wellness
Glasgow Launches New Family-Friendly Cycling Routes Through Central Parks
New marked paths through central parks give parents and novices flat, traffic-free options this summer.
How we reported this
Glasgow City Council opened three new family cycling loops on 1 July 2026, adding 4.8 kilometres of sealed path inside Kelvingrove Park and along the Forth and Clyde Canal towpath between Speirs Wharf and Maryhill Locks.
Summer school holidays and rising fuel costs have pushed more households toward free outdoor exercise. Council transport figures show family bike journeys on existing Glasgow paths rose 28 percent between May 2025 and May 2026. Parents now seek short, signposted circuits that avoid busy roads and require no special gear beyond a standard bike.
Two routes already drawing weekend crowds
The Kelvingrove loop starts at the park gates on Argyle Street, runs past the museum and art gallery, then circles the bowling greens before returning via a new spur behind the Kelvin Hall. The surface is tarmac with gentle gradients under two percent. The canal route begins at the Speirs Wharf car park on the north side of the city centre and follows the water for 2.3 kilometres to the Maryhill Locks café. Both paths carry blue family-route signs installed last month by Sustrans Scotland and are lit until 10 pm.
Local hire firm Bike for Good reports 47 family bookings on the first Saturday after launch, each at £8 for a child trailer or tag-along. The organisation also runs free 90-minute beginner sessions every Saturday morning at 10 am from the same Speirs Wharf point, with helmets supplied.
Practical steps for first-time riders
Families can download the council’s free Glasgow Cycle Map app, updated on 3 July, which shows exact distances and nearest cafés. Helmets remain compulsory for under-16s on all public paths. Riders should carry a pump and spare inner tube; puncture repair kits cost £6 at the nearby Halfords on Great Western Road. The routes close at dusk during winter months, but stay open through the current school break.
Next weekend the council will hold a guided family ride leaving Kelvingrove Park at 11 am on Sunday 13 July, limited to 60 participants. Registration opened yesterday on the council website and filled within four hours. Riders who prefer to go alone can park free at the Maryhill Locks visitor centre and follow the blue signs for a 45-minute out-and-back trip suitable for children as young as five on balance bikes with adult support.