Ready for the Games?
Published: 3 June 2014
The Glasgow 2014 XX Commonwealth Games are just weeks away. Campus eNews and our Information for Staff pages will keep you updated with travel and transport advice.
As the XX Commonwealth Games draw near, more details have emerged about the likely impact on traffic and travel in Glasgow and the likelihood of disruption to the Gilmorehill Campus next month.
The University is to host the Commonwealth Games Business Conference on 22 and 23 July. The highly prestigious conference takes place just before the opening ceremony of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. It’s being organised jointly with the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise and the Commonwealth Business Council.
The event will focus on issues and opportunities common to all countries, such as:
- employment and skills
- infrastructure development
- improving financial services for business
- the development of smart cities of the future
A number of speakers have already been confirmed including the Governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, and businessman and entrepreneur, Richard Branson. A degree of disruption on campus is likely during the two days when the conference is underway. As more details emerge, we will publicise them.
The University will also be in the thick of the Glasgow 2014 build-up when the Queen's Baton relay reaches the West End of Glasgow on Monday 21 July. The relay route includes University Avenue, part of the Gilmorehill campus and then Kelvin Way. The timings are:
- 12.25 Partick
- 13.50 Hillhead
- 14.15 Woodlands
The Glasgow 2014 Games run from Wednesday 23 July to Sunday 3 August. The University of Glasgow has been involved in the Games from the outset, and you can find out more on our Commonwealth Games 2014 web pages.
Travel advisory
Travel to and from the University’s Gilmorehill campus will take longer at busy times and Campus eNews and the Information for Staff pages will keep you updated.
The University sits right on the doorstep of one of the venues, the Kelvingrove Bowls and ‘Live’ site. There will be nine days of bowls competition and during this time the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum will remain open as a major visitor attraction. The bandstand in Kelvingrove Park will be hosting a Festival 2014 Live Zone throughout the Games time. Spectators will be arriving by the subway to Kelvin Hall, Kelvinbridge and Hillhead or by bus to Argyle Street.
Be flexible!
Kelvin Way is going to be closed to traffic throughout, from 26 June to 8 August. The stretch of Sauchiehall Street past the bowling venue will also be closed. University staff and students are likely to find travelling in the West End challenging at times! The advice from the City Council and the Games organisers is to check to see if your regular journeys could be affected and then to try out temporary changes over the Games period. They say that by making small changes in the way you travel such as making your journey at the right time, using public transport, cycling or walking you will be best placed to avoid disruption.
"The Commonwealth Games will touch the lives of everyone in the city, in some way shape or form. The event will also change how the city functions and operates for its duration." Get Ready Glasgow
Get Ready Glasgow
Glasgow City Council has established a website Get Ready Glasgow with information about the expected impact of the Commonwealth Games and associated events and detailed information about the impact on areas of the city with Games venues.
The latest guidance from Get Ready Glasgow suggests the following:
- Remode: could you walk or cycle for all or part of your journey?
- Retime: could you start earlier or later to avoid the busy times?
- Reduce: could you reduce your business travel by postponing meetings or making a conference call?
- Re-route: could you use a different station if yours is likely to be busy or avoid driving around venues at competition times?
You’ll find a PDF map of the Kelvingrove area on this page which shows road closures and other changes. There may also be travel updates on the websites of the major transport operators:
www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/glasgow/
First published: 3 June 2014
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