Concerns over the safety risks to pedestrians caused by 'speeding' cyclists in Glasgow have been raised as the council prepared to launch a ten-year vision to encourage more people in the city to get on their bikes.
A draft cycling and urban sports strategy (C&USS) is being developed with Glasgow Life’s sport’s development team and aims to increase the number of cycling and wheeled urban sports, including skateboarding, skating, scooting, BMX cycling and mountain biking, during the coming decade.
Consultation on the proposals is being launched as the city hosts the 2023 UCI World Cycling Championships.
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And speaking as a report was presented to members of the environment committee on Tuesday afternoon, Labour councillor Stephen Docherty raised concerns about the number of accidents already happening on city streets as a result of “speeding” cyclists.
Councillor Docherty said: “Looking at areas like Victoria Road where we have cycle lanes, there are people actually cycling about 20mph or more at times through that area with pedestrians crossing.
“There’s no mitigation measures for the public, old people, young people, anybody crossing the cycle lane, to shops etc.
“There is clearly a problem with people cycling too fast and there is also an issue with people using electric bikes in cycle lanes that are going a lot faster than push bikes.
“I have watched people on Just Eat bikes on mobile phones going through crossings - somebody is going to get wiped out, which is the last thing we want. We need to get the message out that there is proper mitigation to keep people safe.”
A council officer advised that in order to protect public safety it was all about education and a new campaign to educate road users would be launched later this year.
They said: “A new campaign educating all the road users, to be more aware and being conscious about being less able than one’s own to actually participate and not feel excluded from the public realm and places like Victoria Road which is a thriving local high street.
A draft of the new strategy which mainly supports sporting activities but also all forms of cycling will be made available to the public for a minimum of six weeks to have their say during the 2023 UCI World Cycling Championships.
The design of the project will be split between the “three Ps”: People, Place and Programme.
People such as coaches and leaders will deliver activities and training throughout Glasgow. Place discusses the diverse range of venues within Glasgow, from international purpose built venues to community accessible spaces, and and programme focuses on the extent and types of “wheeled sports” available in the city.
Labour councillor Jill Brown said: “It is great to see such a focus on cycling as a sport. Is this paper just about sport or is it about cycling as a method of transport?
“I think it is really important that there is local consultation on this. How do we make sure that people can travel to and from these [sporting] sites using safe cycle paths?
“How do people plan their journey? Personally I find it quite hard to plan a journey using cycle paths?”
A council officer responded: “It is a sport strategy but there is a crossover that by improving the accessibility you are by default increasing cycling and walking journeys.”
Following the engagement period, feedback will be analysed, and the strategy adjusted accordingly, alongside the development of an action plan.
A final draft will be presented back to the Committee in Autumn 2023.
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