Latest news with #EmmaBurkeNewman
Glasgow Times
08-08-2025
- Glasgow Times
I tried a new Glasgow cycle lane but one thing is confusing
With progress being made toward 270km of new safe cycle infrastructure, main roads and leading to the centre from all directions, it has never been better for those using two wheels and pedal power to get around. The most recent completion is the redesign of a busy Glasgow city centre junction with improved cycle safety in mind. The junction, at the King George V Bridge, Broomielaw/Clyde Street and Oswald Street has new signals and road markings. READ NEXT:George V Bridge cycle lanes now open in Glasgow city centre A reminder of why this is needed is mere yards away. A white "ghost bike" is fixed to the railings in memory of 22-year-old student, Emma Burke Newman, who was killed when she was hit by a lorry while she was on her bike in January 2023. The Glasgow Times tested the new layout and the wider cycle lane network in the city centre. (Image: Newsquest) Starting with the King George V Bridge. Heading north across the bridge feels safe, in a wide, one-way, segregated cycle lane towards the city centre. You can turn left and down onto the cycle path along the river walkway past the Tradeston Bridge or right onto Clyde Street, continuing east on a dedicated bike lane. READ NEXT: We fact check the claim no-one uses Glasgow's cycle lanes. Heading straight on, into Oswald Street, is less straightforward. Coming from Glasgow Green, heading west along Clyde Street is ideal, with a segregated route all the way to the King George V Bridge. The only problem is when you want to turn right towards the city centre, again onto Oswald Street. There is a cycle traffic signal, but I was unsure if it was for going ahead only and had to wait to make absolutely sure no traffic was coming head-on towards me. The route to follow is a curved, painted, narrow bike crossing going diagonally across the yellow box junction. (Image: Newsquest) But it leads to nowhere and appears to be sending cyclists onto the pavement. The much heralded cycle infrastructure, making the bridge safer, just stops and the curved lane across oncoming traffic does not look like the safe option. The council said: 'The junctions at the bridge's ends have been redesigned to offer extra protection for cyclists. 'The northbound cycle lane is set to connect to a future Broomielaw/Clyde Street 'Avenue', while the southbound lane already links with the popular South City Way. 'In addition, traffic signals have been upgraded, and footway enhancements have been made to create a more appealing environment for active travel.' READ NEXT: Number of public parades held in Glasgow revealed: here's how many All the above is true; we just need to have a safe cycling option for Oswald Street towards Hope Street. (Image: Newsquest) In the wider city centre, there have been many new cycle lanes created, separating bikes from other road traffic and keeping them away from the pavement. It is not completely joined up yet. Sauchiehall Street was the first segregated lane, part of the Avenues project. But when you get to the top of the lane at Rose Street, you are met with a sign guaranteed to grind a cyclist's gears. It says 'End of Route,' so where are you supposed to go? (Image: Newsquest) The answer is to go down the pedestrian precinct, which is a "pedestrian and cycle zone". I did this and was met with the disapproving looks of many people on foot. And it is hard to disagree with them. The recently redesigned street is too busy with people walking to have bikes on it, too. Cyclists, many are delivery riders heading to and from the fast food outlets, slalom and snake down the street, often at speeds inappropriate for the zone. In Pitt Street and along Waterloo Street, there is another excellent bike lane. But some people are having difficulty understanding what a bike lane is for. Heading down the lane, I had to negotiate not one but two vehicles parked in the bike lane. (Image: Newsquest) (Image: Newsquest) Since the pandemic, when temporary cycle lanes were popping up across Glasgow, there have been huge improvements made in Glasgow. What it needs now is to separate cyclists from pedestrians and fully join up all the great routes that are being created. Then Glasgow can truly be a cycle-friendly city.
Glasgow Times
07-08-2025
- Glasgow Times
George V Bridge cycle lanes now open in Glasgow city centre
The construction work for the George V Bridge, which started in June, has rebalanced the public space to prioritise those travelling actively. The bridge deck's five live traffic lanes have been reduced to three to make room for dedicated cycle lanes on both sides of the road. (Image: Emma is pictured with her parents) It comes after cyclist Emma Burke Newman was killed when she was hit by a lorry on Broomielaw in the morning of January 27, 2023. Lorry driver Paul Mowat pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving following the crash and was sentenced to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and banned from driving for 12 months READ NEXT: Parents of woman killed in Glasgow back safer cycling manifesto George V Bridge – Northbound segregated cycle lane (Image: Supplied) These lanes are part of an effort to create a City Network with 270km of safe, segregated cycle routes. The junctions at the bridge's ends have been redesigned to offer extra protection for cyclists. Read more: Hamilton business consultancy expands as it launches private sector service The northbound cycle lane is set to connect to a future Broomielaw/Clyde Street 'Avenue', while the southbound lane already links with the popular South City Way. In addition, traffic signals have been upgraded, and footway enhancements have been made to create a more appealing environment for active travel. George V Bridge – Southbound segregated cycle lane (Image: Supplied) Pedestrian crossings have also been improved, with tactile paving and dropped kerbs installed for better accessibility. The area will further benefit from soft landscaping and the planting of new street trees in the coming months. Councillor Angus Millar, Convener for Transport and Climate, said: "The new walking, wheeling, and cycling infrastructure on and around George V Bridge improves safety and the general environment for people who want to travel actively. George V Bridge – Junction improvements at Broomielaw (Image: Supplied) "We have added protected cycle lanes on both sides of the bridge deck and reconfigured the junctions at Broomielaw and Clyde Place. "And for people who walk and wheel in the area, the footways and crossing points have been enhanced and made safer. "The revised layout also contributes to the growth of our City Network, which is creating connections that ensure more and more parts of the city are accessible by safe, segregated infrastructure. "By supporting measures that encourage active travel for everyday journeys, we can help build a fairer, more sustainable transport system that will reduce carbon emissions, boost public health and create safer, more vibrant neighbourhoods." The project received funding from Transport Scotland's Active Travel Infrastructure Fund - Tier 1.
Glasgow Times
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Parents of woman killed in Glasgow back safer cycling manifesto
Emma Burke Newman was killed when she was hit by a lorry on Broomielaw in the morning of January 27, 2023. Lorry driver Paul Mowat pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving following the crash and was sentenced to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and banned from driving for 12 months Rose Marie Burke and John Newman, Emma's parents, have given their support to a Joint Active Travel Manifesto for next years Scottish Parliament elections. (Image: Supplied) The manifesto, by more than 40 health, environmental and road safety organisations urges all political parties to enable more people to walk, wheel or cycle. It calls for action on five areas of investment, long-term commitment, infrastructure, active and public transport and safety. Ms Burke and Mr Newman, said: 'In the name of Emma and all our children killed on the road, let's do all we can to avoid needless death, trauma, suffering, and costs to society." The call is for parties to commit to long-term investment to transform local high streets and communities, committing at least 10% of the transport budget to active travel funding. The manifesto wants multi-year budgets to accelerate delivery of national strategies on walking/wheeling and cycling, offer better value for money. It calls for action to 'Transform our communities, enabling anyone, especially younger people – to travel more safely on foot, by wheeling or by bike. Including through well maintained, accessible networks of walking or cycling routes and reorganised street space, creating better, greener local places.' Policies must: 'Integrate walking and cycling infrastructure with public transport in rural areas especially, to provide alternatives to the car.' And it wants to: 'Reduce road danger by reducing traffic speeds in our communities, by taking dangerous drivers off the road and by creating more accessible streets for all.' The manifesto is supported by Devi Sridhar, Professor and Chair of Global Public Health at the University of Edinburgh. (Image: Scottish Government) She said: 'A move towards active travel isn't about banning cars, but rather increasing options and freedoms for people to choose how they want to go to school, work or city centre, whether it's walking, cycling or public transport. 'Getting people moving in their daily life should be a high priority for governments given that sedentary behaviour is a major risk factor for chronic disease such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, stroke and dementia. 'Exercise also contributes at a cellular level to better mental health. 'Scotland has made positive steps in the right direction, but we still have a long way to go to catch up with major European cities who have built active travel into urban design'.
STV News
24-04-2025
- STV News
Work to improve junction where cyclist was killed by lorry begins
Work to upgrade cycle routes in Glasgow, where a 22-year-old was killed after being hit by a lorry, has begun. Emma Burke Newman was killed after being involved in a collision with an HGV at a set of traffic lights on the Broomielaw near the George V Bridge on January 27, 2023. The 22-year-old was rushed to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital following the incident but died a short time later. From Issy-les-Moulineaux, in Paris, she was an aspiring architect and a keen cyclist who travelled to many cities on her bike. STV News Emma Burke Newman. Lorry driver Paul Mowat, 69, admitted causing her death by careless driving and was given a community sentence in April 2024. Her family and friends called for improved safety for cyclists, and Glasgow City Council started a series of works to expand and improve cycle lanes across the city. Glasgow City Council Visualisation of the redesigned junction on the George V Bridge The project on the riverside will be part of a 13-week overhaul including new protected cycle paths and upgraded pedestrian crossings. The road layout will be reconfigured to reduce the number of live traffic lanes from five to three, freeing up space used to install segregated cycle lanes on the bridge deck. Becca Thomas, a friend and colleague of Emma's, representing the Waiting to Happen campaign, which aims to improve road infrastructure, told STV News: 'The worst thing that happened after she died here was people saying that was just an accident waiting to happen. 'Why do we wait? Why do we need a tragedy, the loss of a wonderful young life taken far too soon, to make the changes we know should happen? 'This junction has always been really challenging, you have a lot of road space and a lot of different ways to be on a bike, but no one really knows where you're supposed to be. 'You can be vulnerable, you can be on the road or on the pavement with pedestrians…all junctions should really simple.' The area will also benefit from new, soft landscaped areas and the addition of street trees. North of the bridge, new cycle lanes will connect with the upcoming Broomielaw/Clyde Street Avenue, which will offer east-west active travel connections, while the south side will link to the South City Way. Advanced signage will be installed at key locations to redirect pedestrians and road traffic. While every effort will be made to minimise disruption, road users are being warned that increased traffic flows on alternative routes are anticipated, which may impact journey times. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
