Interactive tech gives Glasgow bike bus priority at problem junction
A south Glasgow “bike bus” route, set up to encourage primary school children to cycle to school, has been made safer thanks to a new bike-mounted, remote-controlled device that gives priority to the children as they cross a busy junction.
The Shawlands Bike Bus route includes the extremely busy Shawlands Cross junction and the large group with up to 60 riders had previously experienced problems crossing the junction with frustrated drivers moving too close to the children and using their horns.
In what is believed to be a UK first, the Ultra-Smart Cycle System, mounted on the lead rider's bike, uses a military-grade encrypted signal that triggers a traffic light cycle that holds traffic for 45 seconds, enough time to get all the riders through.
The once-a-week guided bike bus collects children travelling to school and escorts them along a prescribed route finishing at Shawlands Primary School.
Central to the innovation is the control unit, developed by Preston-based Sm@rt Technology for the council's TRAFFCOM traffic management service, which only accepts the signal during agreed periods when the bus bike is scheduled to pass.
Councillor Angus Millar, the city's climate convenor, said, "We are always looking for new and innovative ways to provide safe, active travel routes for everyone and I am delighted that council colleagues were able to offer a solution to this problem in a very short space of time, during the school break.
"Making cycling a safe, easy and attractive option for people and especially young people is at the heart of our efforts to promote sustainable transport.
"This bit of kit is a fairly simple solution to a road safety problem that is probably experienced in cities up and down the country and I hope that what we've developed for Glasgow can be replicated to help similar bike bus schemes."
Gareth Johnson, one of the organisers of the Shawlands Bike Bus, said, "Ultimately we'd like safe segregated cycle infrastructure so all children in Glasgow that want to can safely cycle to school, but in the interim, we are extremely grateful to the council for providing this new bit of technology.
"The junction is really busy and with a lot of young children on our bike bus giving us that little bit of extra time to safely navigate the junction is a game-changer for us."
Following the success of the Shawlands Bike Bus the council is in talks with parents from six other schools across the city, who are looking to develop safe cycle to school routes.