Glasgow completes new segregated cycle route

The City of Glasgow, Scotland, has completed work on a new £1.25 million segregated cycle route. The South-West City Way provides 2 kilometres of segregated cycle way for cyclists travelling through the south side to the city centre, or vice versa.

“By providing a segregated route, cyclists have a safe and comfortable space on which to cycle on,” Councillor Alistair Watson, Glasgow City Council’s Executive Member for Sustainability and Transport, told Cities Today. “We know cycling is increasing across the city and having high quality infrastructure such as the segregated route, with attractions along the route like the Scotland Street School Museum and two local subway stations, will hopefully encourage even more people to get on their bikes and pedal their way to a healthier, fitter lifestyle.”

For the majority of the route a three-metre wide strip has been created for two-way cycling and is segregated from the traffic by a concrete island. The council worked with Cycling Scotland on the early design, with advice from the Dutch Embassy for Cycling, while McGeady Civil Engineering Ltd carried out the construction of the route.

For the first time in Glasgow, ‘floating’ bus stops have been used. At these locations, the cycle track travels past the rear of the bus shelter to avoid conflict between cyclists and pedestrians.

“The new ‘floating’ bus stop involves a cycle route running behind the passenger boarding area at the stop, between the physical island and the footway,” added Watson. “The advantages are that buses do not have to overtake cycles between stops, and people cycling do not have to negotiate out around stopped buses. In other words, there is no conflict between bus and cycle traffic.”

Another innovative creation and first for the city, is the introduction of a diagonal cycle crossing across West Street at Kingston Street. This allows cyclists to cross from one side of the junction to the other in one movement.

The new cycle route has been funded by Glasgow City Council (£500,000), Sustrans, on behalf of Transport Scotland, (£500,000) and Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (£250,000).

“Strathclyde Partnership for Transport is committed to supporting our member councils’ active travel projects as well as the Scottish Government’s vision for 10 percent of everyday journeys to be made by bike by 2020,” said Councillor Denis McKenna, Vice Chair of Strathclyde Partnership for Transport. “The popularity of cycling is growing from strength to strength and it’s projects of this nature that sustain such growth.”