Cycling safety improved after tragic death of French student in Glasgow crash

Work to improve the safety of cyclists across Glasgow is continuing, a year after the tragic death of French cyclist Emma Newman.

Last January, student Emma from Moulineaux Paris, was injured following an incident at the junction with the King George V bridge and passed away shortly after being taken to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

In the 12 months that followed two more cyclists have died on city roads.

In February, Nigerian student Chinenye Vera Okonkwo, 33, died following a crash involving two cars in the city centre on St Vincent Street.

A 64-year-old cyclist also passed away after being hit by a car on Fielden Street in Glasgow. John Morton was hit by an Audi A3 on May 29 and died on June 1 after being taken to hospital.

Since June last year Glasgow City Council has been focussing on improving the safety of all road users – particularly cyclists – through its active travel strategy.

It accepted funding from Transport Scotland’s Active Travel fund to deliver a variety of projects including the Connecting Battlefield programme which looks to improve public spaces, support fully segregated cycle paths and create new connections to existing active travel routes.

An update was discussed at the most recent environment and sustainability committee this week.

Bailie Paul McCabe said: “I am personally delighted at the Battlefield [development]. As a cyclist myself living in Battlefield I am excited to see that continuing and the importance of extending the cycle routes and increasing the connectivity will increase the numbers using it.

“It has been a year since Emma Newman passed away down at the Clydeside and I think it is pertinent to note if you build it they will come and you will make this safer for people by getting more people onto their bikes and increasing active travel.”

This project, originally developed by Sustrans as the “Battlefield Street Design Project”, provides an extension to the existing South City Way from Victoria Road/Queens Park to the junction of Langside Road / Queens Park Street.

Phase 2 of the project, which is expected to start in 2024/25 subject to funding, will run from the Langside Road / Queens Park Street junction to the termination of Battlefield Road at Cathcart Road.

Councillor Angus Millar added: “We have spoken before about creating a comprehensive city network. I think we can see there is a great deal of construction taking place this year but also future design phases that will also progress to construction in coming years.

“I wanted to touch on the comments made by Bailie McCabe surrounding the tragic passing of Emma Newman around a year ago.

“Our officers have outlined the main focus on one of the projects around the Clydeside area including the junctions at King George V Bridge.

“Is there any more detail on how the council intends to take that particular project forward given the great deal of interest there is from the cycling community and the family friends of Emma Newman.

“What engagement will take place around the design of that?”

The local authority has been engaging with New Practice, a woman and LGBTQ+ led architecture practice based between Glasgow and London.

The organisation aims to help the community, creative and cultural capacity of cities and to connect people with the decision making processes that underpin the urban experience.

A council officer said: “Like the councillors, officers were deeply saddened by the passing of Emma Newman and we feel incumbent to address that in our infrastructure delivery.

“We in the Clyde Street South City Way corridor have been looking for the holistic approach we can take because there are a number of overlapping projects that are in conversation with each other.

“There are a number of projects we have to consider and how these parts come together to make a cohesive coherent network.

“Notwithstanding the awful events of last year, we have watched with interest the work that our colleagues at New Practice have been leading on and also we have watched the legal case that has been going on there.

“We have reached out to New Practice to initiate a conversation to learn from their findings to see how that can feed into our design and we aim to progress in the spirit of co-design in a solution that works for all.”