Source: SmartCitiesWorld News
Author: SmartCitiesWorld news team
Date published: 2025-10-07
[original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end]
Glasgow has recorded 4.65 million cycling trips between January and August this year, a 43 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2024.
The data was collected from 88 automatic cycle counters across the city that aim to provide a consistent and reliable measure of cycling activity year-on-year.
Active travel infrastructure
Supporting this trend, the City Deal backed Govan-Partick Bridge, which opened in September 2024, has already recorded more than 1.4 million crossings. Notably, one in five of these journeys were made by cyclists, demonstrating growing public confidence in Glasgow’s active travel infrastructure.
And, as the bridge data is recorded separately from the city’s 88 automatic cycle counters, the increase in cycling activity across Glasgow looks to be even greater than the counter figures alone suggest.
“These figures show that more and more Glaswegians are choosing active travel to get about the city – a clear sign that our investment in walking, wheeling and cycling infrastructure is making a real difference”
The rise in cycle journeys coincides with Glasgow’s programme to reshape the city’s transport system through major infrastructure investment.
Recent projects have delivered safer cycling corridors, upgraded footways, and enhanced public spaces – all designed to make walking, wheeling, and cycling more accessible, comfortable, and attractive.
“These figures show that more and more Glaswegians are choosing active travel to get about the city – a clear sign that our investment in walking, wheeling and cycling infrastructure is making a real difference,” said Angus Millar, city convener for transport and climate.
“The very significant rise in cycle trips recorded this year comes after a bumper year of delivery in new infrastructure – with the opening of the Govan-Partick bridge, the extension of the Connecting Battlefield project linking up much of the southside, and various projects completed in the north, west and east end of the city.
“We know that when we build safer, high-quality cycle infrastructure, many people feel more confident to choose the bike as an option for everyday journeys. By continuing to expand the City Network of safe, segregated active travel infrastructure, we’re extending that option to more people across Glasgow.”
Among the recently completed active travel projects is the South City Way, a 3km fully segregated cycle route offering a high-quality, direct connection from Queen’s Park to Trongate in the city centre, making the journey achievable in just 14 minutes.
Connecting Battlefield has also made progress, with phase one now complete. This new route provides convenient access to key destinations including Queen’s Park and the New Victoria Hospital, and links with the South City Way at Victoria Road. Preparatory work for phase two begins at the end of the month, focusing on Grange Road, the Battlefield Rest junction, and Battlefield Road at Mount Florida – with main construction set to start next year.
Multiple schemes under the Avenues and Avenues Plus programmes are also currently under construction or scheduled to begin soon, in and around the city centre.
Construction is set to begin shortly on the first phase of Connecting Yorkhill and Kelvingrove, a project aimed at creating a more welcoming environment for people walking and cycling in the area. Public space improvements will focus on Gilbert Street, Radnor Street, Haugh Road, Yorkhill Street, and Sandyford Street.
Additional route designs are also being progressed for Connecting Greater Govan, the Inner North and South, an active travel route on West Nile Street, and the NCN7 cycle network, which will link Smith Street in Whiteinch with the Riverside Museum.
Data collated across 88 automatic counter sites demonstrates that between January and August 2024, 3,245,858 trips were recorded. Between January and August 2025 this rose to 4,653,713, marking a 43 per cent increase.
View original article at:
https://www.smartcitiesworld.net/news/cycling-in-glasgow-soars-as-active-travel-network-expands-12009