CAMPAIGNERS are calling for action to tackle “inconsiderate” drivers blocking cycling and walking routes at Kelvin Way.

A petition will go before councillors on Thursday requesting segregated cycle lanes to improve safety.

Those behind the calls say pedestrians and cyclists are “forced to either overcrowd onto the pavement or pull out into busy traffic”.

Council officers have reported there is “insufficient available” road space to “provide segregation of the existing cycle lanes”.

They also say police accident statistics show no “notifiable accidents” at the location in the past two years, with three in the past five years.

Ms Nayanika Noy Basu is the lead petitioner and is set to address a council committee next week.

Her petition states: “Everyone who lives, studies, works or travels around Gibson Street, Bank Street, University Avenue and Kelvin Way area knows all too well the daily dangers and hazards of commuter vehicles in this area.

“Every day during school pick up and drop off times, children, students and families experience dangerous road safety and pollution hazards, as well as regular near misses on these streets.”

There are 179 signatures on the petition, which was sent to the council in November.

“Inconsiderate behaviour peaks from the University Union bus stop along the approach to the junction of Kelvin Way and up University Avenue to the university car park,” the petition states.

Access at Kelvin Way is “often blocked by illegally parked or idling car”, it adds.

The campaigners believe installing lane separators as well as reviewing traffic queues and traffic light priorities would make the area safer.

“These will create safer spaces for all users and deter unsafe parking and traffic encroachment onto pavements and cycle paths.”

In May last year, Kelvin Way was closed to vehicles in response to the Covid-19 pandemic to give extra space for physical distancing.

A council report states several on-street parking places, within the closure, are unavailable.

“This has led to issues around private vehicles stopping and waiting on University Avenue at the junction of Kelvin Way,” the report adds.

The council recognises there are “challenges” at the location – near to Hillhead Primary School – “in relation to driver behaviour and irresponsible parking”.

There are currently ‘no waiting/no loading’ restrictions in place and any private vehicle “stopping within these zones is committing an illegal and irresponsible manoeuvre and would be subject to penalty charge notices”, the council states.

But targeted enforcement has been “limited” due to Covid-19.

The council plans to engage with the school and parent council over a travel plan, survey existing road user behaviour and encourage more walking and cycling.

It is also working with Police Scotland to address road safety issues around cars parking on footpaths.

However, the report states the result of segregated lanes would be “the narrowing of the cycle lane to below the safe limit or the narrowing of the carriageway running lane to below safe minimum for a bus route”.

“Both of which are not acceptable as this would allow insufficient space for the buses or cyclists to pass safely.”