Cyclists baffled by confusing COP26 bike lane changes in Glasgow

People trying to travel by bike around the city have been hit by a lack of signage, baffling access to new routes and safety concerns.

Alternate paths came into use last Thursday and will be in place until the end of the United Nations summit.

But, despite input from cycle group GoBike, the bike lanes have been criticised as unsuitable, unusable and enough to put people off cycling.

Last night Glasgow City Council told the Glasgow Times more signage would be put in place before the event begins on Sunday.

Thomas Cornwallis, co-convenor of GoBike, said: "COP26 was delayed by a year. The council keeps going on about it being unprecedented but we have past experience of hosting large events and putting alternative measures in place.

"Even as recently at the TRNSMT festival the cycle route diversions around Glasgow Green were a success - but for COP26, when it's more important, the routes are a mess.

"We want people to take up cycling during the summit instead of driving but we risk people being so put off by these routes that they give up.

"If I can't use it without finding it problematic - and I know the route maps really well - then other people might just give up.

"This is an opportunity missed to make cycling the preferred option for the city and create gold standard cycle routes.

"As it stands, this is not a good legacy." 

One particularly criticised route runs along Argyle Street at Kelvinhaugh Street.

Cyclists are expected to turn right into oncoming traffic to cycle across the pavement, down a makeshift tarmac ramp into a narrow contraflow lane created from plastic barriers, before then crossing the pavement again and back into oncoming traffic. 

There is one small sign that denotes the pavement is now mixed use but no other clues to mark out the route for people on bikes. 

When the Glasgow Times visited the site, one of the barrier sections had been moved a Porsche was parked in the cycle lane. 

West Greenhill Place is a one way street but has changed direction for the duration of the climate conference. 

However, the arrows on the road still point traffic in what is now the wrong direction and cars are now driving the wrong way along it.

Glasgow City Council previously told the Glasgow Times the cycle routes had been designed to "balance" the needs of people walking, cycling and wheeling alongside those driving. 

In a letter to the council, GoBike raises 12 separate issues with cycle paths around the West End but says there are many more.

The letter adds: "The diversion isn’t balanced, and it’s not acceptable even for a short period of time. 

"The world's eyes are on our city, and the people are being advised to cycle instead of driving etc for COP26, so let us make it an accessible and normal choice for people to use."

Thomas added: "Cycling must be accessible for all ages and abilities but instead these cycle routes are off putting.

"Before October 31 the council must put more time and effort into making changes to these routes." 

A spokesperson from Glasgow City Council said: “The cycle lane diversions are part of the city's response to COP26 and they have been designed to minimise any impact to the city's residents and visitors. 

"Over the last couple of months, we have communicated the planned closures and diversions of our cycle lanes through the Get Ready Glasgow website. 

"Clear signage will be positioned around the diversions to ensure that Glasgow’s cycle networks and the city remain open during COP26 and encourage more people to cycle.”