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Travel

Go Greener

Have a look at our facilities map Google map (created by Chris Piras who was GSA’s cycling intern)

There are many ways to get around Glasgow, but sometimes the best options are the ones we know least about. Hopefully this page can help find the best option for your journey. It covers:

• General tips on journey planning
• Cycling
• Public transport
• Car sharing and electric vehicle charging
• Other interesting information, including the 2019 Travel Survey

Planning Your Trip

The first factor to consider when planning a new journey is the distance involved, and how quickly you need to make the journey. Distances up to 2 miles are usually accessible on foot, although other forms of active travel can be considered to speed things up. Cycling opens you up to most of Glasgow Glasgow Cycling Map within an hour, but public transport might be considered in some situations. Buses and trains also enable you to get across Scotland, or indeed most of Europe! Finally, car sharing and electric vehicles can be considered for remote destinations with time constraints.

The options available will vary across individuals and the situations involved, so it is worth understanding how to get the best out of all of them.

Cycling

Glasgow is compact, and we love the architecture and the banter as we walk or cycle the streets. There’s a council travel guide here

Cyclists can use CycleStreet’s journey planner. We have route maps to help you commute and to plan days out. Loch Lomond, Troon, Falkirk and many more great rides are on your doorstep. Visit Go Bike for more on what’s happening in and around Glasgow, or Glasgow Council’s cycling pages for ideas and a city map.

New to cycling at GSA? Or just new to cycling in general? – Check out our GSA Cycling Guide

To keep in touch with fellow cyclists, join the GSA Cycling Club and Women’s Cycling Forum Facebook groups.

Getting a Cheap Bike

Buy a bike at the Bike for Good, or there’s several bike shops local to GSA, including Dales, Glasgow Bike Hive, and Billy Bilsland, Gear Bikes, Philip Lang

These shops sell refurbished bikes at affordable prices. We’ve taken this list from Aye Cycle Glasgow’s website, where you can also see the locations on a map:

Check ‘em out:
• Bike for Good
• Common Wheel
• Free Wheel North
• Glasgow Eco Trust
• Lambhill Stables Bike Hub
• Soul Riders

If you’re not quite ready to get your own bike, I’d recommend trying out OVO bikes which can be hired across the city. Download the Nextbike app to find out more.

Cyclescheme

Do you work for the GSA and want a cheap bike courtesy of the taxman? You can get a tax-free bike and have the cost taken off your salary over the course of a year. GSA have partnered with Cyclescheme to enable employees to get a bicycle and equipment, which will save you up to 32% of the cost (based on a £30k salary).

Get an idea of how much you want to spend, apply, and you’ll get a voucher you can ‘spend’ at any participating stockist, local or online. The process can take 4-6 weeks, but can be quicker.

Drying Cupboards

There is a drying cupboard and basement parking for cycles at Blythswood Square Halls of residence. Any Halls student or staff member can use these facilities. Contact Fiona Sloan for details and access.

Other Groups

There is a Women’s Cycle Forum. The GSA Cycling Club can cater for all cycling tastes, or you can organise your own ride and we’ll help promote it.
h3. Donating a Bike

Leaving Glasgow and can’t take your bike with you? Please consider donating it A great local charity is another option, Bike for Refugees They accept bikes in good condition. Or contact Bike for Good.

Training

There’s some great cycle maintenance videos. Advice is available online for safer road use. We also supply training on-demand for groups of students or staff. Training can help you be – and feel – safer and more confident on the road. Contact John

Maintaining Your Wheels

We have a bicycle repair kit at main reception in the Reid & Stow buildings. They arefree to use and available at any time.

We hold regular Dr Bike and ‘Fix your own’ sessions at the GSA, check out our events pages for more. See other local free Dr Bike sessions around Glasgow, like those at GCU

Looking for a deal on cycle repair? The Bike for Good offers workshops, equipment and qualified mechanics to help you maintain your bike. They also supply cheap refurbished bikes.

Bike Bunker is on Bothwell Street near Central Station and others servicing and repairs.

Looking out for Your Bike

GSA has a locked cycle parking shed outside Stow , and cycle racks outside the library building, under the Bourdon Bridge, outside the JD Kelly, Margaret MacDonald Halls of residence (yard and laundry areas), Blysthswood Square Halls (ask at reception), also by the Haldane building, and we’re planning more around the campus. A campus map and directory are available at the GSA website You can also read our Green Travel Plan

There’s some good advice on bike security from writer Keith Higgins. Get the best lock you can afford like a Kryptonite lock – if the bike is stolen whilst locked it’s insured. Double lock your bike front and back, using a D-lock as well as a strong cable lock. Register your bike using a scheme like BikeRegister so if it gets lost it can be returned to you (we have kits or the police attending at Dr Bike sessions to do this for you).

Abandoned Bikes

If you see a bike that’s obviously been abandoned, please contact us and we’ll arrange for a charity to remove it and re-use it.

Other Ways to Travel

Getting to the GSA is easy and cheap via public transport. SPT provides a comprehensive network of subways and buses, and a great travel planner on their website and well as an app.

Bus travel is free in Scotland for those 22 and under.

For travelling across the rest of Scotland, trains and buses can get you most places. Check out Scotrail for trains. Buses are run by a variety of companies, depending on the region. Megabus/Citylink generally cover long distance journeys, while Stagecoach, First, Lothian Buses are the main operators on local routes. If you are visiting the islands, then ferries will also be of interest – Calmac etc.

Instead of local taxis, GSA staff can use the Enterprise car share scheme, go to the Enterprise Car Club website to register.

For more regular commutes, GSA staff can car-share using a private GSA Staff only Facebook Group

It’s obvious, but sometimes walking is the easiest way to get around

2019 GSA Travel Survey

GSA carried out their travel survey in 2019 and you can read the results here.

Electrical Vehicle Charging at GSA Halls

If you’re staying in Halls, either as a student or one of our guests, you can now recharge your electric car for free.

Funding from Zero Carbon World has enabled us to install an electric recharge point at the Margaret McDonald House halls of residence.

To recharge your car, you’ll need the new EU standard Type 2 plug

Further EV charging is available in the city

For more details please contact Fiona Sloan, Halls Manager. Sorry, at present the charge point isn’t available to the public or staff and other students.

Wish List

Pool bicycles for staff and students…electric work van…better CCTV on cycle racks….more showers on campus…more secure cycle parking…repair tools for bikes….Any other ideas? Or help us campaign for these and your ideas.

Something to Say?

Email John for maps or to comment on our information or facilities.