Cyclists second

Great to see Glasgow City Council trying a segregated junction for bikes (‘Crossroads to go Dutch to boost cycle safety’, Scotsman, 6 November), but they only seem to want to experiment where there is room to do so without hindering the passage of vehicular traffic.

Why weren’t cycle facilities included in the recent remodelling and reconstruction of Union street? because it would require giving cyclists parity and sometimes priority over vehicles.

Cycle lobbyists worked out feasible cycle lane provision for union street but the council didn’ t deliver. the council’ s policy of only providing“segregated tracks” is being used to justify not providing on-highway facilities where this is not possible without hindering vehicle. In many places designers simply couldn’t be bothered.

The flagship facility Tradeston Bridge is surely an embarrassment. It invites cyclists on to Broomielaw where cyclists are left to use the pavement with no dedicated cycle provision. Just providing cycle sig8000 nals on a crossing designed for pedestrians is not adequate design. There the council has used a core path designation to justify not providing cycle facilities. The Land Reform Act required core paths be identified but does not intend cyclists be allowed to use them without proper facilities being provided; it doesn’ t absolve an authority form omitting safety facilities.

After repeated inquiry, recently the council had to accept they must look at the lack of designated shared use on the north pavement at Broomielaw, whose omission was justified by it being a core path. Now it has to look across the city and put right similar deficient facilities elsewhere.

In particular, Sauchiehall Street pedestrian zone is designated a core path but lacks any cycle facilities, cycles using it weaving between pedestrians is hazardous.

And then there’s the west exit off the Bridge to Nowhere, no shared use or dropped kerbs heading north.

Glasgow city council les has a history of providing deficient facilities for cyclists. When is it going to be told to put them all right?

PAT TOMS Shakespeare Street, Glasgow