Minister launches Active Travel Vision
The vision aims to encourage more people to walk and cycle for everyday shorter journeys.
It focuses on areas such as infrastructure, transport integration, cultural and behaviour change, community ownership and planning.
The vision was developed jointly by active travel stakeholders and Ministers.
Transport Minister Keith Brown said:
“This vision sets out how we hope Scotland will look in 2030 if more people are walking and cycling for short, everyday journeys allowing us to reap the benefits of active travel.
“It goes without saying that cycling and walking benefits the individual by improving their physical health, but also their mental health, and keeps their transport costs down whilst also benefiting the environment by reducing greenhouse gasses and pollutants.
“The Scottish Government aims to get more people making active travel choices to improve their health and the environment. During this year and next we are increasing our expenditure on cycling and walking infrastructure by a further £27 million to deliver projects that promote active travel for everyday journeys.”
Ian Findlay, Chief Officer of Paths for All said,
“We welcome and support this vision, which underlines the huge benefits of increasing active travel in Scotland.
“More people walking and cycling for regular journeys will result in a healthier nation in body and mind. We’ll breathe cleaner air and live in more attractive, prosperous, safe places. This can only happen if Scotland prioritises improving the infrastructure and environment for people to walk or cycle, as well as encouraging people to change travel behaviours.
"Everyday walking is the easiest and most accessible way for most people to get out of their cars and into a healthier lifestyle. Paths for All will contribute and push for measures which make travelling actively easier and safer for everyone."
John Lauder, National Director of Sustrans Scotland, said:
“Sustrans Scotland very much welcomes the long-term vision for active travel as set out by Mr Brown today. The challenge now is to translate this vision into action on the ground. Work needs to start on developing a long-term delivery plan, with appropriate funding mechanisms, to deliver not only the vision set out in this document but also the visions identified in the Cycling Action Plan for Scotland and the National Walking Strategy.”
To view the Active Travel Vision visit the Transport Scotland website.
The Minister requested Active Travel Stakeholders to draft a vision of how Scotland will look in 2030 if we have achieved mode shift to more people walking and cycling for shorter, everyday journeys. The group was supported by Transport Scotland.
The Legacy 2014 Active Travel Programme, which was launched last month, also aims to encourage people of all ages to take the first steps towards an active, healthier lifestyle. It will be delivered by a range of partners including CTC/Youth Scotland, Cycling Scotland, Forth Environment Link, Paths for All and Sustrans.
The Commonwealth Games will be used to help Scots become more physically active, participate in sport and be the first steps to an active lifestyle and boost the nation’s health. They offer huge potential to inspire all people across Scotland to become fitter and more active.
CAPS 2013 reinforces the shared vision that 10% of everyday journeys to be made by bike by 2020 and encourages all stakeholders to play their part in promoting cycling and active travel. It builds on the strong foundations set out in the original CAPS 2010 document and re-states the strategy with an effective delivery framework for years to come.
The document encourages local authorities to introduce more 20mph limits across urban areas, as part of developing their strategic approaches to developing local cycling infrastructure to drive progress towards much high participation in cycling for everyday travel.
It highlights the need for mutual respect between all road users, reflecting the commitment to the 40% accident reduction targets set out in the Road Safety Framework 2020.
Other features include integration with public transport, as seen in new initiatives such as Scotland’s first Cycle Hub at Stirling Train Station.
The Scottish Government launched the National Walking Strategy earlier this year. A Working Group made up of members from various organisations across Scotland developed the Walking Strategy’s vision to create a Scotland where everyone benefits from walking as part of their everyday journeys, enjoys walking in the outdoors and where places are well-designed to encourage walking. Paths for All has been tasked with leading the delivery forum in developing an action plan to deliver the walking strategy.
Delivery of the Active Travel Vision will be taken forward with the CAPS delivery forum and the National Walking Strategy forum.
Contact:
Caroline Trainer at Press Transport Scotland on 0141 272 7195