Consultation Digest Issue 42, 03 September 2019: We take the hump, in a tale of two cities

Two cities? That’s Glasgow where we have on one side the positivity of the Avenues, the Development Regeneration Frameworks and advance news of the latest developments for Byres Road, while in residential areas we have a more outdated and reactive response to speeding traffic and the storage of private cars. There are currently four new proposals for traffic calming using the only method the City Council appears to know, ie speed cushions and we have the Council’s defence of proposals for the storage of private vehicles on our public roads all militating against active travel. Do read on for the detail of these and lots, lots more in this bumper edition.

Contents

Section 1: Current Consultations

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

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

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

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

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

Section 1: Current Consultations, in date order for response

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

2.1 Glasgow, Pollok Country Park Public Consultation Event 10 September

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

2.2 Advance Notice: Byres Road Public Realm Traffic Regulation Orders

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

“Dear Stakeholders,

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

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

Byres Road- Introduction of 20mph Speed Limit

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

Byres Road- Traffic Management and Parking Controls

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

Hillhead- Traffic Management and Parking Controls

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

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

Best Regards,

Chris

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

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

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

3.1 University Avenue temporary closures – free of motor traffic weekends

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We are considering a response.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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