarkshire and the City Deal project that we have reported on before. Let’s hope that pressure builds for active travel in the area, with the current construction activity:

“Funding approved for Ravenscraig project

Investment of £61.9 million for the Ravenscraig Infrastructure Access (RIA) project has been approved by the Glasgow City Region Cabinet.

We are matching this with £65.3 million over six years to create new and improved transport infrastructure connecting Ravenscraig north to the M8 and south to Motherwell and the M74. A total of £127.2 million is therefore being invested.

This includes:

• a new dual carriageway from the Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility to Motherwell, crossing the west coast main line railway, with new provision for walking, cycling and wheeling throughout;
• 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.

The RIA is a key component part of the council’s Plan Lanarkshire Orbital Route, combined with investment currently underway at Motherwell Town Centre Interchange and the future East Airdrie Link Road, to create a transformational road and infrastructure travel spine through North Lanarkshire.

The Pan Lanarkshire Orbital Route will improve connectivity from Motherwell to Cumbernauld across a range of transport modes and support better movement between towns and communities. It will create an active travel highway for cyclists, runners and walkers to navigate safely across the area. These plans will impact positively on the environment and road safety locally, removing traffic congestion points in neighbouring communities, such as the A73 at Chapelhall, and helping to improve air quality.

Within  the Ravenscraig site itself, the RIA is one of a number of infrastructure projects the council is working to deliver, including a new seven hectare park which is currently under construction and, working with Sustrans, plans for new cycling and walking links to Craigneuk, Wishaw and New College Lanarkshire Motherwell campus.

The regeneration of the overall Ravenscraig site is a key element of the council’s vision for the area, which will see £3.5 billion invested over the next 10 years, creating around 12,000  jobs and generating an additional £1 billionfor the local economy.

“Despite the coronavirus pandemic, we are continuing to invest in the future of North Lanarkshire, with a clear plan for economic growth,” said Des Murray, Chief Executive of North Lanarkshire Council.

“Ravenscraig is an important part of our long-term plan as it will bring new homes, schools, businesses, jobs and leisure facilities over the next 25 years. To achieve this, we must invest in new roads and active travel improvements, including cycle routes and public transport links – the Ravenscraig Infrastructure Access project will deliver that.

“Overall, the Pan Lanarkshire Orbital Transport Corridor will transform the way we use our transport network, encouraging healthy active travel options, creating new opportunities for development and digital infrastructure along the route, and creating potential for low carbon energy networks.

“With the funding from Glasgow City Region City Deal secured, we can now move forward with this exciting new project to transform derelict land into vibrant new communities for the people of North Lanarkshire.”

UK Government Minister Iain Stewart said: “I am pleased the regeneration and transformation of Ravenscraig has reached another milestone. This project is essential to the future prosperity of the region and is a fantastic example of how the Glasgow City Region Deal is improving transport links and developing communities. 

“The UK Government has now committed more than £1.5 billion to City Region and Growth Deals across Scotland, creating jobs, opportunities, and sustainable growth.”

Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity Michael Matheson said: “The infrastructure created aims to meet the active travel needs of residents, alongside improving road infrastructure, to facilitate the regeneration of Ravenscraig and contribute to creating the environment for a healthy and vibrant community to thrive.

“The Scottish Government is a full partner in the Glasgow City Region City Deal, contributing £500 million over 20 years to the Infrastructure Investment Fund. This is a significant development within the Glasgow City Region Deal, demonstrating once again how Scottish Government investment supports transformative projects such as this.”

The next stage in the RIA project will be submission of a planning application for the southern connections to Motherwell and the M74, which will include a public consultation.

_______________________________________________________________________________

An interesting collection of consultations and feedback, the good, the bad and the ugly – wonder what there will be next?

Contents

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. Streets for All Glasgow Commonplace Map, a joint GoBike, Glasgow Eco Trust and On Bikes map, please put in your proposals, comments and views
2. **NEW** South Lanarkshire Council, Have your say on active travel, Carluke, Hamilton and Lanark, online surveys, close 04 October
3. Glasgow City Council, Cleeves Road Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 08 October
4. Glasgow City Council, Ashgill Road (Extension) Road Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 08 October
5. Glasgow City Council, Ryehill Road Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 08 October
6. Glasgow City Council, Ruchazie Road Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 08 October
7. Glasgow City Council, Victoria Park Drive North Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 08 October
8. UK Department of Transport, Review of the Highway Code to improve road safety for cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders, closes 27 October
9. **NEW** Glasgow City Council, Connecting Communities, Transport Strategy Public Conversation Your views, closes 30 October
10. Transport Scotland, Scotland’s Road Safety Framework to 2030 – Draft public consultation, closes 21 December

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

1. East Dunbartonshire Council, Proposed Local Development Plan 2, consultation starts 19 October

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

1. Glasgow City Council speed cushion policy
2. East Dunbartonshire Council, Local Development Plan Newsletter No 59
3. Glasgow City Council speed cushion latest update!

Section 1: Current Consultations, in date order for responses

1.1 Streets for All Glasgow Commonplace Map, a joint GoBike, Glasgow Eco Trust and On Bikes map, please put in your proposals, comments and views

Back in Digest 55, Item 1.1 in early March, with a reminder in Digest 65, again Item 1.1, we alerted you to the Streets for All Glasgow Commonplace Map, an initiative from GoBike in coordination with Glasgow EcoTrust and On Bikes.

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 particularly want to make cycling a mode of travel that is available to just about all members of society, young and old.

A speaker from Living Streets, the pedestrians’ organisation, used our feature photo in an online presentation she gave and she had also googled “cyclists” and found this sort of photo:

It’s a fairly standard representation of “cyclists” whereas we would prefer to see more of the sort of people shown in the photos below making their way on bikes, trikes and tandems etc:

Once we have more of your input on the Commonplace map we will then be able to take the comments forward to the City Council in a measured way to make our city a better place to live and move.

2. **NEW** South Lanarkshire Council, Have your say on active travel, Carluke, Hamilton and Lanark, online surveys, close 04 October

GoBike member, Derek, alerted us to these 3 online surveys from South Lanarkshire Council. All the details are in this issue of the South Lanarkshire View. The surveys all close this coming Sunday, so if you live, work, cycle or visit this area do please get your comments in quick! No need to give your personal details so do please help everyone in South Lanarkshire and elsewhere to be able to enjoy cycling and walking in these 3 towns.

1.3 Glasgow City Council, Cleeves Road Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 08 October

1.4 Glasgow City Council, Ashgill Road (Extension) Road Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 08 October

1.5 Glasgow City Council, Ryehill Road Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 08 October

1.6 Glasgow City Council, Ruchazie Road Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 08 October

1.7 Glasgow City Council, Victoria Park Drive North Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 08 October

All 5 of the above schemes were featured in our last Digest, Issue 69, items 1.6 to 1.11 and here is the letter of objection to all 5 proposals that GoBike submitted on 15 September.

The letter was copied to Councillor Anna Richardson, City Convener for Sustainability and Carbon Reduction, who has come back to us to say that “I am aware of your concerns around speed cushions, and I will be exploring this aspect of road safety policy.”
Further to the issue of Digest 69, GoBike also had requests for further information on the proposals for Victoria Park Drive North from a local resident, who had supported the proposal for pedestrian crossings and from a member of the local Community Council.

Let’s hope that local residents get their voice heard soon and that we get liveable streets for us all. If you have any concerns about any of the proposals listed in our Digests do please bring them to the attention of your Councillors and/or Community Council.

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

We have been raising this consultation for some time now and hope that you have all seen the blog we published last week. If you haven’t read it yet, then please do. It was written by GoBike member, Brenda, who has also written the draft GoBike response, which will be finalised and included in our next Digest; the final one before this consultation closes. It’s important that YOU, a member of the travelling public, do respond, however briefly.

1.9 **NEW** Glasgow City Council, Connecting Communities, Transport Strategy Public Conversation Your views, closes 30 October

GoBike received this email from the City Council on 21 September and your input is requested:

“Hi,
Glasgow’s Public Conversation on our transport future is now live and will run to the 30^th of October. All of the different ways you can participate can be found at https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/connectingcommunities

We would really appreciate if you could take part and also circulate the information to your colleagues and the people that you work with. As the more comments we receive, the greater we can understand what transport issues really matter to the people that live and/or work in Glasgow. There are different ways to participate, to join in the conversation on social media, to read the background information or to take part in the public online events. So please do.

Different ways to participate

• Survey. This will probably take about 20mins to complete and is a mixture of multiple choice and open questions. None of the questions are obligatory and you can skip as many as you want. We can send you a Word version of the survey questions, and a Freephone number is available to take people through it over the phone.
• Transport simulator. This game asks about your transport priorities, and what trade-offs you might be willing to make. It has been designed to be fully accessible for keyboard navigation and screen readers.  

Join in the conversation on social media

• Facebook https://en-gb.facebook.com/GlasgowCC/videos/664348064502551/

–      Twitter https://twitter.com/GlasgowCC/status/1308028504370491392?s=20

–      Use the hashtag #GetAboutGlasgow

Read background information

• Public Conversation document sets out the background to the consultation and the council’s proposals for how to tackle the issues and develop the transport strategies. This document is viewed as a fully accessible pdf.

–      A summary leaflet can be downloaded here

To take part in the public online events
Sign up to the webinars below

• A New Vision for Transport and our City 23^rd September 10am-12pm  
• A New Vision for Transport, People and Place 7^th October 10am -12pm

Thanks very much. Take care. Stay safe.
Regards,
Derek
Derek Dunsire
Group Manager – Liveable Neighbourhoods
Transport Strategy“

The survey is a dream, designed for active travellers’ support. Do enjoy completing it.

1.9 Transport Scotland, Scotland’s Road Safety Framework to 2030 – Draft public consultation, closes 21 December

This Scotland-wide public consultation was in Digest 69 as Item 1.13, so you may check it out there. We’ll have more on this one before the closing date.

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

2.1 East Dunbartonshire Council, Proposed Local Development Plan 2, consultation starts 19 October.

See Item 3.2 below.

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

3.1 Glasgow City Council speed cushion policy

See Item 1.7 above for an acknowledgement from Councillor Anna Richardson, City Convener for Sustainability and Carbon Reduction, that she will look at the City’s speed cushion policy.

3.2 East Dunbartonshire Council, Local Development Plan Newsletter No 59

LDP Newsletter 59 – September 2020 was received on 25 September and contains details of the forthcoming public consultation on the Local Development Plan 2, which starts on 19 October.

3.3 Glasgow City Council speed cushion latest update!

Just in, this afternoon, from the City Council, and further to Item 3.1 above, this email – read on past the standard stuff to the last paragraph – a glimmer of light:

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

Dear Ms Fort,

Thank you for your enquiry dated 1^st September 2020 regarding the above proposed schemes.

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.

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.

Notwithstanding the above and following discussions with the city convenor for Sustainability and Transport, Councillor Anna Richardson, it should be noted that this Section will seek to introduce alternative forms of traffic calming as oppose to speed cushions from next financial year onwards, subject to available funding and resources.

I trust that this clarifies the current situation.

Kevin Hamilton
Head of Roads
Neighbourhoods And Sustainability“

_______________________________________

With that bit of good news, that’s it for a fortnight but do please respond to:

• South Lanarkshire Council’s surveys for Carluke, Hamilton and Lanark.
• Glasgow City Council’s Transport Strategy
• The Highway Code consultation
• Plus, do keep contacting your Councillors and your Community Council

Contents

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. Glasgow City Council, Auchinleck Avenue, Robroyston, Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 17 September
2. Glasgow City Council, Maxwell Drive, Pollokshields, Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 17 September
3. Glasgow City Council, Maxwell Park Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 17 September
4. **NEW** Transport Scotland, Future Public Engagement on Major Road Projects, closes 24 September
5. **NEW** Planning Application 20/02068/FUL, Glasgow Science Centre , closes 25 September
6. Scottish Government, Town Centre Action Plan Expert Review Group, online survey, closes 30 September
7. **NEW** Glasgow City Council, Cleeves Road Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 08 October
8. **NEW** Glasgow City Council, Ashgill Road (Extension) Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 08 October
9. **NEW** Glasgow City Council, Ryehill Road Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 08 October
10. **NEW** Glasgow City Council, Ruchazie Road Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 08 October
11. **NEW** Glasgow City Council, Victoria Park Drive North Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 08 October
12. UK Department of Transport, Review of the Highway Code to improve road safety for cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders, closes 27 October 2020
13. **NEW” Scotland’s Road Safety Framework to 2030 – Draft public consultation, closes 31 December

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

1. Glasgow City Council, response on Traffic Calming; their email of 01 September
2. Multiplex University of Glasgow Campus Development – September 2020 Newsletter

Section 1: Current Consultations, in date order for responses

1.1 Glasgow City Council, Auchinleck Avenue, Robroyston, Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 17 September

This speed cushion proposal which closes this Thursday, first appeared as Item 1.6 in Digest 68. GoBike submitted this one letter of objection for this and 4 other similar proposals on 01 September.
There’s still time for you to add your voice; you might prefer the rat-running motor traffic to use the new roads that have been built rather then the avenues through the residential area? The email address to write to is LESTraffic@glasgow.gov.uk.

1.2 Glasgow City Council, Maxwell Drive, Pollokshields, Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 17 September

Maxwell Drive appeared as Item 1.7 in Digest 68 and was included in the same letter of objection as Auchinleck Avenue.
Do email in to the address on the letter, ie LESTraffic@glasgow.gov.uk if you would prefer the cycle lanes to be upgraded, rather than half-covered by speed cushions.

1.3 Glasgow City Council, Maxwell Park Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 17 September

This proposal, covering Fotheringay Road, Springkell Avenue and Dolphin Road, featured as Item 1.8 in Digest 68 and was included in the same letter of objection as the 2 items above.
If, like local GoBike member, John, you would prefer traffic here to be calmed as a Liveable, or Low Traffic, Neighbourhood, with modal filters preventing through motor traffic, then please do write in to LESTraffic@glasgow.gov.uk, today or tomorrow, certainly by 17:00 hours on Thursday.

1.4 **NEW** Transport Scotland, Future Public Engagement on Major Road Projects, closes 24 September

2 weeks ago Transport Scotland placed adverts in the national press, and possibly elsewhere, advertising their new public engagement methods and they want our views on how they might work for us. Here’s the link: https://www.transport.gov.scot/future-public-engagement/ and, if you click on it you can see a run-through of the A9 dualling (pictured here) and details of other schemes. There is also information as to how they have kept working during the pandemic and there’s a nice picture of a member of staff working away at the dining room table with her daughter also keeping busy at her wee table. Aah, domestic bliss!
Please do have a look at this; it’s very professionally done and do fill out the feedback form. Make care, though, to download and save the form before filling it in. Filling it out online and then saving it just leaves you with an empty form!
Increasing public access to consultation on such schemes should lead to better public scrutiny of Transport Scotland, not just why are they spending so much of our money on the A9 (even with a cycle route alongside) rather than the A83, but where’s the spending on public transport and active travel?

1.5 **NEW** Glasgow City Council, Planning Application 20/02068/FUL, Public Realm Improvement Works Glasgow Science Centre, closes 25 September

GoBike member, Brenda, alerted us to this one; it’s a Planning Application for public realm improvement works with associated alterations to the road layout and car park. Her route to cross the Clyde takes her from Paisley Road West to Pacific Drive to Millennium Bridge (the newish bridge at the Science Centre) to the cycle route along the north side of the Clyde and then points east, west and north. It’s a busy route, too, with people using the Millennium Bridge rather than Bell’s Bridge since the tube overbridge from the SEC to Finnieston Station is still closed.

The cycle route currently goes straight from Pacific Drive to the bridge; the plan is to reduce the convenience of the route! It’s not clear which guidance on cycling the planners have been following but here’s the GoBike letter of objection to the proposals.

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

This public consultation has been in each Digest since Digest 66, Item 1.4 and GoBike’s comment letter was submitted before the written submission deadline of 21 August but the online survey is still open. Do please complete this quick and easy survey to support moves to make our town centres people-centric, rather than car-centric.

Items 1.7 – 1.11 Traffic Calming Consultations, 5 more from Glasgow City Council

GoBike has now sent 2 letters of objection to this season’s traffic calming by the use of speed cushions. The first, covering Gartocher Road, Prospecthill Circus, Ladyloan Avenue (extension), Warriston Street and Greenfield Road, was sent in on 18 August, earlier in the day before Digest 67 was published.
The second, covering Hermiston Road, Muirhead Road, Newlands Park Area, Auchinleck Avenue, Maxwell Drive and the Maxwell Park Area was submitted on 01 September at 10:14, some 8 hours before Digest 68 was issued.
At 11:25 that same morning, a reply from GCC to our letter of 18 August arrived. The text of that email was included in Digest 68 as an extra item between 1.8 and 1.9, but is repeated in this Digest, with some comment, as Item 3.1 below.

Let’s move on to look at the next 5, which all arrived on Thursday 10 September. The standard email is used and thus we only note here how many cushions and how many bollards are proposed. The plans are also attached.
Here’s the GoBike letter of response to the 5, but please do add your view, particularly is you live, work or cycle on any of them.

1.7 **NEW** Glasgow City Council, Cleeves Road Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 08 October

The scheme proposes:

• 1 set of 3 x 2m wide speed cushions
• 5 sets of 2 x 2m wide speed cushions
• The supply and installation of 12 bollards

The drawings are:

RS.20.69-Cleeves-Road-Traffic-Calming-Proposals
Cleeves-Road-Section-1-Btwn-Cleeves-Quadrant-and-number-195
Cleeves-Road-Section-2-Between-number-129-and-west-of-number-65
Cleeves-Road-Section-3-Between-number-77-and-west-of-Glenmuir-Drive

Cleeves Road runs past a primary school and between Nitshill Road and Glenmuir Drive, giving access to the school from both. Why isn’t this made into a car free school zone with modal filters preventing the road being used as a rat run?

Cleeves Quadrant, just to the south, was proposed for speed cushions last September, see Digest 42, Item 1.4 and GoBike opposed that move. Our alternative was to put in a modal filter, but one can only guess that motor drivers are now resorting to Cleeves Road to avoid the cushions (perhaps they do work?) or there was speeding on both roads but the City Council could only do one each year.

1.8 **NEW** Glasgow City Council, Ashgill Road (Extension) Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 08 October

Speed cushions were proposed for Ashgill Road in November 2019 for the area around the Recreation Centre. They are now proposed for the section running north as far as Scaraway Street.

The scheme proposes:

• The installation of 38 speed cushions
• The supply and installation of 38 bollards

The drawings are:

Ashgill-Road-Full-view-of-proposals
Ashgill-Road-Section-1-Between-Scaraway-St-and-number-527
Ashgill-Road-Section-2-Between-number-511-and-north-of-Shillay-Street
Ashgill-Road-Section-3-Between-number-475-and-south-of-number-455
Ashgill-Road-Section-4-Between-south-of-Colston-Road-and-north-of-number-377

Look, though, a dual carriageway, and quite a gradient downhill on the left in the photo. It’s quite scary, too, to cycle down that left-hand side. The hatched lines are, presumably, to deter traffic and push it all into the right-hand lane. However, if you cycle there, won’t motor traffic simply undertake?
Ashgill Road is only a dual carriageway for this section, from the Recreation/Community Centre north to the junction with Scaraway Street, but a simpler solution, by far, would be to make the inside lanes into Covid-19 type pop-up cycle lanes. Restricting motor traffic to one lane in each direction would automatically reduce speeds.

1.9 **NEW** Glasgow City Council, Ryehill Road Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 08 October

As may be seen from the map above Barmulloch is more or less a self-contained area bounded by Broomfield Road in the west Wallacewell Road in the north, Robroyston Park in the east and the M80 in the south. Plus, Ryehill Road forms the east side of an oval circuit with Rye Road forming the west. It is the southern part of Ryehill Road, running downhill to the roundabout, where motor traffic speeds are excessive, but why can’t the whole area be treated as a Liveable Neighbourhood?

The scheme proposes:

• The installation of 12 speed cushions
• The supply and installation of 8 bollards

There is just one drawing:

RS.20.66-Ryehill-Road-Traffic-Calming-Proposals

1.10 **NEW** Glasgow City Council, Ruchazie Road Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 08 October

Ruchazie Road runs north to south from Gartcraig Road down across Edinburgh Road to Cardowan Road and is quite steep in parts. Why is motor traffic using this route and exceeding the speed limit? It must be rat-running. There are alternative routes, which are indicated on street maps etc as higher up the streets category, the nearest of these being Carntynehall Road just to the west, so why can’t Ruchazie Road be closed to through motor traffic?

The scheme proposes:

• The installation of 40 speed cushions
• The supply and installation of 26 bollards

There are 8 drawings:

RS.20.65-Ruchazie-Road-Traffic-Calming-Proposals-Full-view-of-proposals
Ruchazie-Rd-Section-1-Btwn-Gartcraig-Road-and-Fettes-Street
Ruchazie-Rd-Section-2-Btwn-north-of-Loretto-St-and-north-of-Warriston-St
Ruchazie-Road-Section-3-Btwn-north-of-Morningside-Street-and-north-of-Edinburgh-Road
Ruchazie-Road-Section-4-Btwn-number-307-and-number-280
Ruchazie-Road-Section-5-Btwn-Haymarket-Street-and-south-of-Whitburn-Street
Ruchazie-Road-Section-6-Between-number-222-and-number-201
Ruchazie-Road-Section-7-Between-Cardowan-Road-and-Newington-Street

1.11 **NEW** Glasgow City Council, Victoria Park Drive North Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 08 October

The proposal from the City Council relates to the double mini roundabout in the centre of the map above and proposes:

• The installation of 9 speed cushions
• The installation of 8 bollards
• The widening of the existing pedestrian refuge islands at the double mini-roundabouts.

3 roads will be affected:

• Danes Drive
• Victoria Park Drive North
• Westland Drive

There is just 1 drawing:
RS.20.37-Danes-Drive-updated-traffic-calming-proposals-Full-junction-proposals

But, wait a minute, isn’t this just the place where, in April 2019 there was a mini Pedal on Parliament event? Yes, it was and it was organised by GoBike member, Andy. See the link for details and here’s the link to the Facebook event he set up.

Local residents, “road users” all, were, and are, looking for a zebra/pelican crossing here to enable everyone to get to the park safely, to get to school and nursery, and everywhere else, safely. Andy told me at the weekend that when he was collecting his youngest child from nursery last week and the child was on the back of his bike, they met a woman in a wheelchair trying to cross the junction. There wasn’t room for the bike and the wheelchair on one of the central pedestrian refuges at the same time – at least this might be addressed by the proposals.

Here are the proposals put forward at the time, developed by the Glasgow Eco Trust:

Here again, is the GoBike letter of response to the above 5 schemes.

1.12 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 still working on this but we have a blog almost ready to publish that details the major points so that you, yes YOU, can submit a response. Please do.

1.13 **NEW” Scotland’s Road Safety Framework to 2030 – Draft public consultation, closes 01 December

When searching for details of Item 1.4, the Transport Scotland, Future Public Engagement on Major Road Projects consultation, this item was seen and it seems to be very pertinent to those of us who cycle. Here are some words from the Transport Scotland website:

“Scotland’s Road Safety Framework to 2020 ends on 31 December. Although Scotland’s road casualties are at the lowest levels since records began, to achieve the further 50% reduction in People Killed and Seriously Injured by 2030, as recommended by the United Nations and the European Union, a step change in road safety delivery is required. In response to the above challenge and in partnership with the road safety community and key stakeholders the Scottish Government has developed this draft Scotland’s Road Safety Framework to 2030 to strengthen Scotland’s position as a world leader in road safety, out for public consultation from 8 September until 1 December.“

Whoever wrote that surely can’t have cycled through Glasgow when it’s busy! It doesn’t seem too safe, does it? This is one we all need to feed into and we will be publishing more before the closing date.

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

A round zero this fortnight.

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

3.1 Glasgow City Council, response on Traffic Calming; their email of 01 September

On 18 August GoBike sent this letter to the City Council objecting to 5 traffic calming schemes. The email reply below was received a fortnight later on 01 September just a few hours before our last Digest was issued and, although we included the words, we did not make any comment. Here’s the email again, with some underlining by GoBike and comments below:

“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 (1) 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 (2) in reducing the speed of vehicles travelling over them. Previously, this has led to complaints by local road users (3) 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, (4) 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.(5)

I trust that this clarifies the current situation.

Kevin Hamilton
Head of Roads Neighbourhoods And Sustainability”

GoBike responses:

1. Funding within Glasgow City Council is curious and it has been impossible to ascertain any cycling and active travel budget, but it seems there is not sufficient money to make our streets suitable for use.
2. Our letter of 18 August commented that in 1998, soon after the introduction of speed cushions, a width of 1.6-1.7m was recommended to minimise discomfort to ambulance and bus passengers. We also stated that current private motor vehicles are now so wide that cushions are also wider, so is no consideration now given to patients in ambulances?
3. The email refers to “local road users”, which is just what we are! Sadly, they appear not to listen to us.
4. The gap at the kerb should not exceed 1200mm; this is why we used to get a gap of this width. Now we are lucky to get more than 500mm.
5. Safe roads are expensive then? We have looked at the City Council’s proposals for Liveable Neighbourhoods and how convenient that Sustrans have £3m Government, ie our, money to provide for the update of the Council’s Strategies. Let’s hope that they have budgeted for works on the ground!

3.2 Multiplex University of Glasgow Campus Development – September 2020 Newsletter

Here’s a link to this month’s newsletter, received on 07 September.

__________________________________________________________

That’s it for now, but with holiday weekends coming up – that city in east this coming weekend and Glasgow 25-28 September, there might be a delay in the publication of Digest 70. If you do get some time off work, please enjoy it safely and carefully.

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!

This isn’t all about speed cushions, though, so do please read on.

Contents

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. GoBike Digest Survey, should close today but now extended by 1 week to 25 August
2. Glasgow, Merchant City & Trongate Community Council, Merchant City Park petition
3. Scottish Government, Town Centre Action Plan Expert Review Group, closes Friday 21 August for written submissions but the survey is open until 30 September
4. Glasgow City Council, Gartocher Road (Shettleston) Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 26 August
5. Glasgow City Council, Prospecthill Circus (Toryglen) Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 26 August
6. Glasgow City Council, Ladyloan Avenue – Extension (Drumry) Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 26 August
7. Glasgow City Council, Warriston Street (Carntyne)) Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 26 August
8. Glasgow City Council, Greenfield Road (Shettleston) Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 27 August
9. **NEW** Glasgow City Council, Renewal of Planning Consent 17/00610/DC, Glasgow Harbour East At Castlebank Quay/Pointhouse Quay/ Yorkhill Quay Glasgow, closes 28 August
10. **NEW** Glasgow City Council, Hermiston Road (Shettleston) Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 08 September
11. **NEW** Glasgow City Council, Muirhead Road (Baillieston) Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 09 September
12. **NEW** Glasgow City Council, Newlands Park Area Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 09 September
13. **NEW* South Lanarkshire Council, Hamilton, Abercorn Drive and Chestnut Crescent, Traffic Calming, closes 11 September
14. 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

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

1. Multiplex University of Glasgow Campus Development – August 2020 Newsletter
2. East Dunbartonshire Local Development Plan No 57, August 2020
3. East Renfrewshire, Cycling UK Networking Event 13 August

Section 1: Current Consultations in date order, apart from the first 2, for responses

1.1 GoBike Digest Survey, should close today but now extended by 1 week to 25 August

We do really want to know what you think of these Digests. After over 2 years you must have a view and we have a short, easy-to-do survey for our members.

• For members who participate in our discussions on Slack, please go to the Consultations or General channel and follow the link that is there.
• For members who do not use Slack you may request the link by emailing consultations@gobike.org
• Not yet a GoBike member? You may join from this page and, if you join this week (with a minimum donation of only £5), you will still be eligible to respond to the survey and help us improve the information we are publishing.

1.2 Glasgow, Merchant City & Trongate Community Council, Merchant City Park petition

Many of you will know this wonderful mural on Ingram Street in Glasgow’s Merchant City. GoBike member, Peter, has told us that it is now under threat with a proposal to redevelop the area infront of it, currently used as a car park. A Planning Application to build a hotel has been withdrawn but who knows what might come next?
Merchant City & Trongate Community Council propose that a City Park is constructed on the site and they are looking for your support, with this petition. Please do support this; we need more green space in Glasgow and this is a welcome opportunity to green the city.

1.3 Scottish Government, Town Centre Action Plan Expert Review Group, closes Friday 21 August for written submissions but the survey is open until 30 September

This issue featured as Item 1.4 in Digest 66 and here’s the link to the relevant information. There’s a clear list of questions to respond to and here’s the GoBike response. Note that written responses were requested in word format, if you intend to submit before closing on Friday.
Do please send in your views about our urban centres; they could be so much better than they currently are and the online survey is open for another 6 weeks.

Items 1.4 to 1.8 Traffic Calming

These 5 items were introduced in Digest 66 as Items 1.5 to 1.9 and all the relevant drawings were attached to the items there. Here’s the one letter that GoBike has submitted in response to cover them all. We give brief details of each below but do please write in to the City Council if you disagree with their policy on traffic calming.

1.4 Glasgow City Council, Gartocher Road (Shettleston) Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 26 August

This view is taken looking south though the disused railway bridge that severely limits the width of Gartocher Road. It also completely, under the present space allocation, eliminates any safe space for cycling and any safe space for social distancing on the footway, which is barely wide enough for 2 good friends to walk side by side. According to the GCC drawings the roadway width under this bridge is 5.8m. Since commercial vehicles may be up to 2.55m wide, excluding mirrors, 2 vans passing each other under this bridge don’t leave much room for anything else.

The City Council’s view to resolve concern about speeding vehicles on this road, which runs north from Shettleston Road, is to place 15 speed cushions of varying size and varying spacing along the road, all of them pushing anyone who cycles out of a good position on the road.

It’s GoBike’s view that space here could be better allocated and motor vehicle access should be restricted.

1.5 Glasgow City Council, Prospecthill Circus (Toryglen) Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 26 August

A new development, designed with cars, and not people, in mind. Now action has to be taken to reduce the speed of those cars.

The City Council proposes lots of speed cushions; GoBike suggests safe space for cycling, a staggered series of rain gardens and/or a modal filter halfway round the circus to prevent motor cars from doing a circuit.

1.6 Glasgow City Council, Ladyloan Avenue – Extension (Drumry) Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 26 August

Here we have again, a relatively new development with lots of space for cars, although one driver, at least, has found it “necessary” to park on the footway, thus endangering anyone walking or cycling.

The City Council’s one solution is, of course, speed cushions, but GoBike thinks they should be more imaginative and we suggest that features from the forthcoming Liveable Neighbourhoods Strategy are used and that planters are placed judiciously to determine whether one or more modal filters or simply narrowing of the roadway are sufficient to reduce motor speeds.

1.7 Glasgow City Council, Warriston Street (Carntyne)) Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 26 August

Warriston Street is a residential street, with the 38 bus route running along it. With all the cars stored on the street (or the footway) there isn’t much room for much more than one bus at a time at some locations, yet motor vehicles still exceed the speed limit. Wouldn’t it be much better if the street were re-engineered to limit through traffic to buses and cycles?

1.8 Glasgow City Council, Greenfield Road (Shettleston) Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 27 August

With so many vehicles stored on the road and footway and on quite a gradient, it’s easy to see how residents are concerned about vehicles travelling at speed. However, if through traffic is moved to nearby Springboig Road and a modal filter installed on this road, life could be much pleasanter.

1.9 **NEW** Glasgow City Council, Renewal of Planning Consent 17/00610/DC, Glasgow Harbour East At Castlebank Quay/Pointhouse Quay/ Yorkhill Quay Glasgow, closes 28 August

Last week GoBike member, Iain, brought this Renewal of Planning Application to our attention. It’s for the development of the large area around the relatively new Riverside Museum and, not shown on the pretty picture above, is the detail that there will be space for 1300, yes 1300, parked cars! How many bikes? No idea; there’s no mention of active travel or public transport. This is the link to the report on Glasgow Live.

This is a Renewal of Planning Consent 17/00610/DC, for Glasgow Harbour East at Castlebank Quay/Pointhouse Quay/ Yorkhill Quay Glasgow, that is, both sides of the River Kelvin and surrounding the Riverside Museum, south of the Expressway. When the museum was moved to this site there was much talk of public transport links, but this has now reduced, as far as we are aware, to the tourist bus stopping here on its circuit of the city. Thus, for the regular citizen it’s either walking from the bus/train/subway interchange at Partick, cycling, walking or, if you have one, bringing the car.

There is a strong suspicion that this is a done deal, but there are many reasons for concern, most of which have been raised on the GoBike Slack consultation channel:

• No mention of public transport
• No mention of cycling and walking access. National Cycle Route 7 runs through the site and there is no mention or visibility of this. It is difficult on the plan to see the path from the riverside that runs under the Expressway to join up with cycling routes on the north side of the Expressway
• The development is not in line with the Scottish Government’s document Designing Streets nor is it in line with Glasgow City Council’s forthcoming Liveable Neighbourhoods Strategy
• It is not in accordance with the Town Centre Action Plan, see Item 1.3 above
• There is no mention of the impact this development will have on nearby shopping and leisure areas or on the city centre. Any development here should complement the city not be in competition with existing amenities
• There is no justification given for the number 1300 selected for the number of car parking places to be provided, nor any detail of the charges that will be levied on people leaving their cars here.
• It is not in agreement with the findings from City’s Climate Emergency Working Group or current City Council policies on increasing active travel and reducing cars entering the city
• How does a development of this sort tally with the City’s aim of hosting COP26 next year?
• Further housing is planned for South Street, which is already busy with industrial motor traffic; this area around the museum should be developed as a park for people who live in the area, with cycling and walking routes running through it.
• There is no mention of river traffic
• There is no mention of the proposed Govan to Partick pedestrian and cycle bridge, which we are all waiting for and how this will impact on the area
• The Riverside Museum is of notable architectural and engineering interest, and it can be seen from the cycling and walking route, from the Expressway and from the railway. It should not be obliterated from view by buildings of lesser note

From that list it is quite clear that the general view is one of objection and here is the resulting GoBike letter, which lists and amplifies the above points.

Items 1.10 – 1.12, More Traffic Calming in Glasgow

The following 3 items are similar to the 5 Traffic Calming Items above and, to save space, only the full email for the first is shown. As we said in our last Digest we understand that the City Council offers one solution only to Community Councils and Councillors who wish to see the speeds of motor traffic reduced, and that is speed cushions.

1.10 **NEW** Glasgow City Council, Hermiston Road (Shettleston) Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 08 September

Here’s the email that we received on 11 August:

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

“Dear Sir / Madam

The Glasgow City Council, (Hermiston Road), Traffic Calming Scheme

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

Please note that these proposals will also be released to the public by displaying on-street notices within the affected area.

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

Roads affected by the proposed Scheme
The road affected by these proposals is:-

>Hermiston Road

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

• 9 sets of 3×1.8m wide speed cushions
• The installation of 18 bollards

Please provide any comments you wish to make on these proposals within 28 days.    

Please reply directly to LESTraffic@glasgow.gov.uk

In the meantime, should you require any further information or clarification on any points arising from the proposals, please e-mail LESTraffic@glasgow.gov.uk.

Should the Council proceed with these proposals; I will write to you again and confirm this.

Kevin Hamilton
Head of Roads
Neighbourhoods and Sustainability“

The “plan” referred to is these 4 plans:
Section-1-btwn-number-3-and-number-17
Section-2-btwn-number-41-and-number-63
Section-3-btwn-number-67-and-number-97
Section-4-btwn-number-101-and-Tynecastle-Street

Perhaps not too clear on the map above is the fact that Hermiston Road runs parallel to, and 2 streets to the west of, Greenfield Road which, in turn is next to, and parallel to, the main road, Springboig Road. It’s a small residential area with, as the photo above shows, has lots of on road and footway parking and is, particularly at the north end, quite steep. It’s easy to see why speeding motors could cause a hazard.

No-one, though, seems to have asked the question as to whether this needs to be a through road. Could a series of filters ensure that through traffic uses the main roads and does not use roads such as this as rat runs?

1.11 **NEW** Glasgow City Council, Muirhead Road (Baillieston) Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 09 September

Here’s the critical part of the email we received from the City Council on 12 August:

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

• 2 sets of 3×1.9m wide speed cushions
• 6 sets of 2x2m wide speed cushions
• The installation of 16 bollards“

5 plans were attached to the email:
Muirhead-Road-TC-proposals-Full-view
Muirhead-Road-TC-proposals-Section-1
Muirhead-Road-TC-proposals-Section-2
Muirhead-Road-TC-proposals-Section-3
Muirhead-Road-TC-proposals-Section-4

Here we have a road that leads from the main part of Muirhead down to Baillieston Train Station and then on towards Hamilton Road and the M74. Primarily straight, the parked cars will make it tricky for residents to cross the road, particularly if motor vehicles are exceeding the speed limit, but hold on, where are the cycle lanes and even the space for social distancing? The footways, if half-covered by cars, don’t allow for safe distances between people and surely, we should be encouraging people to cycle to the train station, and to cycle generally?

The one solution fits all will do neither, but the speed cushions will push people on bikes either into a gap as narrow as 0.5m at the kerb or well out into the roadway if they wish to avoid the instability and discomfort of cycling over speed cushions.

1.12 **NEW** Glasgow City Council, Newlands Park Area Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 09 September

The four roads proposed for the speed reduction treatment are Beverley Road, Calderwood Road, Carlaverock Road and Lubnaig Road. This looks and feels like an affluent area, with probably a higher proportion of large SUV type cars that can easily cope with speed cushions so why go to the effort and expense of putting them down? Here’s the critical part of the email that arrived from the City Council on 12 August:

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

• 2 sets of 4 (differing width), speed cushions
• 19 sets of 3 (differing width), speed cushions
• The installation of 42 bollards“

10 plans were attached:
Newlands-Park-area-TC-proposals-Beverley-Road-Section-1
Newlands-Park-area-TC-proposals-Beverley-Road-Section-2
Newlands-Park-area-TC-proposals-Calderwood-Road-Section-1
Newlands-Park-area-TC-proposals-Calderwood-Road-Section-2
Newlands-Park-area-TC-proposals-Carlaverock-Road-Section-1
Newlands-Park-area-TC-proposals-Carlaverock-Road-Section-2
Newlands-Park-area-TC-proposals-Carlaverock-Road-Section-3
Newlands-Park-area-TC-proposals-Lubnaig-Road-Section-1
Newlands-Park-area-TC-proposals-Lubnaig-Road-Section-2
Newlands-Park-area-Traffic-Calming-Proposals

This photograph of the junction where Lubnaig Road meets Merrylee Road shows that attempts have been made to reduce motor traffic speed with the guidance 20s plenty signs. Also, you will notice the pavement buildout to ensure that motor traffic enters and leaves Merrylee Road at a tighter angle than previously, which reduces speeds.

The question has to be asked as to why motorists continue to speed in this residential area? If the roads are being used as a rat run from Merrylee Road to Kilmarnock Road than then this can be easily stopped by putting in some modal filters allowing only cycles and emergency vehicles access.

There has been a school in the area, Calderwood Lodge Primary, but it’s now up for sale, probably to be redeveloped into desirable residences for the wealthy. Now is the time to reduce through traffic and encourage people to walk and cycle into and around the very pleasant Newlands Park.

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

In Digest 46, Item 1.3, issued in October last year, were details of a filter proposed by South Lanarkshire Council to remove through motor traffic from Chestnut Crescent to Silvertonhill Avenue in Hamilton. Unfortunately 80% of respondents to the Council’s survey rejected this idea and the Council now propose traffic calming with, yes, you’ve guessed, speed cushions on both Abercorn Drive and Chestnut Crescent in an attempt to reduce motor speeds.

Here’s a Google view of Abercorn Drive near its junction with Chestnut Crescent and it already looks as if it would be difficult to drive at any significant speed. There look to already be speed tables and 20mph roundels on the road, plus illegal parking.

Here are the details of the proposals and here is a plan of the traffic management proposals. We will be looking at these over the next week or so and hope to have a response in the next Digest. However, if you know the area and have views on the proposals do please respond to the survey and email consultations@gobike.org to help our response.

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

This UK-wide consultation first appeared as Item 1.10 in Digest 66 published 2 weeks ago.
We continue to develop our response to this consultation and we are receiving views from several quarters. Unfortunately not many of these are hopeful that the proposed changes will bring about significant improvements for those of us who are vulnerable to injury from large vehicles and the predominance of motor vehicles on our roads. Many of the proposals are for guidance only, ie using the word “should” rather than the mandatory “must”. We will, though, continue to draft a responsible input to the discussion and we will keep you informed of progress.

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

Nothing that we are aware of just now.

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

3.1 Multiplex University of Glasgow Campus Development – August 2020 Newsletter

Here’s the latest edition of the Multiplex University of Glasgow Newsletter August 2020, which we received on 10 August.

3.2 East Dunbartonshire Local Development Plan No 57, August 2020

This newsletter arrived today from East Dunbartonshire Council’s Land Planning Policy team. There’s no specific mention of cycling but those of you you know East Dunbartonshire well might see more in the detail.

3.3 East Renfrewshire, Cycling UK Networking Event 13 August

This event was advertised in Digest 66, Item 2.1 and GoBike co-Convenor, Thomas, took part in the virtual event. Here’s his brief report, a good note on which to end this Digest:

“The East Ren Networking meeting aimed at cycling was well attended and we give thanks to Cycling U.K. Scotland’s Eileen Hamill for arranging it all. It wasn’t groundbreaking but it’s a good first step to helping improve access and forward motion to creating a better East Renfrewshire.“

**********************************************************

Contents

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. **NEW** We ask what you think of the GoBike Digests, closes 18 August
2. **NEW** Share the Road – Support the Increases in Space for Safer Walking and Cycling, no closing date, but please don’t delay if you wish to sign the petition
3. **NEW** Glasgow. Mount Florida Community Council, Letherby Triangle project in Mount Florida, no closing date given
4. **NEW** Scottish Government, Town Centre Action Plan Expert Review Group, closes 21 August
5. **NEW** Glasgow City Council, Gartocher Road (Shettleston) Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 26 August
6. **NEW** Glasgow City Council, Prospecthill Circus (Toryglen) Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 26 August
7. **NEW** Glasgow City Council, Ladyloan Avenue – Extension (Drumry) Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 26 August
8. **NEW** Glasgow City Council, Warriston Street (Carntyne) Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 26 August
9. **NEW** Glasgow City Council, Greenfield Road (Shettleston) Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 27 August
10. **NEW** UK Department for 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. East Renfrewshire, Cycling UK Virtual Cycling, Walking and Wheeling in East Renfrewshire Networking Event, 13th August 

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

1. Glasgow City Council, Pollok Park, Introduction of Active Travel Management Plan including formation of parking, infrastructure and landscaping, acknowledgement of GoBike submission by Development & Regeneration Services
2. North Lanarkshire Council, City Deal Proposed East Airdrie Link Road, response to GoBike submission
3. North Lanarkshire Council, Active Travel Stakeholder Group online workshop 30 July

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

1.1 **NEW** We ask what you think of the GoBike Digests, closes 18 August

Yes, as mentioned in Digest 65, Item 2.1, we are being introspective and asking our members their views on these fortnightly Digests.
~ If you are already a current GoBike member and on Slack then the survey is there waiting for you in the Consultations channel
~ If you are already a current GoBike member but not on Slack, or don’t wish to be, then email consultations@gobike.org and the link to the survey will be sent out to you
~ Not yet a GoBike member but you wish to comment on the Digests? It’s easy and very cheap to join and by joining you are helping the campaign for improved cycle facilities.

1.2 **NEW** Share the Road – Support the Increases in Space for Safer Walking and Cycling, no closing date, but please don’t delay if you wish to sign the petition

GoBike member, Iona, sent this link: https://www.bikeisbest.com/petition and we hope you will all sign!

Here’s the info from the website:

“SHARE THE ROAD – SUPPORT THE INCREASES IN SPACE FOR SAFER WALKING AND CYCLING

During the Covid-19 crisis, across the UK there has been a rapid roll out of measures to make walking and cycling feel safer, as public transport capacity was reduced and all but essential journeys were curtailed. Space for walking and cycling has been taken directly from motor vehicles, rebalancing our roads to benefit people, not traffic.

This approach is proving hugely popular – a recent YouGov survey by #BikeIsBest showed that 77% of Brits are in support of road space reallocation to enable safer cycling and walking. We want to cycle more – during lockdown, some areas of England have seen cycling increase by 200%.

Governments have issued funding and guidance for local authorities across the UK. Despite this, some local authorities are ripping out temporary measures after just a few days because of a few emails and petitions from motoring pressure groups and grumpy residents. The silent majority who would like nicer and healthier places to safely cycle are not being heard.

Our research shows that there are 6.5 people in favour of measures to enable cycling and walking for every 1 person against. But these voices aren’t being heard.

Only 6% of us want to return to pre-pandemic times, says another YouGov poll. There is a rare opportunity to change our streets for the better; for health, for air quality, for the economy and for the community. To not just go back to traffic-dominated communities swathed in smog. But this opportunity for change is in jeopardy and urgent action is required. We need to show local political leaders there is widespread support for these measures.

By signing, you’re saying: “I support infrastructure that will help everyone cycle and walk more.”

Show your local politicians you support projects that will help everyone cycle and walk more. Please sign and share this petition today to make your voice heard.

This petition is open to all UK residents. This petition is being run by the #BikeIsBest campaign on behalf of 50 cycling organisations. We will use the accumulative totals of the petition to present the support to local and national government and other key stakeholders. Your email address will not be shared with third parties or these organisations directly. You can choose to receive campaign email updates but this is optional as an opt in.”

We can all hear people saying “Oh, the bike boom won’t last, wait until the rain, the dark mornings etc”. The bike boom will last if we can get good infrastructure, so please sign and let’s keep what we’ve got and campaign for more through GoBike.

1.3 **NEW** Glasgow. Mount Florida Community Council, Letherby Triangle project in Mount Florida, no closing date given

GoBike member, Calum, alerted us to this survey:

Here’s the wording from the website:

“Mount Florida Community Council has been consulting with the local community for a
number of years on how to improve the Letherby Triangle – the area at the junction of
Cathcart Road and Carmunnock Road beside Mount Florida Primary School. Last year we
received funding from Sustrans to allow us to develop it to the stage where we can submit a planning application. The proposal aims to:

• Create an attractive civic space for the local community to meet and hold events
• Enhance the image of Mount Florida as a vibrant and welcoming community
• Reduce traffic speeds in the area
• Make it easier to walk, cycle and scoot

Now we need your input on how the final design might look. Please complete the
survey“.

The survey is being run by Mount Florida Community Council – please do respond if you live in the area and/or know the area well.

1.4 **NEW** Scottish Government, Town Centre Action Plan Expert Review Group, closes 21 August

We were alerted to this consultation by GoBike member Tia:

Call for Evidence: revitalising Scotland’s town centres in the wake of COVID-19
The Town Centre Action Plan Expert Review Group is looking for views & ideas to develop thinking about Scotland’s vision for town centres.

The majority of us live in towns and cities, so this will be of interest to most of us. Please do look at the website and put in your views as to how you wish your urban areas to be, either with the changes we have already made or how they should be developed.

Here are the questions we are asked to consider:

1. What are the challenges and opportunities facing town centres in Scotland and how should these be addressed?
2. What are the barriers to developing town centres suitable for their communities and how can these be removed?
3. To what extent has the Town Centre Action Plan (TCAP) delivered against its stated ambitions? In what areas has delivery been successful? In what areas is there room for progress and/or barriers to overcome?
4. To what extent are the stated objectives and policy challenges TCAP seeks to address relevant for the new challenges for our towns?
5. If TCAP were to be revised, what additional or replacement areas and objectives would you recommend should be included and how should these be addressed?
6. Can you provide details and contacts of any examples of excellent practice in town centres which you believe have wider potential?
7. Is there anything else you would like to add?

This list makes it relatively simple to organise your thoughts! GoBike will be developing a response that we aim to publish in our next Digest.

Items 1.5 – 1.9, Traffic Calming in Glasgow

The following 5 items are all similar. They are all roads in the outskirts of the city where drivers are exceeding the speed limit and where the local community have requested, via their Community Council and/or City Councillors, that something be done. GoBike understands that only 1 solution is offered by the City Council and that is speed cushions.

GoBike fully understands the concern about fast and dangerous driving but we consider that there are several options available to reduce speed and even remove through traffic and that each location should be considered for a bespoke solution.

The emails that accompanied the consultation documentation are in a standard format; we only publish it in full for the first of the 5.

1.5 **NEW** Glasgow City Council, Gartocher Road (Shettleston) Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 26 August

Here’s the email on this one, the first of 4 received on 29 July:

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

Dear Sir / Madam,

The Glasgow City Council, (Gartocher Road), Traffic Calming Scheme

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

Please note that these proposals will also be released to the public by displaying on-street notices within the affected area.

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

Road affected by the proposed Scheme
The road affected by these proposals is:-

• Gartocher Road

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

• 2 sets of 3×1.8m wide cushions
• 1 set of 3x2m wide cushions
• 3 sets of 2x2m wide cushions

Please provide any comments you wish to make on these proposals within 28 days.   

 Please reply directly to LESTraffic@glasgow.gov.uk

In the meantime, should you require any further information or clarification on any points arising from the proposals, please also e-mail LESTraffic@glasgow.gov.uk

Should the Council proceed with these proposals, I will write to you again and confirm this.

Kevin Hamilton
Head of Roads, Neighbourhoods and Sustainability“

The plans referred to in the email are: Section 1, Section 2 and Section 3.

From these plans it may be seen that the gap at the gutter between the cushion and the kerb ranges from 0.5m up to 1.0m with the majority being 0.6m. Thus anyone trying to avoid the cushion has to cycle either out in the middle of the road or in the narrow gap at the edge along with all the grit etc.

As you can see from the map and the photograph the overall roadway narrows to go under the bridge carrying the railway line from Glasgow Queen Street Low Level out to Airdrie and via Bathgate to Edinburgh. But look, the road itself, on which the high motor speeds are occurring, maintains its width, while one footway disappears and there is no cycleway at all.

An alternative proposal is to use one road lane as a footway plus cycleway for the narrowed length under the bridge. The other lane would be controlled by traffic lights for a one-way motor traffic system. Such a solution would slow the motor traffic down and would deter drivers from using Gartocher Road as a rat run.
A further, easier-to-do alternative is to simply close the road to through traffic but only allow pedestrians, bikes and emergency vehicles through the railway bridge.

It’s time we moved away from the standard one size fits all solution of speed cushions.

1.6 **NEW** Glasgow City Council, Prospecthill Circus (Toryglen) Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 26 August

This area has only just been redeveloped with a mix of houses and flats, so why is the road such that motor cars are allowed to drive too fast?

Here are the relevant sections of the email from the City Council:

“Road affected by the proposed Scheme
The road affected by this proposal is:-

• Prospecthill Circus

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

• 1 set of 3×1.7m wide cushions
• 2 sets of 2x2m wide cushions
• 3 sets of 3×1.8m wide cushions
• 2 sets of 3×1.9m wide cushions“

Here’s the plan that is referred to: TC proposals

Sadly, there appears to be a discrepancy between the email and the drawing. The email lists 8 sets of cushions and the drawing shows 12.

A further point of concern is the positioning of the cushions. For 10 of the 12 sets the gap between cushion and kerb is only 0.5m with 1 at 0.65 and 1 at 1.0m. GoBike has been told that the recommended gap is 1.2m, so it looks as if the City Council have found a new guidance document?

We first mentioned the involvement of Urban Roots in Digest 31, Item 6 and there are further mentions in subsequent Digests of the local consultation they carried out for this area, right on the edge of Glasgow, bordering on South Lanarkshire.
Urban Roots were hoping to have their proposal for a cycle lane to be constructed right round the circus included in the development of the area.

All the houses have a run-in for a car, so why are all these developments designed for car use and not for active travel and the use of public transport? This really is a damning indictment of the current planning systems that have led to many such schemes in Glasgow and around Scotland, where the car is seen as king. In Crossbank Crescent, in the same development, a much better way of slowing traffic has been found, see below:

1.7 **NEW** Glasgow City Council, Ladyloan Avenue – Extension (Drumry) Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 26 August

This proposal is an extension to a scheme that we first featured in Digest 37, Item 1.3 in June last year. which was for the eastern section of Ladyloan Avenue; this proposal is for the western end. Last year GoBike submitted an objection suggesting that active travel in this less affluent area of the city should be encouraged by the construction of cycle lanes. We also asked why there was no proposal for car-free areas round the schools in this area. However, the installation of speed cushions won, and now there is a proposal for even more. Here’s the pertinent section of the City Council’s email of 29 July:

“Roads affected by the proposed Scheme
The road affected by this proposal is:-

• Ladyloan Avenue

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

• 2 sets of 2×1.8m wide cushions
• 2 sets of 2×1.9m wide cushions“

Here is the plan referred to: Ladyloan Avenue full proposals

Unfortunately, there again appear to be errors on the plan. There is a total of 5 sets of cushions, not 4, and the cushion to kerb spacing varies on the drawing from 1.0m down to 0.6m (there is a dimension of 0.55m shown but a check on the arithmetic shows this should be a more generous 0.65m!) Still not sufficient to keep bikes out of the detritus at the edge of the road, though.

Plenty of room for cycle lanes on this view!

1.8 **NEW** Glasgow City Council, Warriston Street (Carntyne) Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 26 August

Here’s a nice, long street, just right for getting up a bit of speed in the motor, irrespective of any of the residents trying to cross the road, or cycle along! Obviously something has to be done, but why speed cushions?

Here’s the relevant section of the City Council email:

“Roads affected by the proposed Scheme
The road affected by these proposals is:-

• Warriston Street

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

• 15 sets of 3×1.9m wide speed cushions
• The supply and installation of 30 bollards.“

Here are the 5 plans that were attached:
Section-1-btwn-Cumbernauld-Rd-and-number-68
Section-2-btwn-number-102-and-number-156
Section-3-btwn-number-186-and-number-250
Section-4-btwn-Gartcraig-Road-and-number-324
Section-5-btwn-number-342-and-Ruchazie-Road

The gaps at the side are mostly 1.0m, with 5 sets at 0.9 and 1 at 0.8, but they should be better.

One look at the map shows that, with the judicious use of filters and bus gates, if required, this whole area could be made impermeable to through motor traffic, while still maintaining access for cycles, buses, emergency vehicles and refuse lorries. Instead the City Council propose a dodgems run.

1.9 **NEW** Glasgow City Council, Greenfield Road (Shettleston) Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 27 August

This, the fifth, arrived a day later, on 30 July and here’s the critical section of the City Council email:

“Roads affected by the proposed Scheme
The road affected by these proposals is:-

• Greenfield Road

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

• 6 sets of 3×1.8m wide speed cushions
• 1 set of 3×1.9m wide speed cushions
• 1 set 2x2m wide speed cushions
• The installation of 16 bollards

And here are the plans that were attached to the email:
Section-1-btwn-number-1-and-11
Section-2-Btwn-number-19-and-41
Section-3-btwn-number-43-and-61
Section-4-btwn-number-63-and-Tynecastle-Street

The gaps between the gutter and the nearest cushion are generally 0.5m, with one set being 0.6 and another being an astonishing 1.2m, ie the standard we were told the City Council worked to!

Greenfield Road runs parallel to Springboig Road, so could readily be closed to through motor traffic, making the area pleasanter for the local residents, thus dispensing with the need for speed cushions.

Items 1.5 – 1.9, Traffic Calming in Glasgow

The 5 roads covered above are similar in that they are relatively straight, which can lead drivers to exceed the speed limit, but there are solutions other than speed cushions. Also, of course, drivers who do endanger life by excessive speed should be penalised. GoBike will be developing responses over the next 2 weeks and should be able to publish them in the next Digest.

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

The Highway Code, which applies to all road users across the UK, is about to be updated for the first time since 2007.

The UK Government website tells us there is:

“Consultation seeking views on proposed changes to The Highway Code to improve safety for vulnerable road users, particularly the groups of:

• cyclists
• pedestrians
• horse riders

The main alterations to the code being proposed are:

• introducing a hierarchy of road users which ensures that those road users who can do the greatest harm have the greatest responsibility to reduce the danger or threat they may pose to others
• clarifying existing rules on pedestrian priority on pavements, to advise that drivers and riders should give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross the road,
• providing guidance on cyclist priority at junctions to advise drivers to give priority to cyclists at junctions when travelling straight ahead
• establishing guidance on safe passing distances and speeds when overtaking cyclists and horse riders“

Here’s the link to the Government website. GoBike is now starting its review and we hope to have this ready in good time for you to use as the basis of your submission. We are aware that other active travel organisations, such as Cycling UK and Living Streets, are developing their responses, so we will be using all the information open to us to make sure we don’t miss any crucial aspects of this consultation.

The disconcerting aspect of this is not just that there is no legal, only a moral, obligation on any of us to read the Highway Code, but that motor drivers do not require any update after passing their driving test. Most of us who do a driving test will do it in their late teens or twenties, with no further test ever being required.

Section 2: Forthcoming Consulations

2.1 East Renfrewshire, Cycling UK Virtual Cycling, Walking and Wheeling in East Renfrewshire Networking Event, 13th August 

GoBike member, Iona, brought this to our notice and here’s the detail:

Cycling UK would like to invite you to our Virtual Cycling, Walking and Wheeling in East Renfrewshire Networking Event. 
The event will run from 4pm – 6pm on Thursday 13th August on Microsoft Teams

The Covid Crisis brought increased levels of Cycling, Walking and Wheeling with unprecedented numbers of people getting out of their cars and on to the streets, paths and parks for both travel and exercise. As we emerge from lockdown we now have the opportunity to capitalise on this momentum and make more active travel and leisure part of the new normal.  Many more people now want to cycle for leisure, health and everyday travel. We have the opportunity to shape practical measures which will help us to sustain this more active culture.
The global pandemic has shown us that where there is a political will and a sense of urgency things can change quickly. Pop up infrastructure and Spaces for People are just the start of what can be done to get more people cycling, walking and wheeling more often in East Renfrewshire.

This event is for anyone with an interest in walking and cycling in East Renfrewshire We hope to bring together representatives from Cycling UK, East Renfrewshire Council, local grassroots cycling and walking groups, community cycling organisations, Cycling UK affiliated and Member groups and local residents. Our aim is to discuss cycling and walking provision in the area and look towards improving infrastructure and opportunities. 
There are also opportunities for organisations to present at the event so if you would like the chance to showcase your work in the area just let me know.
Please feel free to share with your friends and networks, as well as any walking and/or paths groups who might be interested in shared initiatives. 
I look forward to seeing you there!
If you are unable to make it to the event but would like to take part in future events and discussions then please feel free to drop me a line
Many thanks and best regards
Eileen“

Eileen may be contacted by email at: bigbikerevivalscotland@cyclinguk.org

Here’s the link to join the meeting.

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

3.1 Glasgow City Council, Pollok Park, Introduction of Active Travel Management Plan including formation of parking, infrastructure and landscaping, acknowledgement of GoBike submission by Development & Regeneration Services

In Digest 64, Item 3.1, we published our response to the planning application for changes to the traffic system in Pollok Park. On 24 July we received this letter of acknowledgement. We’ll keep you updated with any further news.

3.2 North Lanarkshire Council, City Deal Proposed East Airdrie Link Road, response to GoBike submission

In Digest 59, Item 1.2 we published this letter of opposition to the building of a new road to the east of the town of Airdrie. On 27 July we received this long email explaining why the Council find it necessary to proceed with the road.

“City Deal Proposed East Airdrie Link Road (Ref TF/D57
Attn: Tricia Fort

Thank you for your letter of 14 April 2020 in response to the public consultation exercise on the proposed East Airdrie Link Road.

We note your opposition to the scheme, primarily on the basis that there requires to be a change of emphasis away from provision of new road capacity and more towards public transport and active travel.  You also note that recent government policies aim to reduce pollution, reduce the use of the private motor vehicle, improve public health and effect a modal transfer.

These aims are acknowledged in the recently published National Transport Strategy which, although at the bottom of the investment hierarchy, still supports road building, particularly in support of inclusive economic growth.

Please be assured that the Council is supportive of these shifts in policy and these are recognised in the aims and objectives of the East Airdrie Link Road project.

As stated in the over-arching project objective, the project seeks to contributing to a co-ordinated and strategic approach to upgrade transport infrastructure and promote economic regeneration through the Pan-Lanarkshire Orbital Transport Corridor project. 

Firstly, the objective explicitly acknowledges the aim to support economic regeneration in the area and, specifically, any proposals are assessed against how well they “support development opportunities for existing businesses and assist in unlocking stalled development sites”.  This aligns with the overall aim of the Glasgow City Deal to support economic growth and job creation; in fact, the achievement of this objective is critical in securing City Deal funding.

The project is also envisioned as a key plank in supporting the Council’s wider aim of encouraging modal shift through the greater use of public transport and active travel.  Again, these aims are explicitly acknowledged in options appraisal through assessment against the following project objectives:

Public Transport – Facilitate improvements to public transport infrastructure and reliability,
encouraging modal shift

Active Travel – Provide active travel infrastructure linking to existing networks, encouraging modal shift

The expansion of public transport and active travel provision in and along the existing A73 is limited by the prevailing physical constraints and traffic congestion and it is anticipated that the relief provided by the new link road will allow increased road space to be assigned to buses and active travel.  Providing travel choices is key to encouraging modal shift and efficient, fast public transport services are central to encouraging people to not use private cars. 

Another of the objectives is to improve air quality pollution within the Chapelhall AQMA and the project will achieve this for residents and those walking, cycling and wheeling.  Indeed, there is also an opportunity for the project to reduce noise pollution for a number of residents and remove freight movements through these densely populated areas.

Any option taken forward will be designed to include active travel routes connecting to existing paths and networks and thereby contributing to the overall active travel network in the region.  There is an opportunity through the environmental assessment work to provide a range of enhancements in terms of landscaping, ecology and flooding and to create pleasant segregated routes alongside the new road. 

We also note your comment about rail, however, the initial options appraisal concluded that rail options made only limited contribution to project objectives.  Nevertheless, the study (Strategy 8) did acknowledge there were opportunities to potentially improve connectivity links at Coatbridge these will be considered further out with the scope of the East Airdrie Link Road project.

In summary, it is our view that the proposed project is aligned with many of the objectives outlined in your letter. As we move in to Stage 2 of the current study, we will be seeking to ensure the optimum performance against the overall project objectives and to explore opportunities for maximising benefits of the new scheme towards modal shift.  To that end, have invited  welcome constructive engagement with GoBike on how your organisation considers these goals might be achieved.

We have set up stakeholder consultation groups, including on active travel, and acknowledge that your colleague Derek York has agreed to participate in the Active Travel Group.

We hope the above addresses some of your concerns and that you will be able to contribute further as the project develops through Stage 2.

In the meantime, if I can be of any further assistance, please contact the undersigned.
Regards

Yvonne Baker
Senior Project Manager (Enterprise Projects)
Enterprise & Communities
North Lanarkshire Council“

While this is not the result we had dreamed of, it is probably what we expected, but GoBike has been listened to. The inclusion of GoBike member, Derek, in North Lanarkshire’s Active Travel Stakeholder Consultation Group is very welcome.

3.3 North Lanarkshire Council, Active Travel Stakeholder Group online workshop 30 July

Quick on the heels of that email was the first meeting of the Active Travel Group last Thursday, held online and attended by Derek, on behalf of GoBike. The focus of discussion was the East Airdrie Link Road, a new A-road planned by North Lanarkshire Council funded by City Deal.
The screenshot above shows the possible route alignments; the final decision is yet to be made. The northern section is quite barren, 600ft above sea level and over peat bog. The southern section is nearer settlements, including Airdrie, Chapelhall, Plains and Calderbank. Mike Batley of the Central Scotland Green Network suggested the southern section could follow the western route for active travel-only (with road separate to east). It wasn’t clear if this will be taken on board. The next meeting will be in August but no word on next steps.
The proposed shared path would be wider than sections on A73 near Carluke. It’s nothing to write home about but obviously better than the section between Newhouse and Cleland/Bellside, which has no pavement at all. Other stakeholders were underwhelmed – Sustrans, SPT, Central Scotland Green Network, Glasgow & Clyde Valley Green Network Partnership (https://www.gcvgreennetwork.gov.uk/guide-to-the-partnership/the-partners).

Derek’s also given us some background to the proposals:

The road was initially proposed as a bypass over ten years ago to get HGVs off the current A73 through Airdrie. The Sustrans rep at the meeting asked whether NLC had considered not building road in light of the climate emergency. North Lanarkshire’s response was that the new road was about “redistribution” of traffic, not adding. Active travel infrastructure was added later in process (reminiscent of Stewartfield Way in South Lanarkshire). The proposed line of the road passes two potential sites for a new Monklands hospital (Glenmavis and Wester Moffat). The presentation mentioned economic development but not cycle commuting (aims come from old NLC cycling strategy). Aecom (the design consultants) and North Lanarkshire Council claim they want a modal shift to cycling – hence their proposal for a shared use path on one side (3m+buffer). They are proposing roundabout junctions with uncontrolled crossings (road is single lane 60mph). Est. 9k motor vehicle flows – 10k+ would require grade separated junctions – traffic modelling is to be confirmed.
The proposed shared path would be wider than sections on A73 near Carluke. It’s nothing to write home about but obviously better than the section between Newhouse and Cleland/Bellside, which has no pavement at all. Other stakeholders were underwhelmed – Sustrans, SPT, Central Scotland Green Network, Glasgow & Clyde Valley Green Network Partnership (https://www.gcvgreennetwork.gov.uk/guide-to-the-partnership/the-partners).

A decision about a new Monklands hospital site still hasn’t been taken. If it’s at one of the sites on the above corridor then that might change things. FYI see: https://www.nhslanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk/get-involved/consult-engage/monklands-engagement/

That’s it for now, a welcome return of consultations and plenty to get our teeth into.

So that is the good news from Glasgow City Council and the bad news is contained within Item 3.1, a Parking and One-Way Street issue, but do read on for our list of contents and the wide range of issues that we bring to you in this issue:

Contents:

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. East Dunbartonshire, Draft Local Transport Strategy, closes TODAY, 12 November
2. Glasgow, Queen Margaret Drive cycle lanes, closes 15 November
3. Glasgow, Belmont Traffic Management Order 2005 Variation No.2) 20__ – Publication of Proposals, closes 29 November
4. East Dunbartonshire, Proposed Traffic Regulation Order – A81 Milngavie Road & A81 Maryhill Road Redetermination of passage to be by Pedal Cycle and foot only, closes 02 December
5. **NEW** East Renfrewshire, Local Development Plan 2, closes 13 December
6. **NEW** East Dunbartonshire, Proposed Traffic Regulation Order and road humps – Maxwell Avenue Area, Bearsden, closes 16 December
7. Law Commission Highly Automated Road Passenger Services, HARPS, public consultation, closes 16 January 2020

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

1. Glasgow, University of Glasgow Campus Development Programme – public meeting, TOMORROW 13 November
2. East Dunbartonshire Active Transport Networking Event, 26 November
3. CyclingUK: “Why the Highway Code should be rewritten ” Forthcoming consultation from the UK Government

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

1. Glasgow, Mount Florida, Parking and One-Way, with no contraflow, discussion
2. Glasgow, Council Hearing for GoBike member, Bob Downie’s petition to keep National Cycle Route 75 through Glasgow Green open during events
3. Glasgow, City Centre, Candleriggs, Traffic Management Order, 2010, Variation 20

Section 1: Current Consultations

1.1 East Dunbartonshire, Draft Local Transport Strategy, closes TODAY, 12 November

This consultation was previously noted in Digest 45, Item 1.7 and Digest 46, Item 1.6. We hope that some of you managed to get along to one of the consultation events that have been held and have responded to the consultation? Here’s the GoBike response drawn up with grateful thanks to GoBike member Dave for his review.

1.2 Glasgow, Queen Margaret Drive cycle lanes, closes 15 November

Details of this consultation were in our last issue, Digest 46, Item 1.7 and our response was in that issue too – we were quick off the mark!
Please do write in if you have views on this proposal, particularly if you support it! It’s important that support for active travel schemes is voiced, to try to drown out the I-need-my-car-to-go-anywhere lobby. It will only take a minute or two to email land@glasgow.gov.uk to say that you fully support the GoBike response.

1.3 Glasgow, Belmont Traffic Management Order 2005 Variation No.2) 20__ – Publication of Proposals, closes 29 November

If you are thinking that you have seen this in our Digests before, then you are absolutely correct. We were sent details under the Stage One Consultees List and inadvertently, because we had not been told of our new status, we published the consultation details as usual.

Here’s the email that the City Council sent to us on 01 November:

“MESSAGE SENT ON BEHALF OF KEVIN HAMILTON, HEAD OF ROADS, NEIGHBOURHOODS AND SUSTAINABILITY
Dear Sir or Madam,

THE GLASGOW CITY COUNCIL, (BELMONT), (TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT) ORDER 2005 (VARIATION NO.2) 20__

Further to my consultation email of 17^TH September 2019 regarding the above named Traffic Regulation Order, and in accordance with statutory procedures, I now enclose a copy of the press notice of the proposed Order, relevant map, statement of reasons, detailed report.

Details of the proposals will also be available on the Glasgow City Council website at www.glasgow.gov.uk/proposedtro . 

As stated in the attached documentation, any person wishing to object to the proposed Order should send details of the grounds for objection in writing to Kevin Hamilton Head of Roads Neighbourhoods and Sustainability or by e-mail to land@glasgow.gov.uk by 29^th November 2019.

Yours faithfully,” etc

Here are the documents listed in the above message: Press Notice, Plan, Statement of Reasons and the Report.

GoBike supported the proposals when we were told about them earlier and we submitted this letter on 15 October. Obstructive and indiscriminate parking of motor vehicles is not something that GoBike can support and we will be repeating our message of support for this TRO.

1.4 East Dunbartonshire, Proposed Traffic Regulation Order – A81 Milngavie Road & A81 Maryhill Road Redetermination of passage to be by Pedal Cycle and foot only, closes 02 December

All the details for this proposal were in Digest 46, Item 1.8 and we have heard from one of our members, John, who commutes through this area. He tells us “I use this route when I cycle to work. It is more pleasant than the main road, if slower.” Another GoBike member, Dave, declines to use it because it is slower, so doesn’t this just prove the case for good cycle infrastructure?

Here’s our letter of response.

1.5 **NEW** East Renfrewshire, Local Development Plan 2, closes 13 December

We heard about this from GoBike member, Meredith and we are still doing some investigation, so if you have any concerns do let us know at consultations@gobike.org Here’s the link to the document and consultation details

1.6 **NEW** East Dunbartonshire, Proposed Traffic Regulation Order and road humps – Maxwell Avenue Area, Bearsden, closes 16 December

Here’s the email that we received on 08 November from East Dunbartonshire and, again, you might think you have seen this before! We responded to what was apparently the Stage 1 consultation back in January as reported in Digest 27, Item 3.4

“The Council is promoting a Traffic Regulation Order which would introduce a 20 mph speed limit zone in the Maxwell Avenue area of Bearsden and five round top road humps on Maxwell Avenue.
Enclosed are copies of the draft Order, plan and Statement of Reasons for the Traffic Order and the Plan of the location of the humps, together with copies of the Notices that are to appear in the Milngavie & Bearsden Herald which is published on 15 November 2019.
Should you wish to comment on the proposal you must do so in writing by Monday, 16 December 2019. Your comments should be sent to Chief Solicitor & Monitoring Officer, Legal Services, 12 Strathkelvin Place, Kirkintilloch, G66 1TJ.

(See attached file: 191104 Maxwell Ave Area proposed 20 mph zone.pdf)
(See attached file: 191107 Maxwell Avenue – Notice & Plan.pdf) “

It’s unfortunate that we weren’t clearly informed of this distinction, but we did generally approve the proposals, with one concern, we would prefer to see more than a 750mm gap either end of the the speed tables to allow clear passage for all cycles. While we don’t like speed tables we will not be objecting to this scheme.

1.7 Law Commission Highly Automated Road Passenger Services, HARPS, public consultation, closes 16 January 2020

Details of this UK Government consultation were published in Digest 46, Item 1.9 and repeated here is the last part of the email we received:

“We invite you to respond to the paper by 16 January 2020. We have set up an online portal for submitting responses but welcome input in any format. If you have ideas for consultation events or would like a meeting please get in touch.

The consultation paper, summary and details for how to respond are available on our project page at https://www.lawcom.gov.uk/project/automated-vehicles/ 

Yours sincerely,

Automated Vehicles Team – Law Commissions“

GoBike will be reviewing the document but if you do have any views on these automated vehicles do please let us know at consultations@gobike.org

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

2.1 Glasgow, University of Glasgow Campus Development Programme – public meeting, TOMORROW 13 November

This meeting was publicised in our last Digest, Digest 46, Item 2.2 and here is a further copy of the email that was sent out:

“From: Internal Communications <communications@glasgow.ac.uk>
Date: 22 October 2019 at 12:50:48 BST
To: Internal Communications <communications@glasgow.ac.uk>
Subject:University of Glasgow Campus Development Programme – public meeting

The University of Glasgow will hold a public meeting on Wednesday 13 November to update about progress on its Campus Development Programme.

The event will be held in the Wolfson Medical Building (Gannochy Room), from 18:30 – 20:00. You can register to attend through Eventbrite.

The meeting is open to the public and will focus on the ongoing and upcoming work taking place on the Gilmorehill campus, particularly on the site of the former Western Infirmary.

The agenda includes presentations from University project managers, as well as construction partners.

We intend to update on the following areas, however there will also be the opportunity for questions.

1. Infrastructure on University Avenue, University Place, and future demolitions along Church Street;
2. Construction update for the James McCune Smith Learning Hub and the Research Hub;
3. Overview of planning and final design for the Clarice Pears Building (Institute of Health & Wellbeing);
4. Planning and anticipated programme for the Adam Smith Business School and landscaping for the Southern Gateway;
5. A look inside the James McCune Smith Learning Hub, the Research Hub, including community facilities;
6. Community benefits;
7. Q&A.

Due to a busy agenda, please note the event will start at 18:30 prompt. Refreshments are available in the Atrium of the Wolfson Medical School Building from 18:00.

Tickets are not required, however attendees are encouraged to register, so that we have an indication of numbers. 

For those who have attended these meeting before, the Gannochy Room is next to the lecture theatre where the sessions are usually held.

Please direct queries to campus-development@glasgow.ac.uk“

Do get to the meeting if you have an interest in what’s happening at the University.

2.2 East Dunbartonshire Active Transport Networking Event, 26 November

GoBike received this invitation from CyclingUK on 31 October:

“Cycling UK would like to invite you to their Community Cycling and Active Transport Networking Event

It would be great if you could join us from 4pm – 6pm on Tuesday 26^th November at Hillhead Community Centre
169 Meiklehill Road, Kirkintilloch, G66 2JT

You can register for this FREE event at the following link:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cycling-uk-community-networking-event-2019-east-dunbartonshire-tickets-79515467905

This event is for anyone with an interest in walking and cycling in East Dunbartonshire.  We hope to bring together representatives from East Dunbartonshire Council, Cycling UK,  local grassroots cycling groups, community cycling organisations, organisations that hosted Big Bike Revival events and Cycling UK affiliated and Member groups.  Our aim is to discuss cycling and walking provision in the area and look at improving infrastructure and opportunities.  

Attendees can expect:

– A warm welcome with refreshments.
– Introduction from Cycling UK
– Speakers from East Dunbartonshire Council and local cycling organisations
– Potential new local cycling opportunities
– Interactive sessions to share knowledge and ideas
– Opportunities to network and get involved

Please share with your friends and networks, as well as any walking and/or paths groups who might be interested in shared initiatives. 

I look forward to seeing you there!

If you are unable to make it to the event but would like to take part in future events and discussions then please feel free to drop me a line
Many thanks and best regards

Eileen

Eileen Hamill
Development Officer – Big Bike Revival Glasgow and West of Scotland
Cycling UK
Email:eileen.hamill@cyclinguk.org
Web: www.cyclinguk.org“

This is a great opportunity for GoBike members to find out what is happening in East Dunbartonshire, so do get along if you can.

2.3 CyclingUK: “Why the Highway Code should be rewritten ” Forthcoming consultation from the UK Government

All those of us who are Cycling UK members probably received the weekly “Cycle Clips” email on Friday 08 November and within it is this article about a forthcoming review of the HIghway Code:

“Many people have the view that the Highway Code is largely irrelevant and with 307 rules plus annexes, it’s just too long, nobody reads it once they’ve passed their test and few people know the rules. Cycling UK Head of Campaigns Duncan Dollimore explains why the Highway Code needs to be rewritten so that it helps to protect vulnerable road users and can promote active travel.

It is to be hoped that this review takes place soon and is well informed by the active travel movement.

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

3.1 Glasgow, Mount Florida, Parking and One-Way, with no contraflow, discussion

This conversation, by email, with Glasgow City Council, has been going on for some time and centres on 2 issues. One is the FACT that one-way streets with no cycle contraflow cut down access/permeability for cycle traffic, and secondly, the FALLACY that businesses need their customers to be able to park their motor vehicle right outside their premises. The initial details were in Digest 39, Item 1.4 and in Digest 44, Item 3.1 we published an exchange of views between the City Council and ourselves.

Here’s the latest in the discussion, an email that we received on 30 October and our reply of 11 November. We do hope that after this quite frank exchange of views we will be able to speak to people at the City Council and come to some agreement on future proposals.

3.2 Glasgow, Council Hearing for GoBike member, Bob Downie’s petition to keep National Cycle Route 75 through Glasgow Green open during events

105 people supported Bob Downie’s petition (click on “Search and view all petitions”) to keep the cycle route by the Clyde through Glasgow Green open during events and it is now to be considered by the Wellbeing, Empowerment, Community and Citizen Engagement City Policy Committee on Thursday 14 November. This is good news indeed, and Tricia from GoBike and Jim from Cycling UK will be going along to support Bob to keep this important cycle route open as much as possible.

The photo above was taken on 04 November, the day before the 05 November Fireworks and shows that not only can the cycle and walking route be kept open while that event was prepared, but can be open while the Fair was in action, and the benches can be kept in use.

Let’s hope we get a good result on Thursday – we’ll let you know.

3.3 Glasgow, City Centre, Candleriggs, Traffic Management Order, 2010, Variation 20

Back in 2017 Glasgow City Coucil published proposals for traffic alterations for Candleriggs in the Merchant City. Here’s a copy of the Report that we were sent at the time:

“THE GLASGOW CITY COUNCIL (CITY CENTRE), (TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT) ORDER 2010
(VARIATION No20) (CANDLERIGGS) ORDER 201_
Report
The Council proposes to amend the current road layout on Candleriggs to support the development of the site bounded by Candleriggs, Trongate, Hutcheson Street and Wilson Street in the Merchant City area of the city centre.
The site of the former Goldbergs site has been unoccupied since 1990 and several buildings have been demolished as they had become unsafe.
The development of the site was approved for planning in April 2016, and will provide retail, student, lease, residential and hotel accommodation along with new attractive pedestrian access routes through the development linking the city centre.
The order will close Candleriggs to all traffic other than pedal cycles between Wilson Street and Bell Street, reverse the current eastbound one way operation of Bell Street between Albion Street and Candleriggs and remove the current prohibition of vehicles between 11pm and 9am on Candleriggs. This will provide access to the development from Albion Street while restricting through traffic and encourage sustainable transport in the city centre.”

Here’s the plan that was submitted at the time.

GoBike submitted this letter of support on 11 November 2017, to the proposals, drafted by GoBike member Peter, who lives nearby and who is a member of the Merchant City & Trongate Community Council.
We have no record of a response to our specific requests, but on 07 November 2019 we received this confirmation that the proposed changes are approved:

“MESSAGE SENT ON BEHALF OF CHRISTINE FRANCIS, HEAD OF TECHNICAL SERVICES, NEIGHBOURHOODS AND SUSTAINABILITY
Dear Sir/Madam

THE GLASGOW CITY COUNCIL, CITY CENTRE (TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT) ORDER 2010, (VARIATION No20)(CANDLERIGGS) ORDER 2019

I refer to your support of the above named Traffic Regulation Order and can advise that your support was reported and considered. The Council have decided under its scheme of delegated functions to proceed with the proposal as advertised.

The Order was made on 25^th October 2019 and an advert was placed in the Evening Times on Wednesday 30^th October stating that the Traffic Regulation Order has been made.
Should you require any further information on the above named Order please contact my assistant (name and phone number removed by GoBike).

Yours sincerely“, etc

A move in the right direction!

Back in 2 weeks with more!

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 Pearce Lane Traffic Regulation Order 201_ Waiting, Loading, Parking restrictions, closes 23 September
2. **NEW** Glasgow, Glencairn Drive, Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 24 September
3. **NEW** Glasgow, Pollok Park Transformation, on-line consultation, closes 26 September
4. UK Government, Department for Transport (DfT), Carbon Offsetting in Transport, closes 26 September
5. **NEW** Glasgow, Polnoon Avenue Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 30 September
6. **NEW** East Dunbartonshire, Proposed Traffic Regulation Order – Schools and Bearsden Town Centre, closes 07 October
7. **NEW** East Dunbartonshire, Proposed Traffic Regulation Order – Killermont Avenue, Rannoch Drive and Woodvale Avenue, closes 21 October
8. Consultation on Scotland’s National Transport Strategy, closes 23 October

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

1. Save the Date, 19 October, Sharing Concerns with the Visually and Physically Impaired

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

1. Glasgow, University Avenue, removing cycle lanes, response from Active Nation Commissioner.
2. East Dunbartonshire Council: Local Development Plan Newsletter No. 52
3. East Dunbartonshire, Traffic Regulation Order – West Chapelton Avenue & West Chapelton Crescent, Bearsden
4. Glasgow, University Avenue, Glasgow City Council reply to GoBike comment on their rejection of our Objection to the removal of cycle lanes.

Section 1: Current Consultations, in date order for response

1.1 **NEW** Glasgow Pearce Lane Traffic Regulation Order 201_ Waiting, Loading, Parking restrictions, closes 23 September

What a shame that such a tiny street, between Pearce Street and Water Row in Govan, gets cluttered with stationary vehicles, blocking access for pedestrians and emergency vehicles alike, and that the City Council has to go to the expense of a TRO to stop it.

This is what Pearce Lane looks like now (thanks to the GoBike member, who submitted this photo for our Infra day last Friday) with this very short cycle lane, which should come into its own once the new Govan-Partick Bridge has been built, but this is what it used to look like:

The construction of the cycle lane and the installation of the bollards to protect it means that refuse vans etc are unable to pass parked cars (they could previously go up on the verge/old footway) – hence the proposal for double yellow lines on the south side of the lane.

GoBike will be supporting this move and also pointing to positive moves by the Council, as reported in the press, to recruit more parking and traffic wardens. Here’s the email that we received on 02 September:

“MESSAGE SENT ON BEHALF OF KEVIN HAMILTON, HEAD OF ROADS, LAND AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES

Dear Sir / Madam
The Glasgow City Council (Pearce Lane) Traffic Regulation 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
Pearce Lane has been identified as being negatively affected by indiscriminate and obstructive parking practices which can make access difficult for larger vehicles to gain access e.g. refuse vehicles and fire engines.  Vehicles are also regularly parking on, and obstruct, footways which is a safety risk for pedestrians.

In view of the above, these proposals will improve road safety and pedestrian safety by prohibiting obstructive parking practices and improving access to residential properties.
Area affected by the proposed Order
The list of roads affected by these proposals are:-
Pearce Lane
Details of the proposed Order
The proposed restrictions (as depicted on the attached plan) will comprise of:-

·        No waiting and no loading and unloading at any time

Please provide any comments you wish to make on these proposals within 21 days (reply by 23^rd September 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 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

Here’s the plan referred to above. If you use this route do write in and support the proposal.
This is the GoBike letter of support.

1.2 **NEW** Glasgow, Glencairn Drive, Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 24 September

Yet more traffic calming, as if there wasn’t enough in Digest 42, but here’s a proposal for Glencairn Drive, G41, just to the east of Maxwell Park. This is the email that we received on 03 September:

“MESSAGE SENT ON BEHALF OF KEVIN HAMILTON, HEAD OF ROADS
NEIGHBOURHOODS AND SUSTAINABILITY
Dear Sir / Madam
The Glasgow City Council, (Glencairn 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:-
·        Glencairn Drive

Details of the proposed Scheme
The proposed Scheme (as depicted on the attached plan) will comprise of:-
·        8 sets of 4, 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 24 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 my assistant (name and contact number removed by GoBike)
Should the Council proceed with these proposals; I will write to you again and confirm this.
Yours faithfully” etc

There are 3 plans that were attached to the email: west, centre and east.

Here’s a view of Glencairn Drive:

From the view it’s clear to see that is a straight, wide road that is just an invitation to those drivers who wish to speed, with little or no care for others.

From the plans, and from the view above it can be seen that the minimum gap proposed to be left between the speed cushions and the kerb is only 0.55m and that would leave people cycling in the setts in the gutter. This lack of consideration of cycling will be mentioned in our response as will the question as to why there is no proposal to link Maxwell Park to Shields Road and the South West City Way with cycle lanes along Glencairn Drive. We’ll also ask why there is no proposal to block the clear sight lines with chicanes that incorporate cycle bypasses or a proposal to block off Glencairn Drive to through traffic leaving only access for cycles and emergency vehicles. Even simpler would be to install speed cameras so that the drivers of all vehicles who exceed the limit are prosecuted and fined. Who knows – the money raised from these people who flout the law would probably pay for the installation of the cameras several times over.
We need joined-up thinking and the holistic view when it comes to our streets and how people get around the city.

Here’s the letter we have submitted today in response to the proposals.

1.3 **NEW* Pollok Park Transformation, on-line consultation, closes 26 September

The information available at the
drop-in consultation event at Pollokshaws Library on 10 September is here. There is also a short video that you may view at this link – scroll down and click on “Transforming Pollok Park”
Comments may be submitted by email to PollokCountryParkTransformation@glasgowlife.org.uk. Do have a read of the information from Glasgow Life and and respond to the consultation. It all looks pretty good with a very pleasantly high focus on active travel:

• Car access will be much reduced, with car parking generally on the periphery.
• The car access for the Burrell will be from Haggs Road, with a new car park proposed for just inside the entrance.
• The current car park charge will be doubled from £1 to £2 for up to 3 hours (this still makes it much cheaper, particularly if the car is full, than the train or the bus).
• Car parking will be formally stopped on verges.
• There will be controls on vehicle speeds.
• The National Cycle Route through the park runs along the narrow shared path by the river. While this will remain, the nearby road will be formalised as two-way for cycling.
• The access to the park from Pollokshaws Road via the archway will be restricted to entry for the house, the cricket club, the police dog kennels and the allotments.
• There will be some lighting on the main paths.

but there are concerns:

• The current Burrell car park is to remain, at its present size, even though a new car park is proposed for construction near the Haggs Road entrance? Should this be restricted to being an accessible car park only with coach drop off? Otherwise we are relying on the goodwill of the drivers who could easily walk the short distance from the new car park.
• Electric car charging points are proposed for the current car park? Won’t this simply encourage people to drive to the park to leave their car charging when they could easily have walked, cycled or used public transport?
• Cycle facilities outside the park are not good. We do not know if the traffic lights at the Haggs Road entrance and exit will include a cycle phase and the shared footway from Pollokshaws West railway station is poor.

Do please put your views in by email; they will help to focus the Traffic Regulation Order and Planning Application that we expect to see relatively soon for the works to be done.

1.4 UK Government, Department for Transport (DfT), Carbon Offsetting in Transport, closes 26 September

This was first raised in our last issue, Digest 42, Item 1.9 – and the link to the Consultation is here. The document is only 18 pages and there are short questions to guide responses in each section. However, the main danger seems to be that much time and energy could be spent on “offsetting” carbon-high journeys (not in itself a bad thing) rather than promoting active and low energy travel.

1.5 **NEW** Glasgow, Polnoon Avenue Traffic Calming Scheme, closes 30 September

Look, here’s another long, straight road in Knightswood, G13, and quite wide too, separating houses that were built when there was council housing. Unfortunately it’s now marred by people using the long views to put their foot down on the accelerator, with little or no thought for children playing or people trying to cross the road, people choosing to park on the footway to the detriment of people who are trying to walk, push a pram or use a wheelchair and people choosing to store their car on the roadway when there is easily room off-road. The only advantage of on-road parking is that it narrows the roadway available for moving traffic and thus slows it down, but the big downside is that it is a deterrent to people cycling.

Here’s the email that we received from the City Council on 09 September:

“MESSAGE SENT ON BEHALF OF KEVIN HAMILTON, HEAD OF ROADS
NEIGHBOURHOODS AND SUSTAINABILITY
Dear Sir / Madam
The Glasgow City Council, (Polnoon Avenue), 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:-
·        Polnoon Avenue

Details of the proposed Scheme
The proposed Scheme (as depicted on the attached plan) will comprise of:-
·        4 sets of 2, 1.7m, 75mm high speed cushions with a 2.5m x 5m pedestrian island.
·        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 30 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 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 3 plans attached to the email: north, south and full view.

A look at the plans is quite disconcerting; with a layout not seen before! Staggered speed cushions are proposed at either end of a traffic island. The drawings do not give the overall width of the road, the gap between the kerb and the speed cushion or the width of road between the traffic island and the kerb.
Current design guides state that pinch points such as traffic islands are to be avoided; it might well be that local residents are unable to cross the road because of speeding traffic and parked cars but putting people who choose to cycle in danger is not the answer; perhaps zebra crossings, speed cameras, chicanes with cycle bypasses or some other active-travel-friendly solution is required?

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

Here’s an email that we received from East Dunbartonshire Council on 04 September:

“Good afternoon
The Council is promoting the undernoted Traffic Regulation Orders. Enclosed are copies of the draft Orders and plans together with copies of the Notices which are to appear in the editions of the Kirkintilloch Herald, the Bishopbriggs Herald and the Milngavie and Bearsden Herald which are published during the week commencing on 2 September 2019. Should you wish to comment on the proposal you must do so in writing by Monday, 7 October 2019. Your comments should be sent to Chief Solicitor & Monitoring Officer, Legal Services, 12 Strathkelvin Place, Kirkintilloch, G66 1TJ. Also included is a copy of the previous Orders which are proposed to be amended. Regards
Fiona Stirling
Legal Services
12 Strathkelvin Place, Kirkintilloch, G66 1TJ
Note Referred to:-
1. The East Dunbartonshire Council ( Bearsden and Milngavie Schools) (Waiting and Loading Restrictions) Order;
2. The East Dunbartonshire Council (Bishopbriggs, Kirkintilloch, Milton of Campsie and Torrance Schools) Order;
3. The East Dunbartonshire Council (Bearsden Town Centre) (Waiting and Loading Restrictions) Order.
(See attached file: 190903 Proposed Schools Orders East area.pdf)
(See attached file: 190903 Proposed Schools East – proposed to be amended.pdf)
(See attached file: 190903 Bearsden Town Centre – proposed draft order.pdf)
(See attached file: 190903 Bearsden Town Centre – Order to be amended docs.pdf)(See attached file: 190903 Proposed Schools Order West.pdf)

These proposals address two issues:

1. Parking a vehicle close to a junction (Bearsden Town Centre). This is prohibited in the Highway Code but we have been told recently by Glasgow City Council that parking wardens are unable to act if no Traffic Regulation Order has been issued. It makes one wonder at the purpose of the Highway Code but it is important that visibility, for ALL road users, is good at junctions.
2. Loading and unloading or stopping at or near schools is to be prohibited during the school day (08:30 – 16:30) at Clober Primary School in Milngavie, Westerton Primary School and at 8 primary schools in Bishopbriggs, Kirkintilloch, Milton of Campsie and Torrance. This will be to prevent the congestion that occurs outside school gates and to prevent any accidents that might occur as car doors are opened etc, but, no doubt the main aim will be to get children walking, cycling or scooting to school.

In the interests of road safety and active travel GoBike will be supporting these proposals.
When implemented, this action at schools is sure to take East Dunbartonshire ahead of Glasgow in terms of the number of primary schools with parking restrictions not just in overall numbers (recent proposals, implemented at the start of this term in Glasgow were for 6 schools) but way, way ahead in percentage terms.

If you live in East Dunbartonshire or have links to schools there please do support these proposals.

1.7 **NEW** East Dunbartonshire, Proposed Traffic Regulation Order – Killermont Avenue, Rannoch Drive and Woodvale Avenue, closes 21 October

This proposal aims to restrict parking/loading in the area just off Maryhill Road near the car dealership and the access to the golf club.
Here’s the email that we received from East Dunbartonshire Council on 11 September:

“PROPOSED: KILLERMONT AVENUE, RANNOCH DRIVE AND WOODVALE AVENUE, BEARSDEN ? NO WAITING AND NO LOADING AT ANY TIME RESTRICTIONS

The Council is promoting the above mentioned traffic Regulation Order. Attached is a copy of the draft Order and plans together with a copy of the Notice that is to appear in the edition of the Milngavie and Bearsden Herald which is published on 20 September 2019. Should you wish to comment on the proposal you must do so in writing by Monday, 21 October 2019. Your comments should be sent to Chief Solicitor & Monitoring Officer, Legal Services, 12 Strathkelvin Place, Kirkintilloch, G66 1TJ. Also included is a copy of the maps in relation to the previous Orders which is to amended. The Traffic Regulations Order itself is a large document and the maps represent what is contained in the Order. A full copy of the Order that is to be amended can be provided if requested.
(See attached file: 190910 Draft Order Killermont Ave Area + Notice.pdf) (See attached file: 130205 Bearsden Consolidated Outwith Town Centre.PDF) Regards
Fiona Stirling
Legal Services
12 Strathkelvin Place, Kirkintilloch, G66 1TJ“

Provided this is controlled then it should make it much easier for people who are walking and cycling, and trying to negotiate the road junctions in this area. GoBike will be supporting the proposal and we hope you will too if you work or live in this area or pass through.

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

We have mentioned this in the last three Digests and we have someone working on our response, which we will publish as soon as we can.
Here’s the link to the government website and the consultation details.

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

2.1 Save the Date, 19 October, Sharing Concerns with the Visually and Physically Impaired

This photo is taken from Freewheel North, who do considerable work for anyone and everyone who wishes to cycle, but not all do, and many visually and physically impaired people struggle to negotiate our streets. It’s important, though, that we aren’t divided by people who don’t really want any of us in the way of their cars.
Further to the events reported on in Digest 40, Item 3.2, Suzanne and Sally from Walk,Cycle,Vote are planning a day of discussion and experience-sharing; here’s their email:

“A quick update to say that we are planning a larger shared event with RNIB Scotland, and hopefully Spinal Injury Scotland, on 19 October in Edinburgh

We’re currently discussing workshops and speakers, but likely to have something on the following:

• The needs of visually impaired and blind pedestrians for independent and safe mobility
• The needs of wheelchair users for independent and safe mobility
• National Transport Strategy – an opportunity to respond to the consultation
• Strategic Transport Projects Review 2 – an opportunity to highlight shared priorities from WCV supporters and disability organisations
• Design standards – information around current guidance and what we need to change to better meet the needs of disabled pedestrians and cyclists

We’ll be getting details confirmed and more information out shortly, but for now I’d be grateful if you alert anyone you think might be interested in attending

We’d also love to have a few blogs from you: just 500 – 700 words and a couple of pictures on your experience of moving around our towns and cities would be really helpful in setting the scene  and starting the discussion.“

If you are interested then please contact Suzanne at: suzanne.forup@CyclingUK.org

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

3.1 Glasgow, University Avenue, removing cycle lanes, response from Active Nation Commissioner

You might remember that two weeks ago, in Digest 42, Item 3.4, we published this letter that we sent back to Glasgow City Council about the removal of cycle lanes from University Avenue. That letter was copied to the Active Nation Commissioner, Lee Craigie, among others, and she responded promptly, with this email:

“Thank you. 
Just to let you know I entirely support your objection in principle and will be including the importance of the simplification of the TRO process in my report to the Cabinet Secretary this month. 
I will circulate the content of this report to all active travel stakeholders of which I consider GoBike a valuable contributor. 
My best,
Lee”

We hope for such a positive response from the other addressees!

3.2 East Dunbartonshire Council: Local Development Plan Newsletter No. 52

Here’s the latest newsletter from East Dunbartonshire Council, No 52, dated September 2019.

3.3 East Dunbartonshire, Traffic Regulation Order – West Chapelton Avenue & West Chapelton Crescent, Bearsden

Back in May in Digest 34, Item 1.5, we published the proposals from East Dunbartonshire Council for waiting and loading restrictions on West Chapelton Avenue and West Chapelton Crescent. We submitted this letter of support on 28 May and we now hear, with this email received on 11 September that the Order has been approved.

“THE EAST DUNBARTONSHIRE COUNCIL (WEST CHAPELTON AVENUE AND WEST CHAPELTON CRESCENT, BEARSDEN) (NO WAITING AND NO LOADING AT ANY TIME RESTRICTIONS) ORDER 2019
The above-mentioned Traffic Regulation Order has now been made and will become effective on Monday, 4 November 2019. Enclosed are copies of the Order and plan, together with copy of the Notice that is to appear in the edition of the Milngavie & Bearsden Herald that is published on 20 September 2019.
(See attached file: 190911 West Chapelton Order & Schedules +Notice.pdf) Regards
Fiona Stirling
Legal Services
12 Strathkelvin Place Kirkintilloch G66 1TJ“

3.4 Glasgow, University Avenue, Glasgow City Council reply to GoBike comment on their rejection of our Objection to the removal of cycle lanes.

Just in this morning (17 September) Glasgow City Council reply to our second letter. Here’s our initial objection, the City Council response, GoBike’s second letter and now, here is the email received at 11:38 this morning:

“MESSAGE SENT ON BEHALF OF ANDY WADDELL, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, NEIGHBOURHOODS AND SUSTAINABILITY

Dear Ms Fort
THE GLASGOW CITY COUNCIL, (UNIVERSITY AVENUE AND UNIVERSITY PLACE)(TRAFFIC REGULATION AND PARKING CONTROLS) ORDER 201_

Thank you for your comments, I can confirm the following:

My officers are committed to delivering cycle infrastructure improvements in accordance with the “Glasgow’s Strategic Plan for Cycling 2016-2025”. However, the strategy is quite clear, “Our transport planners will strive to ensure that, wherever appropriate, new road schemes and changes to existing roads infrastructure will be designed and implemented to reflect the needs of cyclists and a placemaking approach.” In effect officers have to take a balanced approach to facilitating the needs of the agreed transport hierarchy whilst considering a range of factors such as the wider strategic importance of the street for all stakeholders, the space available, consideration of alternative provisions and the consequences of individual design proposals.  Only after a proper balanced approach is assessed can a solution be delivered which is both fit for purpose and does not have significantly detrimental consequences for the surrounding network.

After careful consideration by my officers and their Planning colleagues, a full cycle segregation solution was not, unfortunately, deemed to be appropriate on University Avenue for the reasons previously stated in our response to your objection.

The GoBike solution: Full cycle-lane segregation with a single traffic lane in one direction only – does not fit in with the needs of the wider range of stakeholders, including pedestrians and more specifically public transport providers, their passengers and the emergency services.

With regard to the current temporary traffic management arrangement on University Avenue as not being “problematic”, this system is designed critically to permit traffic to flow in both directions (unlike your proposal). It is also designed as a temporary measure and has been deliberately implemented during the quietest summer period to minimise disruption. Such a system would not be approved as a permanent measure.

The Traffic Regulation Order process has to be addressed on a project-by-project basis. It is not possible to collectively group projects together so they can be reviewed and supported or objected to. Each project that requires a TRO has to have a separate consultation process and stand or fall based on its own merits.

I can confirm that your objection has been maintained and will be considered and included within the final report which will inform the final 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“

So, just in, but what next? Wonder when the final report will be published? We’ll keep you updated.

___________________________________________

Exciting times, indeed. Almost as exciting as B****t, but your Digest will be back next week, yes, next week, hopefully with a shorter edition. Then it’s September weekend, when some GoBikers are cycling the Borders and a bit of a wait until another edition currently planned for 15 October. Take care on your bike and enjoy your cycling.

Contents

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. Glasgow, St Enoch District Regeneration Framework Public Consultation, closes 06 September
2. Glasgow, Connecting Woodside, St George’s Road and West Princes Street on-line consultation closes 13 September
3. Consultation on Scotland’s National Transport Strategy, closes 23 October

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

1. Glasgow, Connecting Woodside, St George’s Road and West Princes Street consultation event 27 August
2. Glasgow, Pollok Country Park – Project Update and Public Consultation Event, 22 August, NOW POSTPONED UNTIL 10 SEPTEMBER

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

1. Glasgow, Avenues preview events for Renfrew, Killermont and North Hanover Streets, 06 August
2. Glasgow, Construction work to start on University Place
3. East Renfrewshire, Aurs Road Upgrade and Realignment Project – Information Session 13 August
4. ScotRail Cycle Forum 15 August
5. New cycling offences: an update from CyclingUK
6. Glasgow City Council (North Kelvin, North Woodside and Woodlands)(Mandatory 20mph Speed Limit Zone) Order 201, GCC response to GoBike submission
7. Glasgow, support for the ban on cars at school gates
8. Glasgow, University Avenue and University Place, Traffic Regulation and Parking Controls Order, GCC response to GoBike objection

Section 1: Current Consultations, in date order for response

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

We are still working on this, which we first advertised in Digest 37, Item 1.7 and we will definitely have our response in the next Digest on Tuesday 03 September, just before the closing date.

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

In our Consultation Extra on 12 August we gave the details for the two Consultation events, one last week on 15 August and one next Tuesday (see below, item 2.1 for more details). However, there is also on-line consultation so please do complete this: see the details here.

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

We gave this link in Digest 40 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, Connecting Woodside, St George’s Road and West Princes Street Consultation Event Tuesday 27 August, 3-7pm

As per our Consultation Extra a week ago the City Council and Sustrans will be at Woodside Library on St George’s Road on Tuesday 27th August, from 3-7pm. Here’s the link to the Connecting Woodside update with the details.

2.2 Glasgow, Pollok Country Park – Project Update and Public Consultation Event, 22 August, NOW POSTPONED UNTIL 10 SEPTEMBER

Despite our reports in the last 2 Digests, we received this message on 06 August, just after Digest 40 was issued that:

“As part of the Transforming Pollok Country Park project, Glasgow City Council and Glasgow Life are developing proposals to improve access to and within Pollok Country Park. Following a period of engagement, emerging proposals are now entering the pre-planning phase and will then form the subject of a planning application later this year.
Please find attached documents relating to the Proposal of Application Notice that was submitted today (6^th August) for access proposals in Pollok Country Park.
As part of the pre-planning process, a consultation event will take place at Pollokshaws Library on the rescheduled date of 10^th September from 12 noon – 8pm which you are welcome to attend and will allow the opportunity for comments.
Kind Regards,
Glasgow City Council/Glasgow Life”

Here are the four documents that are mentioned: Site Plan, the Exhibition Leaflet, the Proposal of Application Notice and the Letter of Invitation to Consultees.

Do try and get along to the event if you can; most of us go to, or through Pollok Park at times and the proposals do appear to be genuinely active travel friendly.

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

3.1 Glasgow, Avenues preview events for Renfrew, Killermont and North Hanover Streets, 06 August

This event, held by Civic Engineers, who are carrying out the design work of this part of the City Deal Avenues project for Glasgow City Council, was well attended with good support for the proposals. The main points raised were:

• The aim is to normalise cycling; the main speaker was keen to say that the avenues are not for speed cycling.
• The amount of tarmac on the 16 core streets of the Avenues programme will be reduced, with swales and rain gardens introduced to absorb rain water – and to improve the environment.
• The project is in line with the aims of the Connectivity Commission, encouraging active travel for all abilities, reducing private car use in the city and encouraging use of public transport.
• The through cycle route along Sauchiehall Street will continue to Cambridge Street, then to Renfrew Street, Killermont Street and North Hanover Street.
• There will be no shared space.
• Discussions are taking place with SPT and bus operators about changing/reducing access to the bus station.
• The overall timescale is tight, but the tender package for Argyle Street (also part of the work being done by Civic Engineers) will be issued by the end of 2019 with work possibly starting as early as next spring.
• Questions asked by the audience included a request for contraflow cycling on connecting streets such as the one-way section of Renfrew Street at the west end, for traffic lights to be phased to give active travel priority and a concern that cars might use Townhead as a rat-run if access to North Hanover Street is reduced.

3.2 Glasgow, Construction work to start on University Place from 12 August

We know that cycling, and widespread consultation, was only an afterthought in a lot of Glasgow University’s planning but here’s some information that one of our members received on 05 August and passed on to us:

“Dear neighbour,
Please note that parking will be removed and barriers erected on University Place from Monday 12 August to allow for infrastructure and landscaping works through the University of Glasgow’s Campus Development Programme.
Construction will be ongoing until early 2021, to create a pedestrian and cycle priority route between Byres Road and University Avenue.
The works will also improve the look and feel of the environment, turning University Place into an accessible and attractive gateway for the new Western campus, including a small number of disabled parking spaces at its western end.
Parking on University Place is currently unrestricted and not covered by the University’s permit scheme.
Residents of University Place and staff requiring access to the underground car parks at the Wolfson Medical and BHF Sir Graeme Davis Buildings, staff of the NHS Pharmacy facility, as well as service and emergency vehicles, will still be able to access University Place.
The street will be open to pedestrians and cyclists during the works, and be one-way for cars, from University Avenue towards Byres Road.
The road will remain open to pedestrians and cyclists during the works. University Place will also be made one-way for cars, from University Avenue towards Byres Road.
Please see the plan for University Place works for more details. 
Construction will start in August with drainage works at the West (Byres Road) end of University Place, working along the road towards University Avenue.
Later in the year, landscaping and resurfacing work will begin from the East (University Avenue) end of the road and work back along towards Byres Road. This work will complete in early 2021 in time for the opening of the Clarice Pears Building, which will house the University’s Institute of Health and Wellbeing. 
Cycle racks, currently located outside the Wolfson Medical Building, will be relocated temporarily the Bower Building. Once complete, the landscaping for University Place will include over 100 cycle parking spaces.
The Next Bike facility will remain in its present location, however a new permanent location will be constructed nearby as part of the improvements.
Read more about the University’s Campus Development Programme
For any feedback please contact campus-development@glasgow.ac.uk”

One bit of good news in the above is that the one-way restriction applies only to cars, so University Place will remain two-way for people walking or cycling.

3.3 East Renfrewshire, Aurs Road Upgrade and Realignment Project – Information Session 13 August

GoBike was invited to this session and one of our members attended. Here is the feedback:

The scheme is being designed by Peter Brett Associates who have been given a wide brief to create not just a realigned road but an active travel route which will in time link into a visitor centre.

1. The scheme is to realign Aurs Road from Springhill Rd to Stewarton Rd. Major bends will be removed and speed limits will be reduced from the current 60mph to 30 mph & 40 mph depending on location
2. As yet not all funding is in place but there is expectation that funds will be located (e.g. from Sustrans) allowing the complete project as envisaged to be completed.
3. It is planned that this is part of a larger overall redevelopment and to fit in with new housing north of the railway line and a visitor centre. There will also be a new 100place car park south of the Balgray Reservoir to allow folk access to the area.
4. There is also talk of a new railway station, Barrhead South, north of Balgray Reservoir, to serve the new housing, but the likelihood/timetabling are very unclear.
5. The essence of the plan is to take the bends out of the road, reduce the speed limit to 30/40mph and provide lighting. If they did nothing else the cycling environment would be greatly improved, particularly in winter. They also plan a cycleway and footway to the west of the existing road. For most of the length these will be segregated and in the case of the cycleway up to 3m in width. In some areas, in particular near the area of the proposed car park, limitations of space mean that shared space is inevitable. Space over much of the length is certainly a problem and to get the cycleway built means building a boardwalk over the edge of the reservoir itself. All very ambitious. Note that the cycleway will be lit.

We have some concerns, particularly about the start and end points and will be following them up.
Note that planning permission has not yet been sought. Once this has happened the plans will go on line.
The hope is to tender in the next 2-3 months with works starting in April 2020. The road will be closed in its entirety and the works will take (at least?) a year to complete.
The presentation given at the event is here.

3.4 ScotRail Cycle Forum 15 August

ScotRail hold their Cycle Forum two or three times per year and GoBike was represented at the most recent, held in Glasgow on 15 August. The main points of interest were:

• From May 2020 dedicated cycle carriages will be added to the formation of trains where there is mandatory booking, starting with Glasgow to Oban, followed by Glasgow to Fort William and Mallaig and then the Far North Lines.
• ScotRail have a Cycle Fund which awards match funding to such projects as improving cycle access to railway stations. GoBike is hoping to meet with ScotRail and Sustrans, and eventually the City Council, to explore improving links to stations in Glasgow.
• ScotRail is to review its policy on the carriage of electric bikes, which are currently officially banned on all UK trains because of concern about the batteries! It was suggested at the meeting that owners are probably unaware of this policy and load them onto trains anyway.
• ScotRail is reviewing its cycle hire scheme in light of usage and other schemes in operation.
• There is ongoing concern about the carriage of bikes on HSTs to intermediate stations that are unstaffed.
• Generally the carriage of bikes works well.

3.5 New cycling offences: an update from Cycling UK

Last September, in Digest 17, Item 1.8 we informed you of “Open Consultation from the UK Government, Department of Transport, New Cycling Offences, Causing Death or Serious Injury while Cycling”. Cycling UK were quick off the mark to submit opposition to the proposals and GoBike supported the move, calling for a complete overhaul of road traffic offences.
Many of us who are individual members of Cycling UK added our voice and the following update was received on 07 August:

“Last autumn, the Government launched a consultation on new cycling offences.
You were one of over 13,000 people who supported Cycling UK and called on Government to stop tinkering around the edges and, instead, to launch the wholescale review of road traffic offences first promised in 2014.
Ten months on, we’ve finally had some news.
Last month’s Road Safety Statement listed 74 upcoming actions to improve road safety and, interestingly, plans to introduce new cycling offences were not included. Instead there was an acknowledgement that this is “a complex area” and that the Government is “considering bringing forward legislation to deal with this”.
Although this may seem insignificant, and we wouldn’t suggest reading too much into it, it’s a shift in position from the infamous announcement from the Conservative twitter account last year announcing that they were “cracking down on dangerous cyclists”.
So, let’s just say we’re more optimistic than we were this time last year – and that’s thanks to you, and 13,000 others, taking the time to write to the Government and your MP.
With Parliament on summer recess, and a new Transport Minister recently appointed, we’ll be sure to keep you updated as things develop over the coming months.
In the meantime, the urgent issue for cycling is the upcoming Government spending review: cycling needs more investment to ensure it’s safer and more widely accessible.
Please support our campaign for cycling funding by writing to Chris Heaton-Harris, the new Minister responsible for cycling.  
Duncan Dollimore
Head of Campaigns
Cycling UK“

Those of us fortunate enough to live in Scotland do not have a new Transport Minister, so if you do wish to ask the Scottish Government for more cycle funding do please contact Michael Matheson, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity.

3.6 Glasgow City Council (North Kelvin, North Woodside and Woodlands)(Mandatory 20mph Speed Limit Zone) Order 201

GoBike support for this move, with the concern about the city’s patchwork approach to implementing 20mph across the city, was given in Digest 39, Item 1.5 and here’s the response we received on 08 August.
There’s a lot of detail about how the zone will be applied but still no recognition of the speeding that clearly occurs on streets that are already 20mph, eg the Broomielaw and the High Street.

“THE GLASGOW CITY COUNCIL, (NORTH KELVIN, NORTH WOODSIDE AND WOODLANDS), (MANDATORY 20MPH SPEED LIMIT ZONE) ORDER 201_
Thank you for your correspondence regarding the above named Traffic Regulation Order, your comments have been noted.
I can advise that the funding has been made available through Sustrans’ Places for Everyone programme funded by Transport Scotland as part of the Connecting Woodside project to introduce mandatory 20mph speed limit zones within the residential areas.
The 20mph speed limit zones will be signposted according to the TSRGD 2016 and there will be triangular lamp-post wraps prior to the 20mph speed enforcement coming into effect to notify the public of the new speed limits in the area.
I refer to the extremely positive change in regulations outlined in the recent Transport Scotland document titled the ‘Good Practice Guide on 20mph Speed Restrictions’.  Whilst this guidance allows certain areas to be considered without physical traffic calming measures, unfortunately the council are unable to make the full council boundary a mandatory 20mph speed limit zone at this time.  This would require substantial funds given the sheer volume of work that would require to be undertaken such as speed surveys, material costs and physical traffic calming measures required throughout the council boundary, particularly on existing roads with existing speed limits of 40mph and above. 
The Police are included in the consultation process when a 20mph zone is being introduced.  However, following Transport Scotland guidance and by introducing traffic calming measures where speeds are above 24mph, it is intended that the zones are mainly self-enforcing.  Indeed, during discussions with Police Scotland Officers, they have indicated that they support the Council’s traffic calming policy.  The Council has no direct input into where and when the police carry out enforcement. 
Your support 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
Steven Gray
Assistant Group Manager (Sustainable Transport)
Neighbourhoods and Sustainability“

3.7 Glasgow, support for the ban on cars at school gates

In Digest 34, Item 1.3, we published the proposals for banning cars from accessing close to the gates of six primary schools in the city. This has now achieved the support of Evening Times readers, see: https://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/17832845.car-ban-glasgow-primary-schools-city-backing/?ref=ebln
Let’s hope now that the practice is spread to all schools across the city and beyond.

3.8 Glasgow, University Avenue and University Place, Traffic Regulation and Parking Controls Order, GCC response to GoBike objection

Many of you will remember the demonstration we had in February to demonstrate that painted cycle lanes offer no protection to people trying to cycle over the hill that is University Avenue and we submitted this letter of objection in June to the City Council.

We received this response on 13 August:

“MESSAGE SENT ON BEHALF OF ANDY WADDELL, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, NEIGHBOURHOODS AND SUSTAINABILITY
Dear Ms Fort
THE GLASGOW CITY COUNCIL, (UNIVERSITY AVENUE AND UNIVERSITY PLACE), (TRAFFIC REGULATION AND PARKING CONTROLS) ORDER 201_

Thank you for your correspondence regarding the above named Traffic Regulation Order.
With regards to your concerns:
The University of Glasgow’s proposals for University Avenue and University Place were developed in consultation with Council officers and following consideration of all options available, including the incorporation of segregated cycle lanes in University Avenue and the introduction of bus gates at either end of the Avenue.

Options investigated the requirements for pedestrians, cyclists, public transport provision, University and local access issues and wider traffic management issues in line with the established hierarchy.

The resultant proposal significantly improves pedestrian passage both along and across University Avenue and has removed all existing parking. However, it was necessary to accommodate public transport routes in both directions as well as larger bus stops at the University. The two way traffic corridor will also accommodate emergency service vehicles and local service access. To mitigate other traffic access, a supporting Traffic Regulation Order will reduce the speed limit to 20mph. More severe traffic restrictions e.g. bus gates, were found to have a detrimental impact on adjacent streets such as Byres Road and were therefore discounted.

Unfortunately, due to land availability, local topography and a number of listed structures, it was not practicable to accommodate fully segregated cycle lanes in both directions. This is demonstrated in your own proposals which resulted in a single 3m one-way traffic lane and would not be supported by the Council, and would be likely to raise objections from other stakeholders including emergency services and bus operators. When considering the 20mph speed limit, the need to accommodate bus stops for large numbers of passengers and the sharp gradients, up to 8%, and campus cycle access available at either end of University Avenue, it was concluded that the mandatory cycle lanes would be provided only on the uphill sections.

The University has also taken a number of steps to improve the local campus environment for pedestrians and cyclists. The campus will be opened up with a number of signed routes, routes will remain accessible after hours. Car parking on the campus will be significantly reduced and other vehicle access controlled. Public realm including cycle storage facilities will be improved.

Addressing your specific observations:

1. The painted cycle lanes are dangerous.

Painted lines are a recognised means of cycle lane provision. It is noted that they are not ideal but they are the best that can be practicably achieved in this particular location. The university will investigate the practicability of introducing forms of light segregation, however there are concerns that this in turn may introduce a trip hazard.

2. The design of the painted cycle lanes within the TRO makes cycling even more dangerous.

Bus stops are located on either side of the crossing at the junction with Hillhead Street and, as there was insufficient road width to provide lay-bys, without the loss of pedestrian space, this made any opportunity to provide cycle lanes over the entire length of University Avenue impracticable.

The designers were required to work within the bounds of the existing public road limits. Unfortunately, as noted above, segregated cycle routes cannot physically be accommodated in both directions. Due to the grades it was determined that segregated cycle lanes on the downhill sections would be a greater risk due to the lack of width and proximity of pedestrians on narrower footways.

3. Painted cycle lanes on University Avenue do not prevent waiting, loading or parking.

The formalisation of the cycle lane means that if a vehicle crosses over the solid white cycle lane for any reason – for example, to drop off a passenger – they are in contravention of the Highway Code and this would be a police enforcement matter.

Practically, a vehicle stopping for any reason would block the carriageway and would be likely to be moved on by other road users. Equally a segregated lane would not completely deter dropping off activities.

4. The plans are in contravention of the Transport Hierarchy.

The plans are in accordance with the Transport Hierarchy as they prioritise pedestrian safety above all others by widening the footways and improving crossing facilities. It is necessary to maintain the route for two-way public transport, and private vehicle use has been affected with the removal of all parking spaces on University Avenue as well as the reduction to a 20MPH speed limit zone. Whilst full segregation has not been provided, the reduced speed limit and removal of vehicle parking spaces will benefit cycling. These measures are consistent with Cycling by Design.

Cycling by Design (2010) Hierarchy of Measures, “It should be recognised that measures are more easily accepted and implemented if they directly benefit the wider community, not simply existing cyclists. Strategies that emphasise safety in terms of motorised traffic restraint and speed reduction while promoting health and sustainability will aid the development of cycling.”

5. The plans fail to recognise Climate Change Emergency status.

University Avenue has to maintain accessible for public transport in both directions. Modelling was carried out on potentially making University Avenue a bus only route; this was not feasible due to the level of disruption that would be created on Byres Road, Great Western Road and Dumbarton Road, and the associated side streets in the area. Similarly, a one-way street would not be possible either.

6. The plans fail to recognise recommendations made within the Connectivity Commission Report.

Policies can only be applied within the context of the local situation and if delivery is reasonably practicable in terms of issues such as physical aspects, user priorities, essential requirements and wider cost implications. Where you are seeking to adapt an existing streetscape it is not always possible to accommodate all aspirations in one situation. In the case of University Avenue, the reasons why it was not feasible to reallocate road space in strict accordance with the user hierarchy -which would see a larger portion of the road being dedicated to cyclists – are derived from the presence of physical constraints (level change, gradient and pinch point) which, if a segregated route was to be introduced, would compromise the safety of the most vulnerable road users i.e. pedestrians.

8. Double yellow lines with kerb marked lines are not legally compatible with mandatory cycle lanes.

The double yellow line marking restrictions apply from the heel of the footway to the centre of the carriageway. As previously mentioned, the solid white line marked cycle lanes are the boundary in which a vehicle cannot cross over. A vehicle is still within their right to drop off a passenger without crossing over the white solid line marked cycle lane. Any form of waiting beyond the reasonable amount of time for a passenger to board or alight is a traffic offence.

Glasgow City Council do not have a policy on the use of red line markings; there is potential for future implementation around the city with red line markings, however, the policy would have to be created to allow for this.

9. The TRO drawing is inconsistent with other approved planning drawings.

Whilst the omission of the drop off lay-by on the TRO drawing is noted it does not affect the actual restriction. The lay-by is for drop off only and parking would be an offence as it would on the rest of the carriageway.

10. Lack of public support.

The TRO process allows the public to formally object to the proposals and I can advise that the Council received 26 formal objections to the TRO. Several of these objections were supportive of the 20 mph speed limit.

Considering that staff and students of the university alone amount to almost 40,000 people, a figure increased significantly when considering local residents and businesses in the Hillhead / Byres Road area, the level of objection is relatively low in terms of other TRO consultations.

Having considered the above, should you wish to withdraw your objection I would be pleased if you would inform me by 3^rd September 2019 by writing to Andy Waddell, Director of Operations, Neighbourhoods and Sustainability, House, Glasgow City Council, 231 George Street, Glasgow, G1 1RX or by e-mail to 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

Needless to say we are not favourably impressed, we will not withdraw our objection on the strength of this response and might even reply to the City Council.

Sorry to end on a low note but there is some good news above and let’s hope we get some more before the next Digest is due out at the start of September.