Glasgow to Extend 270 kilometers of Bicycle Lanes within the Urban Area
Glasgow City is making significant strides in its mission to promote greener and more accessible travel options, as it embarks on a series of sustainable travel projects. These initiatives are a key part of the city's broader goal to reduce carbon emissions and improve the overall quality of life for its residents.
The city has recently received a £10.6 million boost from four Scottish government funding schemes dedicated to sustainable travel. This funding will support a wide range of measures, including the construction of new active travel infrastructure, such as cycling routes, improving safety and accessibility for pedestrians, encouraging walking, wheeling, and cycling for school commutes, upgrading bus stops, and empowering employers to develop cycle-friendly workplaces.
Specific projects include the installation of high-visibility cycle counters, expanding the school cycle shelters programme, and enhancing traffic signals and pedestrian infrastructure throughout the city.
One of the most notable projects is the Avenues Plus programme, a key active travel initiative funded through the Scottish Government's Active Travel funding Tier 2. This programme aims to transform city-centre streets to prioritise walking and cycling, with the goal of completing the transformation by spring 2026. The programme includes upgrades in and around the city centre.
An example of this transformation can be seen in the transformation of Argyle Street, where plans involve creating a new bus route to enhance public transport connectivity and integrate with broader street improvements, supporting sustainable transit options.
Cllr Angus Millar, City Convener for Transport, commented that this year will see further progress towards Glasgow's sustainable travel goals. The Byres Road and St George's Road active travel corridors are among several schemes currently underway or due to break ground imminently. The first phase of Connecting Yorkhill and Kelvingrove, the second leg of Byres Road redevelopment, North Hanover and Kyle Street Avenues are among projects due to start this year.
These efforts, backed by Scottish government funding and city council initiatives, reflect Glasgow's integrated approach to reshape its transport network for greener, safer, and more accessible travel modes, emphasising walking, cycling, and public transit.
[1] Scottish Government. (n.d.). Active Travel Fund. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/publications/active-travel-fund/ [2] Glasgow City Council. (n.d.). Avenues Plus. Retrieved from https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/avenuesplus [3] Transport Scotland. (n.d.). Active Travel Fund: Tier 2. Retrieved from https://www.transport.gov.scot/active-travel/active-travel-fund-tier-2/ [4] Glasgow City Council. (n.d.). Argyle Street. Retrieved from https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/argyle-street
- In line with the city's ongoing commitment to sustainable living, the Avenues Plus programme, an environmental-science project focusing on active travel, is set to transform city-centre streets, prioritizing walking and cycling as the preferred modes of transportation.
- As part of residential lifestyle improvements, the city's home-and-garden sector is witnessing upgrades to home infrastructure, such as bus stops and pedestrian infrastructure, aimed at promoting sustainable living and encourages environmentally-friendly travel options.
