More Officers to Monitor Roads in Eaglesham Following Fatal Collision. In response to growing fears over cyclist safety in the area, calls have been made for Police Scotland to take action.
David Lang, a 74-year-old cyclist, was riding along Polnoon Street in Eaglesham on Thursday, January 16, when he was struck by a car.
He was taken to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital for treatment but, tragically, passed away five days later. Police Scotland has confirmed that investigations into the incident are ongoing.
Amid increasing concerns, more police officers will now patrol roads in and around Eaglesham. Cyclists in the area have expressed fears over their safety, with many calling for immediate action.
Concerns Raised Over Cyclist Safety
Caroline Bamforth, an East Renfrewshire councillor representing Newton Mearns South and Eaglesham, voiced her concerns to police officials. She stated that residents have been consistently contacting her regarding the need for more cycle lanes.
While acknowledging that the “tragic incident where the very experienced and well-regarded cyclist lost his life” remains under investigation, she noted that it has heightened existing concerns about road safety.
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Speaking at a council meeting attended by Police Scotland representatives, she remarked:“We have a lot of cyclists, and the Ayr Road is probably the busiest cycle route in our area.”
Cllr Bamforth shared a message from a constituent who criticized a recent police update for lacking information on measures to protect vulnerable road users.
The constituent described Ayr Road as “the most cycled route in south Glasgow” but also “the most dangerous for cyclists.”
They continued:“Tragically, we are mourning the loss of a fellow cyclist this week, a member of my cycling club, following a collision with a driver.
This tragedy has left our club shocked and increasingly fearful, particularly as several members have been hit by drivers in the past six months.”
On behalf of the constituent, Cllr Bamforth asked what steps Police Scotland would take to “deter dangerous driving and protect cyclists.”
She also highlighted the issue of cars parking in cycle lanes, suggesting that double yellow lines could be a solution.
However, she acknowledged that implementing such measures would require funding and a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO), which falls under the council’s responsibility. In the meantime, she asked what police could do to address the issue.
Police Scotland’s Response
Chief Superintendent Lynn Ratcliff extended her sympathies, stating that Police Scotland’s thoughts “go out to the family and friends” of the cyclist. She reaffirmed that the matter remains “very much under investigation.”
She emphasized the importance of reporting incidents involving cyclists, noting that many cases go unreported.
“What’s really important for us is that incidents involving cyclists are reported to us. We know from working with various cycling groups across the city that it is traditionally under-reported.
I think there are a lot of reasons for that. One of them may well be that there may be a perception that the police won’t take those reports seriously. We absolutely do, we absolutely will.”
She encouraged people to report not only collisions but also near misses or any incidents where vehicles and cyclists come into conflict.
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Regarding Eaglesham and the Ayr Road area, she assured that more officers would be deployed in the coming weeks.
“We will try over the course of the coming weeks to get additional officers up into the area.
First of all, it gives us a visible presence and can act as a deterrent, but it allows us to gather information a little bit and understand what those issues are.
Once we have got a better idea of what the challenges are in the area, we can look to develop a bespoke plan.”
She also stressed the importance of education in promoting cyclist safety, revealing that the force intends to relaunch Operation Close Pass, a campaign that teaches drivers to maintain a safe distance from cyclists.