r/Glasgow Tools

Title
Author	EVE_ddred
Comment	I'm unconvinced tbh. I think your idea makes sense from the point of view when you only look at connecting greater glasgow to the city centre. Even on that front, with the current hellish traffic, public transport is just not as good as driving. With a 10 minute tailback over the kingston, it still costs less money in fuel and takes less time than train, subway and bus; and I live within 5 minute walking distance of a central line station. However, if you ever look at different possible journeys like Glen Boig/Easterhouse/Airdrie/Coatbridge to places which are relatively close to them like East Kilbride or Hamilton, you can see how much a pain in the ass public transport is. This isn't a small edge case either. I don't know about you but the possibility of spending 3+ hours on a train/bus everyday is something that would make me lose my sanity when it's a 7-10 minute journey by car. The kingston could be a 5mph road and people would still drive it because the demand is far greater than the capacity for people from the central belt and west coast to commute to work in the Glasgow area. Or rather, this isn't a case of induced demand in my view. Public transport has a long way to go before it becomes more appealing and I think nothing you listed really solves those issues unless you're a student or work in the city centre. Most traffic using the M74 and M8 are only trying to get through Glasgow.
Reddit Link	https://www.reddit.com/r/glasgow/comments/12bp401/council_pushes_for_30mph_limits_on_m8_in_glasgow/jezgqup/
Created	Wed 5th Apr 2023 12:36am
Status	normal ()

I'm unconvinced tbh.

I think your idea makes sense from the point of view when you only look at connecting greater glasgow to the city centre.

Even on that front, with the current hellish traffic, public transport is just not as good as driving. With a 10 minute tailback over the kingston, it still costs less money in fuel and takes less time than train, subway and bus; and I live within 5 minute walking distance of a central line station.

However, if you ever look at different possible journeys like Glen Boig/Easterhouse/Airdrie/Coatbridge to places which are relatively close to them like East Kilbride or Hamilton, you can see how much a pain in the ass public transport is.

This isn't a small edge case either. I don't know about you but the possibility of spending 3+ hours on a train/bus everyday is something that would make me lose my sanity when it's a 7-10 minute journey by car.

The kingston could be a 5mph road and people would still drive it because the demand is far greater than the capacity for people from the central belt and west coast to commute to work in the Glasgow area. Or rather, this isn't a case of induced demand in my view.

Public transport has a long way to go before it becomes more appealing and I think nothing you listed really solves those issues unless you're a student or work in the city centre. Most traffic using the M74 and M8 are only trying to get through Glasgow.