Awards for Bears Way Project

The controversial Bears Way project to create a new cycle lane along Milngavie Road, and associated works, has been nominated for FIVE awards.
By The Newsroom
Published 19th Apr 2016, 14:04 BST
Updated 19th Apr 2016, 15:10 BST
Councillor Alan Moir is here at the opening of the Bears Way Project cycle lanes with Bearsden Primary School pupils and Scottish cycling heroes who competed at the Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles.Councillor Alan Moir is here at the opening of the Bears Way Project cycle lanes with Bearsden Primary School pupils and Scottish cycling heroes who competed at the Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles.
Councillor Alan Moir is here at the opening of the Bears Way Project cycle lanes with Bearsden Primary School pupils and Scottish cycling heroes who competed at the Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles.

The Bears Way Project along the A81 has been shortlisted out of more than 100 entries for the following:

Most effective road safety, traffic management and enforcement project; Integrated transport project of the year; Excellence in walking and public realm; Achievements in cycling; Most innovative transport project of the year.

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With funding from SPT and Transport Scotland, the council has created sustainable travel hubs in Kessington and Hillfoot and work on a third at Milngavie station is due to be completed in spring this year to increase accessibility to public transport.

Councillor Alan Moir, convener of development and regeneration, said: “This is fantastic news and vindication that we are moving in the right direction to improve active travel and the public realm for local people, businesses and visitors.

“Yes it has been a departure - changing a busy road and asking people to adapt to a new layout - but this kind of innovative work is essential if we are to address long-term problems with increased traffic on our roads and environmental concerns.

“Bears Way provides protected space for children and families to cycle. People who previously would never have dreamt of being able to cycle on the A81 are now doing so and that is great to hear.”

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However Councillor Jim Gibbons said: “I am still not happy with what appears to be the finished cycleway.

“There a number of locations where in my experience as a driving instructor there needs to be additional signage.

“There has been a safety audit of the cycle lane, but I am concerned about three locations where motorists cross the cycle lane. These need to be looked at now.”

The Bears Way Project will be discussed at East Dunbartonshire Council’s next meeting on Thursday, April 21.

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Councillor Duncan Cumming has asked the council to confirm that any further work will be paused until there’s a comprehensive consultion with the public about the proposed next phases.

He’d also like the council to send information leaflets to every house in Bearsden and Milngavie and hold conventional public meetings to allow people to ask questions about the next stage of the project.