Walking set to be 'best way to get around' Glasgow city centre, new transport plan says

Walking is set to become the number one way to get around Glasgow city centre – with peak hour car traffic to be cut by up to 40% by 2030, according to a new transport plan.

The aims of the newly adopted council city centre transport plan includes making walking the main way of travelling around the centre and getting to neighbouring areas.

Among other goals are making the centre accessible to people with restricted mobility, having more people choosing to cycle and ensuring buses are more reliable.

The plan was presented to the Anderston, City and Yorkhill Area partnership meeting last week, after being approved in December.

Local councillor Angus Millar, SNP, convenor for transport said: “I am delighted that the council’s recently approved city centre transport plan is progressing.

“Developing a new people-first zone to restrict private vehicle through-traffic in a core of the city centre could be transformative in making the city centre a better, greener place to live, work and visit.”

The plan has been approved for adoption after consultation and now funding is being sought to make it happen.

It could potentially cost £600m to roll out according to high level estimates.

Possible benefits include a 43% increase in walking, 300% rise in cycling and a 16% reduction in CO2 emissions.

A council paper on the plan said: “Public realm improvements and improved connectivity to surrounding communities would also contribute to delivering improved equality, accessibility and health benefits with similar schemes increasing shop sales by up to 30%.”

A plan to improve five bus corridors was also presented to last week’s Anderston, City and Yorkhill Area partnership meeting,

Speaking after the meeting, local ward councillor Eva Bolander, SNP, said: “It’s great to have an update on this transport planning and for our city centre communities around the table to be able to feed back.

“As part of our efforts to grow the city centre residential population and drive the economic recovery of the city centre, supporting improved public transport and creating a more pleasant local environment will be vital.

“I’m looking forward to seeing this work progress and working with local residents to support these plans going forward.”