Glasgow City Council unveil active travel network plan

Glasgow City Council have revealed its plans to build a city-wide network of active travel infrastructure for all parts of Glasgow.

Released as part of a new strategy to promote active travel, the plans will add 270km of high quality cycleways and improved footways along main roads in Glasgow.

Councillor Anna Richardson, City Convener for Sustainability and Carbon Reduction, said: “Safety is the number one reason for people being discouraged from using active travel and in particular, cycling.  The existing network is expanding and the Spaces for People project helped show the appetite for change. By creating a network of cycle lanes and associated footways that reaches into every corner of the city we will maximise the opportunity for active travel to be the first choice for everyday journeys.

“Glasgow’s population is continuing to rise with the obvious consequence that more and more journeys are being taken in the city. To avoid increasing traffic levels, congestion, air pollution and road safety issues in future then we must provide alternatives for people to get about the city.

“By having an active travel network easily accessible to every home and school across the city we can start to turn around a situation with half of the vehicle journeys in Glasgow are less than 3km. By reducing our reliance on private vehicles for getting about Glasgow we can begin to reduce the carbon impact of our transport system. Encouraging a shift to the most sustainable form of transporting available to us can make a major contribution to Glasgow’s effort to tackle climate change. “

The strategy is intended to sit alongside the council’s recent Liveable Neighbourhood’s Plan, which also seeks to reduce dependency on private cars. It also provides a focus on training and education within schools but also looking to target groups that are under-represented or disengaged from walking and cycling. 

It is estimated that the envisaged network would cost £470m and work to engage with the Scottish Government has begun on access financial support from the national active travel budget.

The active travel strategy was presented in a paper to the Environment, Carbon Reduction and Sustainability Policy Development Committee. The strategy will be subject of a public consultation starting in mid-October. the full strategy document can be accessed here.