One final push to improve active travel routes throughout Glasgow’s East End ahead of next year’s UCI World Cycling Championships has been approved by city councillors.

Work is being carried out to deliver a “significant number” of active travel projects in a bid to help create a modern, resilient and sustainable transport system for Glasgow city-wide while transforming it into a more inclusive, liveable and attractive destination for residents, businesses and visitors alike.

Several projects are being carried out by the local authority to improve walking and cycleways in the city including the East City Way (ECW) which will connect the city centre to the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, which is hosting the track cycling events by July 2023.

The ECW aims to deliver a safer, more comfortable walking and cycling active travel route between the city centre and Mount Vernon - extending to the North Lanarkshire boundary. 

This project will link the existing cycle paths and footways, currently in place at Fielden Street, eastwards towards Parkhead and the Emirates Arena, and ultimately connect the communities of Bridgeton, Parkhead, Braidfauld, Tollcross and Mount Vernon.

The project was discussed during the environment committee this week.

SNP councillor Alex Kerr said: “The Glasgow East City Way is fantastic. As a councillor for the Baillieston ward, you will be delighted to know that I am very happy with this.

“I actually think you are selling yourselves short because the paper says it goes from Mount Vernon into town but assuming it goes to Hamilton Road, there is a cycle path that takes you to Broomhouse so I guess what I am trying to say is it goes even further east.”

Officers were happy with the comments and praised the work carried out by staff.

They said: “You are right. East City Way is as defined in its red line boundary and I think what you are referring to is the wider active travel network that is there and that is ultimately what it’s all about - connecting journeys and linking communities together.

“It will take a while to get to where we want but we have an end goal in site which is the UCI world championships.”

Other active travel routes include the South West City Way Extension which will run from the city centre to Pollok Country Park and the recently reopened Burrell Collection and South City Way from Queens Park to the city centre at Clyde Street.

Final details for the following projects - connecting Yorkhill and Kelvingrove, connecting Battlefield and Connecting Woodside - will be made available in due course.