National cycle route opens

Wednesday 17 June 2009

An eight-mile long national cycling route between East Kilbride and Glasgow opened to the public this week during National Bike Week.

The route - officially called National Cycle Route 756 - runs from East Kilbride railway station via East Mains, Kingsgate, Nerston, Cathkin and ends at the council's boundary with Glasgow City Council at Shawfield, Rutherglen. The cycle route also incorporates a link onto Stewartfield Way at the Kingsgate Retail Park.

The majority of the route, which took four years to complete and cost £240,000, uses quiet residential streets and some off-road routes.

However, the route also links to the following making it extremely useful for commuters and recreational users: East Kilbride railway station, Rolls Royce, Nerston industrial estate, Kingsgate retail park, Overton Park, Rutherglen shopping precinct, Shawfield Stadium and Richmond Park.

The link onto Stewartfield Way also provides access to the following places of interest: Play Sport, James Hamilton Heritage Park and the National Museum of Rural Life.

As well as all the general work in creating the route, such as signing, markings, drop kerbs, tree pruning, improved lighting, drainage and path widening, it also has had several controlled crossing points changed from Pelican to Toucan signal control which allows both pedestrians and cyclists to cross with ease as they are wider than traditional Pelican crossings.

Councillor Chris Thompson, the chair of the council's Enterprise Resources Committee, said: "Promoting travel by sustainable means is a key priority of the council and the opportunities to develop our cycling network are highlighted in the council's Local Transport Strategy.

"This route offers wonderful opportunities for people who want to commute by bike as well as also who just enjoy cycling.

"With so many points of interest along the route I am certain it will soon become very popular."

For more information please call the council's Traffic and Transportation Team on 01698 453 693.