The Scottish Government has pledged to double its investment on active travel from £40 million to £80 million from 2018/19 – which based on the country’s population of 5.4 million people equates to almost £15 a head.
It also said that it intends to appoint an Active Nation Commissioner to deliver “world class active travel infrastructure across Scotland,” and to develop a new long-distance cycling and walking route as well as connecting the major trunk route, the A9, to the National Cycle Network through 21 miles of new cycleways.
Other measures included within a document published today called A Nation With Ambition include encouraging Scottish residents to use electric bikes “to ensure as many people as possible can benefit from active travel.”
“We will continue to tackle the challenge of poor public health, matching our actions on smoking and alcohol misuse, with bold new initiatives to reduce obesity, boost active travel, improve mental health and tackle air pollution,” commented First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon.
John Lauder, Sustrans Scotland Director, said the initiative represented a “bold statement of intent in the new Programme for Government,” which had the “potential to really change how delivery bodies work in Scotland, and massively increase people’s health and wellbeing.
“It also sets an example for the rest of the UK,” he continued.
Lauder added: “This new funding investment is building on the successes to date in programmes for walking, cycling and improvements to local communities.
“The challenge for the future is to build on the creative partnerships already working to make cycling and walking easier, particularly local authorities, regional transport authorities, Scottish Canals, the two national parks and Community Trusts taking active travel to the heart of their communities.
“Walking and cycling is delivering a whole range of benefits across health, environment, transport, education and rural and urban economies. Sustrans Scotland is ready to work with partners across the board to help Scotland realise its potential as an Active Nation.”