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Responses received will be used to inform future Spaces for People plans as COVID-19 restrictions ease, with temporary interventions prioritised that offer the greatest benefit to public health, balances the needs of all users, and can be delivered in a short timeframe. Glasgow City Council’s website is updated regularly with information about which measures are being implemented.

Thank you again for your time and ideas, if you have further comments the page remains open until 23:50 tomorrow.

View illustrative images of Spaces for People temporary measures [885kb]

Visualisations by Stantec

To mitigate any loss of disabled parking bays and taxi ranks as a result of these temporary measures, alternative provision has been made on adjacent streets. There are taxi ranks already in place at West George Street and Nelson Mandela Place. Disabled bays which number more than those temporarily taken out of use, have been made available in Albion Street, Hanover Street, Hutcheson Street, Martha Street, Miller Street and South Frederick Street.

There will be some limited local changes but when the works are complete the bus stops will remain at their existing locations or adjacent to them.

Supported by £3.5m funding from the Scottish Government and administered by Sustrans Scotland , Spaces for People will see temporary infrastructure measures introduced across Glasgow to provide extra space for people to walk, wheel or cycle as COVID-19 restrictions remain in place.

Short-term measures across our city centres and neighbourhoods will see footways widened at pinch points to ease pedestrian movement and make it easier to access businesses, community facilities and public transport hubs. Consideration will also be given to the positioning of temporary strategic cycling routes to highlight cycling as an attractive, viable and long term commuting choice.

If you have suggestions for public spaces in Glasgow where it is difficult to maintain physical distancing whilst out walking, cycling and wheeling, please share these on our Commonplace Mapping Tool . In collaboration with Sustrans Scotland, this interactive platform enables users to highlight areas across the city centre and neighbourhoods, where emergency temporary measures such as pavement widening and new cycle lanes could be introduced to help people maintain physical distancing and suppress a resurgence of the virus.

This temporary travel infrastructure will be in place from Friday 26 June 2020 for a minimum period of 10 weeks, and reviewed in line with the Scottish Government's COVID-19: Framework for Decision Making - Scotland's Route Map through and out of the crisis .

Work to make the changes should be complete on Monday 29 June 2020, with no works taking place on Saturday 27 June or Sunday 28 June 2020.

This initiative forms part of the council's Spaces for People programme which provides additional space for physical distancing in public places, to protect health and suppress a resurgence of COVID-19.

The automated traffic lights will also where appropriate, be set to either minimise pedestrian waiting time or increase the duration the green man is displayed; with both adjustments made where possible.

Signage to advise pedestrians, will be affixed to street furniture to make it clear that that the crossing is automated and that there is no requirement to touch the crossing button to display the green man.

The council is also looking at locations in the city centre where the green man becomes the default setting, giving pedestrians priority over road traffic at light controlled crossings. This follows a successful trial at the junction of Queen Street and Argyle Street.

Vehicles will still be able to travel through these junctions when the lights indicate they can proceed.

Councillor Anna Richardson, City Convener for Sustainability and Carbon Reduction, said:

Supported by £3.5m funding from the Scottish Government, administered by Sustrans Scotland ; the council's Spaces for People programme will see the introduction of temporary travel infrastructure in our city centre, across city neighbourhoods and on active travel routes. Footways will be widened at pinch points and also to create easier access to community facilities and public transport hubs. Temporary strategic cycling routes are also being considered, which will highlight cycling as an attractive, viable commuting choice.

The pedestrian stage will now serve the following 20 city centre junctions without the need for the crossing button to be pushed:

The traffic lights at the junctions of Maryhill Road / Garrioch Road, and Great Western Road / Queen Margaret Drive are also now automated.

Work will take place this weekend to install temporary travel infrastructure on roads around Glasgow Central Station, as part of the council's Spaces for People programme which is providing extra space for physical distancing to protect public health and suppress a second wave of COVID-19.

From Sunday 21 June 2020:

These temporary adaptions are to allow the widening of existing footways to enable physical distancing around Glasgow Central Station High Level and Low Level entrances.

Westbound cycle access will be maintained.

Supported by £3.5m funding from the Scottish Government and administered by Sustrans Scotland , Spaces for People will see temporary infrastructure measures introduced across Glasgow to provide extra space for people to walk, wheel or cycle as COVID-19 restrictions remain in place.

Short-term measures across our city centres and neighbourhoods will see footways widened at pinch points to ease pedestrian movement and make it easier to access businesses, community facilities and public transport hubs. Consideration will also be given to the positioning of temporary strategic cycling routes to highlight cycling as an attractive, viable and long term commuting choice.

The city centre Spaces for People plan will see the proposed pedestrianisation of George Square brought forward, but will also draw in major city centre streets such as St Vincent St, Argyle St, Queen St, Hope St, Renfield St and Bath St along with many others.

If you have suggestions for public spaces in Glasgow where it is difficult to maintain physical distancing whilst out walking, cycling and wheeling, please share these on our Commonplace Mapping Tool . In collaboration with Sustrans Scotland, this interactive platform enables users to highlight areas across the city centre and neighbourhoods, where emergency temporary measures such as pavement widening and new cycle lanes could be introduced to help people maintain physical distancing and suppress a resurgence of the virus.

The temporary works on Gordon Street and Argyle Street, will be in place from Sunday 21 June 2020, for a minimum period of 3 months, and reviewed in line with the Scottish Government's COVID-19: Framework for Decision Making - Scotland's Route Map through and out of the crisis .

A new online platform launched today (5 Jun, 2020) will empower people to share their suggestions for creating safer spaces in Glasgow for walking, cycling and wheeling, as COVID-19 restrictions are eased.

In collaboration with Sustrans Scotland, the council is launching the Commonplace Mapping Tool which will allow users to highlight ‘pinch points’ across the city centre and neighbourhoods, where emergency temporary measures such as pavement widening and new cycle lanes could be introduced to help people maintain physical distancing and suppress a resurgence of the virus.

The council recently announced a far-reaching set of suggested measures as part of our Spaces for People programme, to make it easier and safer for pedestrians, wheelers and cyclists to move around Glasgow. As well as providing extra space for distancing, the proposals also acknowledge the recent surge in active travel which we wish to encourage in the longer term. To help deliver on these proposals, the council was recently granted £3.5m Scottish Government Spaces for People funding, administered by Sustrans; with plans to make further bids to the fund.

The council has already received suggestions for road closures, wider pavements and segregated cycle lanes. Now, the public will be able to highlight specific areas on an interactive map and provide their feedback. This, along with ideas already shared, will help shape our efforts in the near future.

Cllr Anna Richardson, City Convener for Sustainability and Carbon Reduction said

Dave Keane, Infrastructure Manager, Sustrans Scotland, said:

Responses received through the Commonplace platform will be recorded and used to inform plans, with temporary interventions prioritised that offer the greatest benefit to public health, balances the needs of all users, and can be delivered in a short timeframe.

So far we have already introduced temporary measures such as the closure of Kelvin Way to traffic and the creation of a temporary cycle lane along the Clyde Walkway to ease pressure on pedestrians on adjacent footways.

All measures that are introduced will be closely monitored and refined or adapted in response to any issues, where necessary. The design process for any interventions will consider all road users, particularly people with mobility or visual impairments, with engagement already underway.

Supported by £3.5m funding from Scottish Government and administered by Sustrans Scotland , the council's Spaces for People programme will see city centre footways widened to ease movement while the COVID-19 restrictions remain in place. These temporary measures are intended to support economic recovery by creating safe public spaces for businesses and their customers but also to promote active travel in the longer term.

The city centre Spaces for People plan will see the proposed pedestrianisation of George Square brought forward but will also draw in major city centre streets such as St Vincent St, Argyle St, Queen St, Hope St, Renfield St and Bath St along with many others.

Providing additional space for physical distancing will mean a short-term suspension of one-third of the city centre's 2,000 on-street parking spaces. But with the 12,000 spaces in city centre car parks and multi-storeys rarely more than 50% full, there should be sufficient space to park for those wishing to use the car to get into town

Plans are also being drawn up to create park and stride and park and cycle facilities at satellite car parks in different parts of the city. The plans will also see no reduction in the number of disabled parking bays in the city centre.

As well as the city centre, Spaces for People will see the introduction of temporary travel infrastructure in city neighbourhoods and on active travel routes. Footways will be widened at pinch points and also to create easier accessto community facilities and public transport hubs. Temporary strategic cycling routes are also being considered, which will highlight cycling as an attractive, viable commuting choice.

Susan Aitken, Council Leader and City Convener for Inclusive Economic Growth said

Other measures under consideration for the city centre include increasing the time the green man is displayed at junctions or reducing the traffic light cycle times to aid pedestrians. A possible trial of a dispensation for e-scooters in the city centre is also being explored while additional on street cycle parking will be installed where space is available.

Longer term, and once restrictions begin to ease, it is hoped that walking and cycling will continue to be considered a safe and convenient mode of transport that benefits health and air quality.

Councillor Anna Richardson, City Convener for Sustainability and Carbon Reduction, said:

Originally published on 4th June, 2020 at https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/article/25936/City-Centre-to-Benefit-from-25km-of-Extra-Space-for-Physical-Distancing

Funded by the Scottish Government and administered by Sustrans, the ' Spaces for People ' programme will provide additional space for physical distancing in public places for people to walk, wheel or cycle while COVID-19 restrictions remain in place.

Temporary Travel Infrastructure

The money will go towards temporary travel infrastructure in the city centre, city neighbourhoods and active travel routes, and will form a key part of the city's strategy for economic recovery. These measures will help to ensure sufficient space on footways for businesses and their customers while the requirement for 2 metres of physical distancing between people remains in place.

This funding award follows on from the recent closure of Kelvin Way to vehicles , and the creation of the Clydeside cycle lane which runs from Saltmarket to the Clyde Arc, and is designed to ease pressure for pedestrians on the Clyde Walkway.

Additional Space for Physical Distancing

In practice, Space for Distancing will see footways widened at pinch points to facilitate safer pedestrian movement and easier access to community facilities and public transport hubs. Consideration will also be given to the positioning of temporary strategic cycling routes to highlight cycling as an attractive, viable commuting choice.

Areas with high pedestrian footfall such as Byres Road, Partick, Shawlands, Maryhill and Dennistoun have already been identified as places where short-term measures can be introduced. Other neighbourhood hubs such as Pollok, Drumchapel, Easterhouse and Castlemilk will also be examined for suitability.

Longer Term Aims

Longer term, and once restrictions begin to ease, it is anticipated that walking and cycling will continue to be considered a safe and convenient mode of transport that benefits health and air quality.

Managing the Road Network Differently

Susan Aitken, Council Leader and City Convener for Inclusive Economic Growth said:

Karen McGregor, Director of Sustrans Scotland, said;

Funded by Transport Scotland and administered by Sustrans Scotland, Spaces for People is a new, temporary infrastructure programme in Scotland which offers funding and support to make it safer for people who choose to walk, cycle or wheel for essential trips and exercise during Covid-19.   

Following the announcement that the initial £10m funding pot will be extended to £30m , the council intends to submit a further bid to the fund.

Originally published on 27 May, 2020 at https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/article/25906/Sustrans-Funding-Boost-to-Support-Physical-Distancing-Across-Glasgow

Originally published on May 16, 2020 at https://glasgow.gov.uk/article/25902/New-Space-For-Distancing-lane-ready-for-use

Originally published on May 1, 2020 at: https://glasgow.gov.uk/article/25885/New-measures-for-public-physical-distancing-introduced-in-Glasgow