Reclaiming the streets for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport is the priority as we rapidly cut our transport emissions to halt catastrophe climate change.
We can learn from the world’s most liveable cities. In research conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit, Vancouver has received high scores in terms of education, health care, culture, environment, and infrastructure. The main reason behind Vancouver's achievement is the city's determination in the 1970s and 1980s to resist the lure of motorways as a response to traffic problems. Traffic congestion, and the desire to avoid it, has influenced commuters in Vancouver to look at alternatives to car use.
Glasgow is seeking to make similar progress in the reduction of traffic dominance and car dependency. This can be delivered through the planning framework provided by the City Centre Living Strategy.
This support for less car use is needed due to the context of the increased risk in extreme
weather events caused by climate change.
Torrential rains or higher summer temperatures and heat waves affect the
pavements and road infrastructure.
There are significant ongoing maintenance and replacement works to
consider due to the wear and tear of the city’s motorway infrastructure.
Some cities have chosen to
dismantle their motorways instead of repairing them. They have adopted urban planning policy to enable the redesign
of motorways to create mixed use development,
parks, residential, commercial, or other land uses. This has promoted walkable
and cycle-friendly cities.
Glasgow can take forward plans to dismantle the M8 Woodside Viaduct. Currently, the emergency maintenance
works at this Viaduct are creating
significant traffic disruption and causing disturbance to residents, many of
whom do not own a car.
We can support measures by Transport Scotland to remove the M8 Woodside Viaduct. This can address the adverse consequences of motorway traffic cutting through our communities. In the longer-term, this will create more liveable neighbourhoods designed to support pedestrians, cyclists and public transport.
