Work to deliver the final leg of Glasgow’s south city way active travel route has been completed.
Glasgow City Council said that cyclists will be able to reach Trongate in the city centre in just 14 minutes from Queen’s Park in the southside as a result of the route, whilst walking it will take 45 minutes.
Passing through the Govanhill and Gorbals areas of the city, the south city way is already proving to be hugely popular with just over 3.9million cycle journeys recorded along the route in the past three years, accounting for 13% of all trips along the roads where infrastructure has been installed.
The council said that safety is primary concern for active travellers and the south city way incorporates several ‘protected junctions’ where traffic signals prioritise active travel and ensure walkers, wheelers and cyclists, can safely cross busy roads at all times. The route also links with National Cycle Network 7, which allows further connections to the emerging city network for active travel to the east, west and south-west of Glasgow.
To mark the progress for active travel in Glasgow, councillor Angus Millar, city convener for transport; Fiona Hyslop, Scottish Government minister for transport; and Karen McGregor from Sustrans visited the final leg of the route to be completed, which runs between Victoria Bridge and Trongate.
Councillor Millar believes the finished route will support more sustainable transport when people travel into the city centre. He said, “The numbers we have for the South City Way speak for themselves. When we create a better balance on our roads network by introducing active travel infrastructure people respond positively.
“Many people want to get about by bike and other modes of active travel but are often put off by safety concerns. It is essential we respond to the desire to travel more often by walking, wheeling and cycling by create a safer environment for this kind of transport.
“Active travel is a cleaner, cheaper and healthier form of travel that can also help to create a more efficient transport network overall. More people making better use of limited road space helps the city’s network run more efficiently and that will make it easier for everyone to get about Glasgow.”
During her visit to the South City Way, Scottish Government Transport Minister Fiona Hyslop learned more about the design challenges faced by the project team and how these were resolved.
She said, “I’m pleased that the South City Way active travel route in Glasgow is now fully completed. Where local authorities build high quality infrastructure, people will use it and this route has seen a 100% increase in cycling journeys representing over 10% of all journeys across the route.
“This investment of over £3.5 million by the Scottish Government is helping us to build a more active nation, where more people choose to walk, wheel and cycle for shorter everyday journeys and can take climate action. In doing so, we’re empowering people and with healthier and happier travel options – and building thriving communities, where businesses can flourish and everyone can enjoy improved public spaces.
“Through our continued investment in active travel, I look forward to seeing more infrastructure which is similar in the scale and success of the South City Way, in towns and cities right across Scotland.”
