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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
National
Holly Lennon

Glasgow cycle lanes causing 'misery' for drivers as 2,000 sign petition to remove them

Hundreds of people have signed a petition calling for cycle lanes installed on a busy stretch of road in the south side to be removed.

The campaign against the segregated lanes on Brockburn and Braidcroft Road has attracted nearly 2,000 signatures from angry locals.

The active travel measures were put in place during the pandemic, with a council review later concluding that they should become permanent to allow for alternative travel options.

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However, locals have voiced concerns that the designated cycle lanes are causing delays and disruption for road users - and leading to increased pollution.

David McKay who launched the petition calling on Glasgow City Council to remove the lanes said he sits in traffic for over 20 minutes each way while commuting to work in the city centre.

He told Glasgow Live: "The whole thing just seems really badly planned, it's shocking really. You can sit in the traffic for 15 to 20 minutes at a time waiting for it to clear. There are easily 50 or 60 cars waiting during peak times especially close to the Peat Road roundabout which was even busy before.

"I've had to start leaving for work earlier just to be able to get there in time.

"There are a lot of emergency service vehicles who use that route, whether that's police, ambulance, or fire. It's gotten to the point where drivers just don't move out of the way for them because it would mean driving over the armadillos.

"I pulled into the lane and across the bumps to allow an ambulance to get through and my car was so badly damaged I was facing a £1,200 bill to fix it."

The congestion has led to complaints that the cycle lanes are having the opposite effect than desired and are resulting in cars idling causing more pollution.

David added: "The lanes have been put in place to encourage active travel but instead it's causing cars to queue in traffic for longer than necessary.

"In the last six to nine months I've only ever seen one cyclist actually use it.

"It's also causing delays for buses which have to sit in the traffic while drivers have to stay behind the buses as there's no room to overtake."

A number of people who have signed the petition have listed reasons for their desire to see them removed.

Douglas wrote: "Utterly pointless and ridiculous for the amount of vehicular traffic it displaces and the amount of bicycle traffic that use it."

Nicola G added: "Never seen a cyclist use these lanes half them on pavement or straddling the lanes."

Another backer commented: "The unused cycle lanes have created major congestion to the crookston/pollok area especially around rush hour times."

Issues with the cycle lanes have been ongoing for a number of years with a petition launched in 2021 also attracting hundreds of signatures.

A council spokesperson said: “We are aware of significant utility works that have been ongoing at this location so temporary traffic management systems in place will have affected journey times in recent times.

“The road layout meets all national standards and since the initial introduction of pop up cycle lanes, we have remained in dialogue with Police Scotland as a matter of routine.

“Initially introduced as a temporary measure to make cycling a more attractive and convenient mode of travel during the pandemic, the cycle lanes in Pollok have since been through the required legal process to become permanent, given the long term active travel and environmental benefits they offer.

“As part of the permanence work, bus stops will soon be upgraded and hatched zones added between the cycle lanes and adjacent carriageway to provide additional passing space for emergency vehicles if required."

They added: “By providing safe cycle ways that are segregated from the main carriageway for vehicles, we are aiming to encourage more people in Glasgow to take up cycling as a regular mode of transport.

“Encouraging active travel also contributes to transport decarbonisation.

“Any petition submitted to the council would be responded to in line with our public petitions process.”

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