CYCLE lanes not only divide the road in two but split opinion among those who travel the streets.

Glasgow’s roads have been changing and more space dedicated to cyclists is now a feature around the city.

The latest to be completed is the South City Way from the Queen’s Park gates to Trongate in the city centre.

The route goes along Victoria Road to Eglinton Toll then down Pollokshaws Road past the Citizens Theatre to the junction with Ballater Street, across the Bridge at the Sherrif Court, and then veers right into Bridgegate, King Street and ends at Trongate.

(Image: Newsquest)

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It has been a long time coming with construction starting in 2017 and the route up to the Broomielaw finished last year.

It has taken seven years and cost £6.5m, with work halted during the covid pandemic.

(Image: Gordon Terris)

I decided to travel its length in both directions (around two miles each way) to see if it is an improvement.

Before going further, I will declare an interest.

I am a regular cyclist, it is my main mode of transport for travelling to work and I also enjoy some long-distance leisure cycling as well.

I am also a car driver, for journeys that I consider not possible on my bike and yes, sometimes for convenience.

After pedalling the South City Way my verdict is it is better for both cyclists and motorists.

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The route gives cyclists their own space on the road, between the carriageway and pavement, so there is no need to encounter pedestrians or cars, except at junctions.

The segregated lane, not a line of paint or the little humped ‘orcas’, gives cyclists the safety they need.

Cyclists do not need to worry about being close passed by a vehicle or worse knocked off their bike.

Drivers do not need to be ‘stuck’ behind someone on a bike.

If cyclists use the bike lane, there is also less chance of a driver being in a collision with a bike.

Ask anyone who has been in this position and they will tell you it can be devastating if the cyclist is injured, or worse, dead.

The Way has separate traffic lights at junctions for the bike lane.

This also benefits both sets of road users.

Many, if not most, collisions involving bikes and vehicles occur at junctions when someone is turning onto or off a main road.

On the SCW the lights give cyclists confidence they can cross a junction knowing the road traffic will be static.

For drivers, they won't have to contend with cyclists filtering up the inside to the front of a line of traffic.

The success of these measures depends on user behaviour.

If cyclists use the lanes in the way they are intended, keep off the road and the pavement and follow the traffic lights, then it will be far safer.

When I travelled the route, there were many cyclists on it.

On this particular route, at the time I was on it, there did not appear to be any signs of congestion on the road as a result.

If everyone uses them properly these lanes have the ability to make cycling in Glasgow safer and quicker.

If it encourages more people to cycle, it will take more cars off the road and reduce congestion for those who do want to travel by car.

And sometimes that will be me.