NEW cycle lanes unveiled in the city’s West End have been met with a mixed response from locals.
The cycle lanes are currently in place on Byres Road between Dumbarton Road and University Avenue.
We previously reported the bike lanes have been welcomed by cyclists, environmental campaigners and others who argue better infrastructure is needed to make cycling safer and encourage more people out of their cars.
The Glasgow Times spoke to some business owners and residents to find out what they think of the new lanes.
Stuart Richardson, 60, owner of Graham’s Auto Centre, believes the lanes could have a negative effect on local businesses.
The 60-year-old said: "I just don’t think there’s any need for both sides of the road to [have cycle lanes].
"They’ve widened right out the pavements and they’ve added two lanes.
"Nobody’s going to use the bike lanes because real cyclists don’t use bike lanes because they get filled with all the rubbish from the road so they all use the road anyway.
"I personally don’t think it’s worth the money that’s been spent on it."
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He continued: "It can deter people from coming to the street and if it's anything like it's been for the last 19 months it's going to kill the high street as you can see it's already done on the likes of Sauchiehall Street.
"It’s going to have a negative effect if people are deterred by it."
Another local business owner, who asked to remain anonymous, is concerned that loading bays having been built right next to the cycle lanes.
He is worried that anyone coming out of a vehicle to access the pavement could hit a cyclist as they open the door.
He said: "If you’re lifting stuff out you’ll get hit by a cyclist.
"I'm sure those who designed the road are not cyclists because I’m a cyclist, and when cyclists are on a cycle lane they’re on their high horse, like ‘this is my cycle lane’.
"I just know there’s going to be a lot of injuries and a lot of claims."
The business owner claimed business has gone down in the past three months and says it is now difficult to find parking in the area.
He said: "In the past three months business has gone right down and I’m not sure why.
"We’ve tried everything, but there’s no formula.
"Every day is different but in the past three months since this work has been done, we’ve lost up to 30% of business and now it’s fixed but it makes no difference.
"When there was parking allowed [outside] people would just nip into a shop for a coffee or something but now there’s nowhere to stop."
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Dawn Loughlin, who works at On A Wall Near You, says she doesn’t think the cycle lanes will affect local business but is concerned about the speed of some cyclists.
She said: "The bike lanes are good for the area; it keeps the bikes off the road for safety but my concern is the delivery cyclists coming flying up really fast.
"There’s a lot of elderly people about here who could easily step into that bike lane not realising what it is and it wouldn’t end well."
Angie Dunn lives close by near to Kelvingrove Park.
Angie walks in the area a lot and feels happier with cycle lanes being available.
The 28-year-old said: "I’d say it’s a good change, it’s nice there’s something in place for cyclists to use so it isn’t just the wild west out here.
"And I like the colour, it’s bright."
Michael Harris often cycles in the city and lives in nearby Yorkhill.
He says the cycle lanes could be "great" for area.
The 67-year-old said: "I hope it works.
"The one in Sauchiehall Street which is built the same doesn’t work because people just wander onto it and it needs more of a definition between the pavement, the road and the path.
"But I’m all for cycling to get more cars off of the road if we can.
"I will use them once the weather gets better."
John Turner, chair of the Byres Road & Lanes Business Improvement District (BID), which represents businesses in the area, said: "We are very happy to see the first phase if the Byres Road City Deal Project coming to its conclusion.
"The new pavements are a vast improvement on what was there previously.
"The view from University Avenue looking down towards the new buildings at the corner of University Place is now completely different.
"The combination of the renovation works, together with the new campus development at the University, has already seen several new businesses opening in the Southern end of Byres Road, and more are in the process of doing so, bringing a much-needed revival to the area.
"The new bike lanes are already in use, especially by the ubiquitous delivery bikes, so this should hopefully improve traffic safety in the area.
"How much more use they will get remains to be seen. We look forward to working together with the council and the various transport and cycling organisations to encourage more use of the bike lanes not just as a method of getting from A to B, but also to make Byres Road and the Lanes a destination in itself, with its eclectic mix of local independent businesses, its health beauty and fitness sector, and thriving hospitality venues."
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