People living in Glasgow are being urged to cut down on car journeys and keep living as though the Cop26 summit was still happening.
Glasgow City Council has said that traffic volumes dropped considerably during the international gathering as roads were closed off and vehicle access to the city centre became limited.
Now the local authority want people to travel more by public transport, bike or on foot and help drive down fuel emissions further.
Ahead of the international climate summit, multiple Glasgow roads were shut to close off the area surrounding the venue hosting thousands of delagates and world leaders.
Now that the closures are coming to an end, Glasgow City Council is suggesting that there has been a 30 per cent reduction of traffic volume in the city during Cop26.
They think that this sort of practice will help Glasgow’s drive towards net-zero.
A Glasgow City Council spokesperson said: “During the course of the COP26 climate change conference we have seen a 30 per cent reduction in the volume of traffic.
"It is very encouraging that people visiting Glasgow and people who live and work here followed the pre-conference advice to leave the car at home and use public transport or walk or cycle instead.
"It also shows the effectiveness of the extensive pre-conference information campaign we carried out and the measures we put in place to manage the traffic.
“This change in behaviour is very welcome and exactly the kind of thing that we would encourage as part of Glasgow’s drive to have net zero emissions by 2045.”
READ MORE: Campbeltown latest area to receive Scottish government climate funding
City officials are now encouraging the same behaviour which they claim is the reason for the reduction. They suggest that walking, cycling and using public transport instead of travelling by car is the reason for the reduction.
The call comes on the same day that the closures come to an end in the city.
The road between Minerva Street and West Greenhill Place re-opened at 6am this morning, but the more major Glasgow roads which have caused significant travel disruption will remain closed until Monday.
COP26 has caused a headache for many Glasgow motorists over the last few weeks. The Clyde Expressway has been shut for nearly three weeks and drivers have faced major diversions, some as long as five miles.
Monday will see the Clyde Expressway and M8 junction 19 at Anderston back open for public use. The three mile stretch of dual carriageway which usually has thousands of vehicles pass through every day will help ease congestion on the M8.
There are also several other roads re-opening in Glasgow on November 15, and other closures will finish throughout the week with the final road re-opening on November 21.
The road closures coming to an end are:
- Minerva Street - West Greenhill Place - Open from 6am on Saturday November 13
- Clydeside Expressway – Partick Interchange to Anderston (Jnct 19) - Open from 6am on Monday November 15
- Clyde Arc and Lancefield Quay - Open from 6am on Monday November 15
- Finnieston Street – Houldsworth Street to Lancefield Quay - Open from 6am on Monday November 15
- Congress Road - Open from 6am on Wednesday November 17
- Congress Way, Finnieston Quay, Tunnel Street, Stobcross Road (section Parallel to A814) and Castlebank Street - Open from 6am on Sunday November 21
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