Glasgow's COP26 cycle routes have let the city down

In the run up to COP26 there's been a lot of concern about traffic snarl ups and long delays on the motorway.

These issues tend to be hard to ignore because so many people travel by car for commuting and leisure that potential problems on the roads - even if it's simple scaremongering - are more likely to make headline news.

More likely, that is, than issues with cycle routes. Who cares if some people with their bikes need to dismount and bump over the occasional pavement or two?

Or, in the case of one of the current COP26 cycle diversions on Argyle Street, ride across oncoming traffic, bump over a pavement and cycle into pedestrians, down a makeshift ramp, into a badly built contraflow lane, back up another makeshift ramp on to the pavement again and then off into yet more oncoming traffic.

Oh, and don't think there's any signage helping you navigate that little ghost train of a diversion because there won't be. It's up to you to guess.

Glasgow has a lot to contend with during COP26, no arguments there, and there are many cooks trying to have a hand in the organisational broth.

I'll stop extending that metaphor in a moment but... it's not like Glasgow City Council was alone in the kitchen when it was trying to rustle up some active travel solutions.

Glasgow massively benefits from having engaged, passionate grassroots cycle organisations with expertise to offer. GoBike, one of the city's campaign groups, had ideas and advice it was willing to share and it wasn't alone.

The city also is fortunate to have politicians who not only talk a good game about improving cycling infrastructure but also use the bike lanes themselves.

I've several times cycled past our MP Alison Thewlis as she cuts about on a NextBike and local councillors Anna Richardson and Jon Molyneux are often to be spotted commuting back and forth to the City Chambers, to name just three.

So we have solid political advocates who know that cycling isn't just about improving health, improving connectivity, supporting the creation of the 20-minute neighbours scheme, and cutting emissions, it's also convenient, fun and great for mental health.

Glasgow has all the ingredients to be a first class cycling city... and yet, now we're on the international stage hosting a climate conference, the cycle routes seem slap-dash at best and a complete afterthought at worst.

Critics claim that COP26 is something happening in Glasgow, rather than with Glasgow. I can see the arguments for and against that take on the climate summit.

It makes it really hard to argue against, though, when one of the fundamental ways that residents can show support and get involved - active travel - has been made into a Crystal Maze-esque challenge.

One of the most important things about cycling is making it easy and accessible for all, which you don't achieve by setting up literal roadblocks at the perfect time for encouraging folk on to their bikes. 

Let's also give a special active travel mention to the fact people are being forced to walk through a pitch dark Kelvingrove Park as part of the West End diversions. Hats off to whoever thought that was a good idea. 

Yesterday, to add insult to injury, there were also cars connected to COP26 delegates sitting with engines idling and blocking cycle routes.  

Diversions for cars are taken seriously but diversions for bikes less so. Glasgow can't set out its stall as serious about active travel until it shows as much respect for two wheels as four.

Today is day two of the summit. It's not too late to acknowledge improvements could be made - and then get out there and improve them for the sake of the next two weeks.

From the number of furious tweets I've seen, it's as simple as checking Twitter for route suggestions and putting them into play.  

I opened with a line from the Beatles. Let's play out by paraphrasing Queen: we want to ride our bicycles. It shouldn't be so hard.