Glasgow to trial 'People First Zone' for safer pedestrian access

Glasgow City Council will trial a ‘People First Zone’ in the city centre next year, in a bid to create safer and more comfortable streets for pedestrians.

Work will begin in February on a redesigned, fully accessible, step‑free junction where Queen Street meets Ingram Street – creating a safer and more direct crossing point in an area of high footfall.

From March, temporary footway extensions made from high‑quality, durable materials will be installed along both streets.

The council says wider pavements will create a safer, more comfortable environment for pedestrians.

Some general on-site parking will be removed as part of the plans, but all existing commercial loading bays and disabled parking spaces will be retained.

To help create a calmer walking environment and reduce non‑essential traffic on Queen Street and Ingram Street, Bus and Authorised Vehicle Gates that will operate from 7am to 7pm will be trialled.

These will allow only buses, taxis, pedal cycles, commercial vehicles and other authorised vehicles to make right turns between the two streets.

The changes are expected to support the nearby Argyle Street East Avenue project, which starts construction in Spring 2026.

Councillor Angus Millar, convener for city centre recovery, transport and climate said: “This first phase of Glasgow’s People First Zone is an opportunity to demonstrate new ideas and see how they work for the thousands of people who use these streets every day.

“By introducing changes on a trial basis, we can safely explore options that create more space and priority for people on foot to create a lower-traffic city centre environment for pedestrians.”