Commuting through Glasgow City Centre

[ZenKiddo]

Hi I'm new to this so forgive me if I get any of the terminology or anything wrong.

I'm looknig for 2 pieces of advice basically... first of all, I work in Glasgow city centre and soon (fingers crossed) should be living here too. I'm going to be travelling from Argyle Street up to Strathclyde Uni on Cathedral Street each day (Mon-Fri). I know this isn't particularly far however I'm keen to get into cycling and hope this gives me the encouragement I have been severely lacking of late!

I'm quite inexperienced in cycling so would be looking for the most straightforward (and, frankly - easiest) route possible. Given I drive up Hope Street every day and have seen countless numbers of near-misses with cyclists v cars I'm not keen on going this way.

Basically then, I'm looking for someone to give me an idea of routes (I had thought Buchanan Street until someone told me this isn't for cyclists) to take and if possible if anyone can recommend the best type of bike?? I'm not looking for anything fancy or expensive at all.

Thanks

 

[Kookas]

I'm not a Glasgow local, but have you checked that Buchanan Street doesn't have a time it operates on? I know that, for example, Worcester Foregate Street allows cyclists on the pedestrian area outside of the hours of 9am-4pm.

 

[HLaB]

Cyclestreets would give you a few options. FWIW when ever I've been to central Glasgow I've just meandered in the general direction (similar to the red route).

 

[boydj]

Buchanan St is pedestrianised, so it's a non-starter. I've used Hope St a lot and it's fine if you stay on the right hand side and take the lane. However, you might be better staying on Argyle St as far as you can and go up Queen St and round George Square. Probably a bit less traffic that way and pretty direct.

 

[Rasmus]

+1 to boydj's suggestion. The final bit of Argyle St in front of St Enoch's gets quite congested with buses, but they can be easily overtaken. Watch out for suicide pedestrians under the Central Station bridge! You'll have your fitness improve in no time if you sprint up Montrose St every morning :-)

In the other direction I would avoid Renfield/Union St and use West Nile/Mitchell St. There is a bicycle contraflow.

As for the choice of bike, anything will do really for that sort of distance. I'd probably go for a low/midrange hybrid.

 

[ZenKiddo]

Thanks for the responses guys, really appreciate it.... and I have to admit, the thought of cycling up any of the hills like Montrose St is none-too-appealing but hopefully it'll get easier(?) the more I do it. I think the hills though are unavoidable whichever direction I go!

 

[Pat "5mph"]

What I would do, from Argyle Street turn right into any side street, this takes you along the river. Follow until Stockwell Street (Scotia Bar) - turn left into it, follow the road ahead, you're in George Square.
It might be a wee bit of a roundabout way, but less traffic imo.

 

[GlasgowGaryH]

Thanks for the responses guys, really appreciate it.... and I have to admit, the thought of cycling up any of the hills like Montrose St is none-too-appealing but hopefully it'll get easier(?) the more I do it. I think the hills though are unavoidable whichever direction I go!

Get yourself over to Gardner Street in Partick to practice going up hills in Glasgow and the rest will just seem like small bumps

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Get yourself over to Gardner Street in Partick to practice going up hills in Glasgow and the rest will just seem like small bumps

Or the road to Fernhill

 

[Donald Ping]

yeah,I think the hills though are unavoidable whichever direction I go!thank you

 

[Booyaa]

Go right to the end of Argyle Street at the Tron, up the High Street and along Cathedral Street, the hill is almost non existent.that way!

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Go right to the end of Argyle Street at the Tron, up the High Street and along Cathedral Street, the hill is almost non existent.that way!

True, forgot about that route.

 

[jim55]

i think the best route would be argyle st>round queen st>round the square>and up the first turn on the left by the station taxi /bus/cycle lane at the side of queen st station (nth hanover st i think,a slight hill but pretty quiet )>and turn right onto cathedral st

 

[boydj]

Go right to the end of Argyle Street at the Tron, up the High Street and along Cathedral Street, the hill is almost non existent.that way!

There's a pedestrianised section of Argyle St. beyond Queen St.

 

[Rasmus]

There's a pedestrianised section of Argyle St. beyond Queen St.

...which you could bypass by going round the back of the St Enoch centre (Jamaica St->Howard St).

But that's a long detour just to avoid a little hill....