GLASGOW'S cycling tsar has admitted the city's roads need a major overhaul if it is to encourage more people to take to the streets on bicycles.
Frank McAveety, who is spending the summer touring the city on his bike, delivered a withering assessment after coming up against potholes, poor signs and angry motorists.
He said roads had to be redesigned, junctions improved and bike storage made more available.
He also restated his support for a "strict liability", putting the burden on drivers to prove they were not at fault in collisions with bikes.
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The councillor and former MSP is attempting to pedal all of the city's official bike lanes and popular commuter routes as part of his role as a champion of cycling.
He said: "Glasgow is a challenging place to cycle but it is our job to find ways to make it less complicated. There is a lack of obvious space for cyclists and there needs to be a regular examination of key junctions in the city.
"You constantly have to have your wits about you in Glasgow. In Amsterdam, roads have been designed with the cyclist in mind, there is no uncertainty over whether cyclists are in the right place and drivers are asked to give way."
The Scottish Government is aiming for 10% of journeys to be made by bike by 2020 – up from about 2% at present.
Ministers are today due to launch a £424,000 "Mutual Respect" campaign aimed at motorists and cyclists.
Brenda Mitchell, of specialist law firm Cycle Law Scotland, said: "It's encouraging to see Frank recognising the need for stricter liability in this country. Scotland lags behind the rest of Europe when it comes to road safety laws."
A Scottish Government spokesman said there was no robust evidence that a law change would improve safety.
The spokesman added: "We are currently investing almost £58 million on cycling infrastructure, training and road safety projects through Cycling Scotland, Sustrans and local authorities over this spending review."
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