Shawlands Primary Bike Bus now has the power to stop traffic

Thanks to the efforts of parents to set up the scheme, every Friday morning dozens of Shawlands Primary pupils cycle to school.  

Taking over the road during their commute, the smallest members of the convoy are oblivious to the traffic waiting to let them past.

And now the adults in group have less to stress about at the busy Shawlands Cross junction thanks to an innovative bit of kit allowing them to control traffic.

Thought to be the first of its kind in the UK, a bike-mounted, remote-controlled device using a military-grade encrypted signal lets the lead cyclist hold the lights.

The Ultra-Smart Cycle System, when pressed on approach to the junction, sets a specially timed traffic light cycle in motion to hold traffic for 45 seconds, enough time to get all of the riders through.

READ MORE: Meet the Shawlands Bike Bus taking back the roads for pupils

The signal is only accepted by the control unit, mounted on a traffic pole, on a pre-programmed day, during an agreed period – ideal for the once-a-week bike ride that passes through the junction between 8.30am and 9.00am every Friday.

Jo Wright, who set up the bike bus with her husband Gareth Johnson, said: "This is a real vote of confidence in us.

"When we started we didn't know if we were going to get into trouble but the council has been extremely supportive.

"We knew that we needed longer on the lights but I thought it would never happen and now we have this gizmo, which makes it so much less stressful going through the junction and cuts down on any risks."

Jo is also amazed at how much the bike bus has grown. She added: "It's really nice, there's just something really infectious about it." 

From a small group of families, the bike bus now draws around 60 pupils every Friday morning to cycle to school.

While the majority of drivers are supportive, the group had faced some issues with horns blaring and close passes at the busy junction when turning on to Kilmarnock Road.

The council's Road Safety Unit had become involved and donated cycle helmet cameras, high-vis vests and banners along the route with Police Scotland also riding alongside.

But then officials from the TRAFFCOM department worked to come up with a solution and adapted existing technology especially for the bike bus.

Working with Preston-based Sm@rt Technology, a prototype was developed, and a 3D unit printed to form the wireless button.

READ MORE: Cyclists don't need licences, they need safe roads

With successful development and testing over the summer, the Ultra Smart Cycle System was used by the Shawlands Bike Bus for the first time last Friday.

Steve Pearson, CEO of Sm@rt Technology said: “We’re happy to have helped Glasgow City Council with the development of a solution that benefits the community with what is undoubtedly a great initiative.”

Parents from six other schools across the city have now been in touch with the council about setting up their own bike buses - a move supported by Shawlands Parents.

Ben Stern, dad to Leo, eight, and Dylan, three, said: "Leo gets really excited about it on a Friday morning.

"The thing he likes most is that he can cycle with his friends because he's normally with his parents.

"You know that at least once a week, no matter what happens, they are going to do some cycling that they enjoy."

The family has been cycling with the bike bus since the first week and Ben said he is impressed at how it's grown.

He added: "It's nice that they take over the space on the road.

"For children, they usually cycle in a park or on the pavement and this gives them the chance to get out on the road, which does them a lot of good."