Glasgow's East End to Benefit from Pop-Up Cycle Lanes

Work starts this Monday to create new pop-up cycle lanes in the east end of the city as part of our Spaces for People programme, which is providing additional space for physical distancing to protect public health and suppress a resurgence of COVID-19.

London Road

These temporary cycle lanes with soft segregation, will stretch for 1.4 km in both directions along London Road between Macduff Street and Kirkpatrick Street, and will link into the existing segregated cycle route opposite Kirkpatrick Street.

Detailed maps can be found here.

This new route will increase the practicality and attractiveness of active travel for those in the area, for both leisure and commuting.

Repurposing the Road

Space for the cycle lanes will be created by removing the kerbside lane eastbound and westbound from general traffic use, and dedicating this to active travel.

Segregation will primarily be through the installation of a recycled plastic segregation product which will be bolted to the ground - an example of which is shown in the foreground of this indicative image:

The work will also see upgrades to existing bus stops, with the cycle lane passing in front, ramped to the same height as the footway. Cyclists will be expected to give way to passengers entering and exiting the bus.

Moving Around Safely

Councillor Anna Richardson, City Convener for Sustainability and Carbon Reduction, has welcomed the creation of these new strategic cycle lanes, saying: "I'm delighted that these new pop-up cycle lanes in the east of our city will become ready for use very soon. COVID-19 has not gone away and so we're moving at pace as part of our Spaces for People programme to provide reassurance that people can move around their neighbourhoods safely".

Spaces for People

Supported by £3.5m funding from the Scottish Government and administered by Sustrans Scotland, Spaces for People will see temporary infrastructure measures introduced across Glasgow to provide extra space for people to walk, wheel or cycle as COVID-19 restrictions remain in place.

Short-term measures across our city centres and neighbourhoods will see footways widened at pinch points to ease pedestrian movement and make it easier to access businesses, community facilities and public transport hubs. Consideration will also be given to the positioning of temporary strategic cycling routes such as the one mentioned in this article, to highlight cycling as an attractive, viable and long term commuting choice.

Get Involved

If you have suggestions for public spaces in Glasgow where it is difficult to maintain physical distancing whilst out walking, cycling and wheeling, please share these on our Commonplace Mapping Tool. In collaboration with Sustrans Scotland, this interactive platform enables users to highlight areas across the city centre and neighbourhoods, where emergency temporary measures such as pavement widening and new cycle lanes could be introduced to help people maintain physical distancing and suppress a resurgence of the virus.

The online tool is available until 10 July 2020.