Strathclyde Cycle Campaign
We have just had word that public consultations on design proposals for the future of Byres Road will begin next Wednesday. This is one we’ve been watching closely and have some concerns on what we have seen so would be really keen to have your input. Continue reading “Byres Road Public Consultation – starts Wednesday 23rd May”
GoBike campaigners, Friends of South City Way, and a group of local residents paid a visit to labourers working on a new cycle path on the south side of Glasgow today in a bid to thank them for making safe space for cycling. The peckish builders were treated to rolls and tattie scones lathered in brown sauce, with grateful volunteers bringing forth a selection of teas and coffees, as well as cakes and biscuits. Continue reading “Tea Brake! South City Way Thank You To Cycle Path Builders”
Two weeks ago at Pedal on Parliament in Edinburgh, cycle campaigner extraordinaire Sally Hinchcliffe shouted from the grassy knoll in front of the parliament building with a challenge for us all. Find one thing she said, one thing that makes it harder to cycle, something that you’d like to change in your local streets. And fight for it. See if you can change that one thing. And if we can all do that, she said, we can all make a big difference together.
That’s what we at GoBike aspire to. We are a collective of hundreds of members who all want to do something to change things for the better. Here is one of our members Steph, on what brought her to trying to make a difference. Continue reading “If We Could All Change One Thing”
We have had a notice in from Scotrail regarding cycle storage on trains between Glasgow and Edinburgh:
Information on the new electric trains (Class 385s)
As you may be aware from a number of articles published in the press over the last few months. Delays have occurred around the delivery of the new electric, class 385 trains, which in the future will run on routes between Edinburgh and Glasgow.
In order to support current service provision on this and other routes whilst we await the delivery of these new trains, ScotRail will be bringing into temporary service a number of class 365 trains. The 365 style of train does not have any dedicated or priority cycle storage and so ScotRail will be asking customers to place bikes in the vestibule areas as is common practice on some of our Strathclyde services. It is likely that class 365s will be implemented over the Summer and will run for a period of time until the 385s come into service.
GoBike believes that it is essential that space for bicycles is retained and will be keeping a close eye on these developments.
Ziya Kocabiyik, originally from Turkey, but currently living in Chelmsford, near London, is a member of Amnesty International and has set off today, 04 May, to cycle from Land’s End to John O’Groats, to raise awareness of human rights issues in Turkey. When he arrives just south of Glasgow next Wednesday, 09 May, Ziya will be met in Hamilton by GoBike and Amnesty member, Jimmy Keenan, with whom he will be staying the night, in Uddingston, before cycling the 130 miles to Fort William on the 10th.
It would be great if people could join Ziya for a mile or two to cheer him on his way. Here’s some information that Ziya has sent: Continue reading “Join Ziya as he cycles for Amnesty from Land’s End to John O’Groats, staying with a GoBike member on the way”
Non-segregated cycle lanes.
As the Strathclyde Cycle Campaign, GoBike has long been frustrated by substandard provision for active travel across our region. Despite campaigning for years against certain designs, we are continuing to see them used across road improvements and in newly funded projects
In the third of three blogs, our co-convenor Dave looks at non-segregated cycle lanes on the carriageway, and the dangers they create for people on bikes of all ages and abilities. Continue reading “Road Design Challenges for People on Bikes (3) – Non-Segregated Cycle Lanes”
The Trouble With Shared-Use Footways
As the Strathclyde Cycle Campaign, GoBike has long been frustrated by substandard provision for active travel across our region. Despite campaigning for years against certain designs, we are continuing to see them used across road improvements and in newly funded projects
In the second of three blogs, our co-convenor Iona looks at shared-use footways on the pavement, and the challenges they create for both people on bikes and those sharing that space with them. People on foot, with prams, wheelchairs, sight impairments, children, dogs and everybody else requiring to use a pavement. Continue reading “Road Design Challenges for People on Bikes (2) – Shared-Use Footways”
Research has found that the majority of people think it is too dangerous to cycle on roads, with nearly two thirds of all people feeling this way and 48% of people who already cycle agreeing. This road danger is felt more strongly than most by women and as people get older (1).
It is clear that the design of our roads, and this perception of safety is the single biggest factor on how roads and streets are used. Here in Glasgow, we might think of Buchanan Street as being a place full of people moving around on foot or by wheelchair, Great Western Road as a place full of fast moving cars, Union Street as busy with buses, and Byres Road having a combination of all three. Unfortunately at the moment, there is nowhere in Glasgow that could be described as busy with bicycles. In the first of three blogs on the design challenges people on bikes face, our member Rachel is going to focus here on the challenges of cycling on roads that are busy with cars and buses. Continue reading “Road Design Challenges for People on Bikes (1) – Cycling on Busy Roads”
Pedal on Parliament is just over a week away now and you can help them raise some much needed funds to help the running of the days by purchasing one of this years t-shirts. Not only that but by wearing one you will help spread the word and look pretty swanky while you’re at it.
Head on over here to put your orders in and check out the amazing new design from Magnificent Octopus.
With only three weeks to go Pedal on Parliament need your help to get the word out there that this is happening on Saturday 28th April – just over two weeks to go!! Protests will also happen in Inverness on the 28th and Aberdeen the following day on Sunday 29th.
Head on over to their page to see how you can help.
We will be there – will you?