To: East Dunbartonshire Council
Finish the Bearsway
Build 1.5km. Unlock 270km.
We call on East Dunbartonshire Council to complete the remaining 1.5km of the Bearsway cycle route: a 900-metre section through Hillfoot and a 600-metre connection to Milngavie town centre.
This small investment would provide Bearsden and Milngavie residents with safe access to Glasgow's growing cycle network, unlocking 54km of routes in the near term, and around 270km in the longer term. Funding should be secured through ring-fenced Scottish Government Active Travel programmes.
Why is this important?
Thousands of Bearsden and Milngavie residents are currently cut off from Glasgow's growing network of safe, segregated cycle routes because two short sections of missing infrastructure leave the area disconnected from the city.
The Glasgow City Region City Deal has delivered high-quality cycle routes across Glasgow. By the end of this summer, it will be possible to cycle safely from George Square to Kessington Road using a combination of segregated Avenues, the Forth & Clyde Canal, the Kelvin Walkway and quiet residential streets.
Yet most Bearsden and Milngavie residents still have no safe route to access this network. Key arterial roads such as the A81/Milngavie Road remain significant barriers for anyone who is not a confident cyclist. Cyclists using these roads often report close passes from drivers, speeding and distracted driving - so it's understandable why so many choose to drive short trips instead.
The solution is to complete the remaining sections of the Bearsway cycle route - approximately 900 metres through Hillfoot and a further 600 metres connecting to Milngavie town centre. Watch this excellent video which explains the history and benefits of this route:
https://youtu.be/YtR3YqwKEYc?si=2fRlewe03Ax2gndp&t=180
This could then be linked up with Bearsden Cross, creating a network between homes, schools, workplaces and leisure.
https://youtu.be/YtR3YqwKEYc?si=2fRlewe03Ax2gndp&t=180
This could then be linked up with Bearsden Cross, creating a network between homes, schools, workplaces and leisure.
Completing just 1.5 kilometres of missing infrastructure would connect local residents directly to more than 270 kilometres of planned traffic-free and low-traffic routes across Glasgow. It would provide safer transport options for commuting, education, shopping and leisure, while supporting healthier lifestyles and reducing congestion. Where safe cycle lanes have been built, there has been a huge uptick in people cycling: https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/article/13887/Cycling-trips-surge-by-43-as-Glasgow-s-active-travel-network-grows - in spite of our wet climate.
https://oursafestreets.substack.com/p/the-weathers-too-bad-to-cycle-in
https://oursafestreets.substack.com/p/the-weathers-too-bad-to-cycle-in
Funding could be sought through Scottish Government Active Travel programmes, significantly reducing the cost to East Dunbartonshire Council. These funds are ring-fenced for active travel, so can not be spent elsewhere - we're missing out by not bidding on it!
We call on East Dunbartonshire Council to prioritise completion of the remaining sections of Bearsway and deliver a continuous, safe cycle connection between Bearsden, Milngavie and Glasgow's wider active travel network.
