Author: Tricia Fort

The Herald reports today (02 November) that the Fastlink lanes on the Broomielaw in Glasgow have been closed to buses since 16 October following 2 pedestrians being knocked down, see: http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/14836667.Fastlink_busway_closed_amid_fears_over_safety_of__pedestrians_using_smartphones_/

Of course, the pedestrians are being blamed, for wandering onto this empty carriageway using their mobile phones!  Glasgow City Council’s answer? To close this ill-designed road and to consider erecting railings!  When has any road been closed because a pedestrian has been knocked down?  This must be a first.  Why is the Council’s immediate response to think of railings?

Glasgow City Council has refused to allow bikes onto this section of Fastlink – and now the lanes are empty!

You may remember the earlier post, date 04 October 2016, detailing the story of this very steep access path from Garrioch Drive to the Kelvin Walkway. It was closed after an accident involving an adult, who had a child on a child seat, coming off their bike.

A Freedom of Information request to Glasgow City Council has revealed that the cost of the path was £6535, some 30% over the approximate budget of £5000, see: 5810822-response-toms-251016

The path is still closed, the gate is locked and that’s over £6000 of public money wasted – that’s our money, your money and we have no idea when the City Council will make the path fit for use.

Recent events in East Dunbartonshire with the Bears Way, South Ayrshire with Holmston Road and Edinburgh with Roseburn Terrace have made it very clear that we need local councillors who support active travel and who are prepared to make space for walking and cycling in our towns and cities.

The WalkCycleVote campaign, of which GoBike is a member, is organising a training day for people who wish to get involved in pressing our prospective politicians in next year’s council elections.  It’s in Edinburgh on Saturday 26 November and it’s FREE.  Full details are on the link below.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/walk-cycle-vote-and-space-for-cycling-campaigners-training-day-tickets-28654913618

After the success of our hustings in March this year for the Holyrood Elections, GoBike will be getting actively involved in campaigning for the local elections – and we will need your help in putting the active travel message across to the candidates.  Details to follow.

Abellio ScotRail’s Bike & Go Scheme, https://www.scotrail.co.uk/plan-your-journey/travel-connections/cycling/bike-go  gets a poor mid-term report from Alastair Dalton in the Scotsman today: http://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/inside-transport-scotrail-falter-in-going-dutch-on-cycling-says-alastair-dalton-1-4271174

Please don’t forget – the Camglen bike festival tomorrow, at their new premises, just off Cathcart Road in Rutherglen, 11 – 4pm.

The venue is just off Cathcart Road, opposite the Old Quarry Inn and Cake in a Box and just down from Aldi

For more info check out their Facebook event or the Bike Town website

There’s a petition going on 38 degrees to get this bridge reinstated.  It’s a vital link to Glasgow Green and Glasgow City Centre for people living just south of the river in Oatlands.  Please sign it: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/free-the-polmadie-bridge-1

Our friends at Camglen Bike Town are holding a Bike Town Cycle Festival and Open Day and invite you to come and join them at their celebration of cycling and opening day for their brand new Bike Town premises.