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Campaigners accuse Glasgow University of hypocrisy over climate change stanceGlasgow Univeristy (picture credit GoBike)

Campaigners accuse Glasgow University of hypocrisy over climate change stance

University's pledge on global warming not backed up by making routes safe for cyclists, say GoBike...
by Simon_MacMichael
Mon, May 27, 2019 21:06
7

Cycling  campaigners say that Glasgow University’s declaration earlier this month of support for measures to tackle the climate change emergency is not backed up by action.

The university is the first in Scotland to back the UK target of cutting greenhouse gases to nearly zero by 2050.

Its chief operating officer, David Duncan, said: “In taking this stand we are affirming our belief that urgent action is needed to tackle climate change.

“Glasgow was the first university to confirm that we were divesting from fossil fuels and we have followed this up with additional actions to reduce our carbon footprint and address other issues, such as waste, biodiversity and sustainable travel,” he added.

But Strathclyde cycling campaign group GoBike, which has been calling for a safe cycling route to be put in place for students and staff wanting to travel to the university by bicycle have repeated their appeal for safer infrastructure to protect cyclists.

John Donnelly, co-convenor of GoBike said: “After years spent struggling to secure space for people of all ages and abilities to cycle on Byres Road, we genuinely believed that Glasgow had turned a corner in terms of sustainable transport.

"However, you literally turn the corner at Byres Road and we are having to make the same arguments all over again.

“Research consistently shows that the greatest barrier to cycling in this country is safety. The fact that the University of Glasgow is choosing to ignore this makes a mockery of their climate commitments.

"GoBike is calling for University Avenue to be made safe for cycling so anyone of age and ability who wants to cycle has the opportunity to do so safely,” he added.

Glasgow
GoBike
Simon MacMichael

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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7 comments

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Rick_Rude | 5 years ago
1 like

Complete segregation will just breed a generation of clueless cyclists with no road sense. Some are bad enough as it is.

On the rare occasions I've had to go into city centres on a morning I've witnessed terribly poor riding. Mostly it seems to be the uni crowd doing stupid things like trying to filter up the inside of buses whilst still moving. Some seem completely oblivious. Sad to say but no wonder some die.

Avatar
burtthebike replied to Rick_Rude | 5 years ago
3 likes

Rick_Rude wrote:

Complete segregation will just breed a generation of clueless cyclists with no road sense.

You've never been to Holland or Denmark have you?

Avatar
zero_trooper replied to Rick_Rude | 5 years ago
4 likes

Rick_Rude wrote:

Complete segregation will just breed a generation of clueless cyclists with no road sense. Some are bad enough as it is.  

<snip>

Sad to say but no wonder some die.

Imagine an infrastructure where no-one ever has to filter up the side of a bus.

And your last line was in poor taste. Sad or not.

Avatar
Htc replied to zero_trooper | 5 years ago
1 like

zero_trooper wrote:

Rick_Rude wrote:

Complete segregation will just breed a generation of clueless cyclists with no road sense. Some are bad enough as it is.  

<snip>

Sad to say but no wonder some die.

Imagine an infrastructure where no-one ever has to filter up the side of a bus.

And your last line was in poor taste. Sad or not.

I have to agree regarding segregation not being the answer. Treating driving offences with the seriousness that deserve would be a great start. Recognising that driving is a privilege, not a right and that life time bans are justifiable.

Avatar
giff77 | 5 years ago
2 likes

Unless Glasgow Uni can exert sufficient pressure on a council who has no interest whatsoever in developing safe infrastructure for vulnerable road users then no advances will be made on University Avenue. It has taken forever for Byres Road to get the go ahead for greater pedestrianisation. And it looks that there will be huge opposition for changes to Sauchihall Street despite evidence that this is beneficial to the environment, health and economy. 

Last weeks tragic death of a cyclist on the Southside on a popular route is a result of the same shoddy infrastructure all across the city.  Even with the velodrome there isn’t even a joined up cycle route from the city centre to it. 

With creative thinking and commitment Glasgow could be a world first for cycling infrastructure which would rid the city of its badly polluted streets and increasing the health of its population. The only advance is the LEZ  recently implemented but will only temporarily decrease volume of vehicles which will then increase as people invest in newer vehicles. 

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xerxes | 5 years ago
4 likes

It all falls apart when it comes to practice money though. cheeky

Avatar
burtthebike | 5 years ago
4 likes

I'm afraid the establishment is quite used to making statements saying one thing and taking actions which completely contradict their words; it's what they do.  We have had all kinds of organisations declaring a climate crisis, but making no changes in their approach, especially when it comes to transport, and Glasgow university is no different.

Extinction Rebellion may have had protests and got supportive statements, but those of us campaigning for cycling have been through the same process for the past thirty years, with lots of ministers, MPs, councillors, doctors all saying they support cycling, in theory.  It all falls apart when it comes to practice though.

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