CityCyclingEdinburgh was launched on the 27th of October 2009 as "an experiment".
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resolvedOur friends in the West, I'm in search of advice.
I may need to travel to Maryhill in Glasgow next month. I was thinking to take a bike on the train and pootle the three miles extra. I'll be arriving in Glasgow during the morning rush of drivists.
So the question is:
Should I take the canal towpath? Or stick to Maryhill Road?
Or should I not bother and get on a bus instead?
You could take a Queen Street high level train to Maryhill (final destination Anniesland). Timetable:
https://www.scotrail.co.uk/sites/default/files/documents/MaryhillAnnieslandMay14.pdf
How traffic averse do you feel? You'd be going in the opposite direction to most of the traffic.
The canal isn't unpleasant but it's not direct.
I am okay with traffic, but on unfamilar routes I prefer not to have to worry about dodging whizzing drivists. I see the canal adds an extra mile, however...
Hmmmm, looking at the map and considering it from the point of view of someone unfamiliar with the lay out.
The A804 junctions are under the M8 and designed for traffic on/off the motorway. I use the road but I know where I'm going.
There is a cycle path under this section which runs from Cowcaddens Subway to Garscube Rd. This road joins Maryhill Rd near Firhill.
You can see the bike route because of the red tarmac and big stupid flowers.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@55.869695,-4.260009,3a,75y,25.96h,89.16t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1syG63Fg5l8U1R4qM6OJlRgw!2e0
Getting to Cowcaddens Subway is easy. Go out the eastern side of Queen St onto N Hanover St. Head north (up the hill) for 2 blocks and turn left into Cowcaddens Rd between the bus station and Caledonian University. The Subway is about 5 blocks west.
Google seems to like Port Dundas Rd, bike underpass at Cowcaddens and then the canal.
If it's in the second half of next month I'll be available and I'll be in town every day taking the kids to drama class. I'll PM my available dates.
So cycling in Glasgow wasn't really much bother. I was probably helped by the fact it was early on a Saturday morning, thus quite quiet. Also the on-road route relatively short. Even so, not too bad even ion-road.
Out of the taxi exit to Queen Street station, left into the bus and cycle (and taxi) lane, left along past Buchanan Street bus station, right to head north. There was a cycle lane along much of this road, but so narrow and derisory I stayed just on the demarcation line. A few parked cars in the lane, but not bad really. ASLs at almost every signalised junction, not always respected by motorists but mostly they were. So far, so similar to Edinburgh city centre.
Googol maps had advised me to go off-road before the motorway slip roads, which I did. No drop kerb to get onto the path, but no matter. Variable surface quality, it must be said, but no broken glass. A run under the motorway flyovers past some iconic semi-abstract painted steel sculptures, and then the only real challenge of the ride, by now an official NCN signposted route. The ascent to the canal is by a really steep, twisty ramp, with such a gradient and such tight turns that you wonder how any wheelchair user would ever manage. At the top, the start of the Forth & Clyde canal, which would take me to Maryhill.
This was a very pleasant route (images below). Surface rather 'undulating' much of the time, but a good wide path, very few chicanes, and quiet save for friendly joggers, the odd ped or dog walker, and occasional fellow cyclists. Folk seemed to get cheerier and friendlier as I got further out of the centre. You could really see a lot of development and regeneration along the canalside too, a lot of new housing recently built or in the process of construction. This part of Glasgow seems to be changing fast.
There is a spot on the canal where you could stand and watch a Partick Thistle FC home game if you were so minded. My destination, Maryhill Burgh Halls, was very close to the canal so this was an ideal route to cycle to it. Reasonable bike parking in the courtyard when I arrived too, and well used.
Some interesting infrastructure adjacent to the Burgh Halls (below). Note the bollards, and then the use of a cycling sign as the 'extra; bollard on the dropped kerb. Also street cycle racks, at this point unused. Also 'No loading at any time'. Why can't we have such signs on cycling infrastructure in Edinburgh I wonder?
On the way back, there were quite a few wee guys fishing along the canal, and by Ruchill a guy was tending the pigeons in his dovecot alongside the path, which I did not even notice on the way in.
All in all, this particular short cycling trip to Glasgow was a much more positive experience than I had expected. There are gaps in routes, poorly realised sections, and so on that we are familiar with in Edinburgh. It was a weekend, so not typical of weekday commuting. Even with these caveats I'd certainly consider taking my Fold-it to Glasgow again. Certainly beats stewing on the bus or walking.
I did similar route early on a Saturday morning, but exited queen st on station Buchanan street underground side took right and went up to cowcaddens via piping centre. Again was v quiet. I was headed to passport place. Then took canal (did not notice steepness despite only three gears but think the ramp doubled back on itself?). Then took the canal path as you describe. Alas I did not alight at maryhill burgh halls or watch the jags from the towpath, no I cycled to Edinburgh but it was very very wet. I did live on maryhill road for several years so not unfamiliar.
Think it is very differnt level of traffic on a week day.
Think it is very differnt level of traffic on a week day.
I'm sure!
I made my return journey at the back of six and the streets were still pretty quiet in the centre. Oh and I managed to give the rain a miss, just good timing. All a bit surprising really. Not sure I'd fancy a full on weekday rush hour in a Glasgow downpour mind you.
It wasn't raining? Incredible!
It did rain quite a lot in Glesca yesterday. However during my brief bike sojourns it did not. Indeed, it was much wetter when I got back to Edinburgh.
Exception, rule, etc.
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