OUR streets need to be made safer.

As someone who rides a bike the death of a 22-year-old woman while cycling in Glasgow city centre last week gave me a shock and a shiver.

I am not writing this from the perspective of a cyclist, as I also drive a car sometimes, regularly use public transport, and walk a lot.

Whatever method you use to get around, the transport network in Glasgow is not working as well as it should.

The number of people injured or killed in traffic collisions in the city has reduced over time.

But still, hardly a day goes by without the Glasgow Times reporting a crash and too often it involves someone losing their life.

READ MORE: Rush hour car crash sparks 999 response in Glasgow

There has been a fall of almost 60% over 20 years in casualties from road traffic collisions and the number seriously injured or killed has dropped by 64%.

All of that is obviously good, and the fall in child casualties has been even greater.

Over the same period, the number of child road casualties per 100,000 in Glasgow reduced from 572 to 174, on average.

It is a 70% drop but is, however, still hundreds of children, far too many being injured as a result of how we get about.  

Every time there is a fatality or serious injury, we should be asking how we can make travel even safer.

Whether it is road layout, speed limits or individual behaviour, collisions are not inevitable on our roads and shouldn’t be seen as something that we have to put up with.

If we do, we are sacrificing children for the sake of the convenience of others.

Glasgow Times:

Some developments in Glasgow recently should help reduce the risk of traffic incidents even further.

The proposal for a 20mph city-wide speed limit would not only make it less likely crashes will happen but help reduce the risk of serious injury if they do occur.

READ MORE: Plans for city-wide 20mph speed limit gets cash boost from council

Plans for a redesign of a number of main streets in the city also alter the layout with more priority given to walking, wheeling, cycling and public transport, in that order, above private cars.

One of the noticeable issues with congestion is that so much main road space that could be used to keep traffic moving is given over to parking space.

It could be used for segregated cycle lanes, which are far safer than a line of paint between the space intended for bikes and the other lanes for motorised vehicles.

It could be used as bus lanes, to ensure public transport moves quicker, transporting more people.

Why, in a city where half of the households still don’t have access to a car, are we still affording cars priority over buses on main roads?

It seems not everyone is pleased by efforts to prioritise other forms of transport over the private motor car.

A campaign, in another part of the UK, has been trying to get support to allow parents taking their children to school to be allowed to use bus lanes.

A totally bonkers idea that ignores why we needed bus lanes in the first place.

It should be noted that parents taking children to school in the morning can already use the bus lane.

All they need to do is get on the bus.

Last week, the Glasgow Metro was raised again and we were told it was one of the Scottish Government’s transport priorities.

Glasgow Times:

There is, however, still no clear information on a date for when work might begin, how much it will cost or how it will be funded.

Metro, it seems, is a long way away and even then will be an ongoing project constantly evolving.

The evolution has to be that every change is making public transport and active travel easier.

The days when private motor cars ruled the roost in big cities are coming to an end.

The answer has to be to use cars less and make the alternatives to private cars affordable, efficient and attractive.

Our current situation, where motor cars have had the infrastructure built with the aim of allowing them to move freely at the expense of others, doesn’t work for Glasgow.

It never has.

It doesn’t work for transport, as the roads are congested.

It doesn’t work for the environment and our health, as pollution is still too high in busy streets, as a recent report showed.

And it doesn’t work for the people in the poorest areas, who still have drivers from wealthier suburbs polluting their air on the way in and out of the city.

If we embrace the change the city can be a healthier, more attractive and safer place to get around for everyone.