Glasgow cycle paths to be gritted in priority order amid councillors warning

More cycle paths in Glasgow are getting first priority for gritting as a councillor warns not enough people are out on their bikes in the winter to warrant the effort.

Extra cycle lanes being added include 1.4 km on London Road, 300 metres at Festival Park and a route through Pollok Country Park.

Top priority for salt is given to the the segregated cycle way network in the city and the national cycle network number 75, which spans from Cambuslang Bridge to the Riverside Museum.

Cycle routes in Queens Park, Pollock Country Park and paths in Glasgow Green and Kelvin Way are also given priority importance.

An official said it is made sure that active travel routes are gritted during the Shettleston Area Partnership meeting last week.

Expressing doubt about how useful that was, Councillor Thomas Kerr said: “The likelihood of people using the cycle ways at this time of year is particularly small.”

A council paper presented at the meeting said: “Transport Scotland have provided £30,000 funding for “stand-by to allow for the commencement of active travel de-icing from 5am.”

Footpaths getting the highest priority include routes to school, prioritised city centre footways with lots of pedestrians and those on steep hills.

Roads designated as number one priority include main bus routes, roads leading to school dropping off points for assisted support learning buses and emergency vehicles as well as A or B class roads and steep hills among others.

Priority two footpaths include those at local shops, health centres, sports centres, daycare centres and libraries.

Being priority two means those footways don’t get gritted unless there is ice or snow forecast for a period longer than 48 hours.

Salting takes place between 7:30am and 6:30pm the following day depending on resources.
Lowest priority is given to parks and private roads.

This winter, 18 drivers are set to be available for duty on any given night to drive gritting vehicles.

Members of the public can now request a refill to a grit bin or its replacement by using QR codes.

Giving details of last year’s winter maintenance programme, a council report said: “Last year, winter gritting operations commenced on November 3, 2022, and continued until March 17, 2023.

The report said: “41 footway treatments, 41 cycle way and 44 carriageway were instructed (treated) using 7,533 tonnes of rock salt and 5,000 litres of liquid brine. The amount of rock salt used was substantially less than in a severe winter when 24,000 tonnes of rock salt could be used.”