Bulletin - June 2025 - Active Travel Transformation
Purpose
This note provides Local Authorities (LAs), Regional Transport Partnerships (RTPs), National Park Authorities (NPAs), and national delivery partners with an update on Transport Scotland’s active travel infrastructure and behaviour change programmes, including details on confirmed funding to date for programmes in 2025-26.
The bulletin also provides details on: the People and Place Monitoring and Evaluation Workshop; Active and Sustainable travel news; and highlights recent relevant publications and releases.
Context
In 2025-26, the transformation of Active Travel delivery enters its second year, building from activity and new ways of working introduced in 2024-25 in the delivery of both behaviour change and infrastructure programmes.
The Scottish Government has confirmed the Active and Sustainable Travel budget is over £188m for 2025-26.
At time of writing (24 June) Grant Offer Letters/ Grant Allocation Letters have been issued for the following programmes: Active Travel Infrastructure Fund (ATIF) Tier 1 and Tier 2 (construction); the People and Place programme (including Local Authority Direct Award); and Bikeability. Remaining proposals for 2025-26 continue to progress through our internal approvals process and an update on these shall be provided in due course.
Active Travel Infrastructure Fund - Tier 1
Following approval through both Transport Scotland and COSLA processes, the total funding provided directly to LAs through Tier 1 in 2025-26 is £37.5 million – an increase from the £35 million provided in 2024-25. This has been allocated following the same methodology as that introduced in 2024-25, including elements to take account of population pro rata, population density and income deprivation.
Thanks to LA colleagues for the engagement through Year 1, which indicates that the introduction and operation of Tier 1 has been successful. LAs are delivering across all project types, with a strong focus on improving walking and wheeling infrastructure with crossings and footway/ pavements being the most common project types.
For further information on Tier 1, or on potential expenditure through the Fund, please contact Lisa.Peebles@gov.scot
Active Travel Infrastructure Fund - Tier 2 (Construction)
Tier 2 of the ATIF is now the primary vehicle for Scottish Government to fund active travel infrastructure, and is a competitive fund open to LAs, RTPs, and NPA. In May, over £26 million was confirmed to support construction-ready projects, assessed as part of the 2024-25 Tier 2 ATIF bid process. Further information on Tier 2 funding, including successful projects in 2025-26, is available on the TS website.
Further awards for construction projects are anticipated in the coming months. For enquiries related to this funding, please contact ATIFund@transport.gov.scot
People and Place (P&P) Programme
We are pleased to confirm the continuation of support for regional and local programmes of sustainable and active travel behaviour change interventions through the People and Place delivery model initiated in 2024-25. This joined-up delivery system has two components: The ‘People and Place Regional Transport Partnership (RTP) Programme’, and the ‘People and Place Local Authority Direct Award’ (PPLADA).
RTP Funding - £23.4 million
Over £23 million has been confirmed to support Scotland’s seven statutory RTPs to strategically commission and deliver comprehensive programmes of sustainable and active travel behaviour change interventions on a regional basis. The funding will be used to support projects that make active travel and sustainable travel easier across four key themes: Active Schools; Active Workplaces; Accessibility and Inclusion; and Capacity and Capability
The programme was established in 2024-25 as part of our transformation of active travel delivery, moving Transport Scotland away from the centralised national funding of behaviour change services to a devolved model in line with the principles of the Verity House Agreement.
Further information on the People and Place programme and its funding is available here.
LA funding - £4.5 million
The P&P LA funding is serving the same core purpose as the RTP funding: Supporting the delivery of sustainable and active travel behaviour change interventions. Crucially, alongside enabling LAs to directly deliver and commission their own work, this funding is resource driven and has a strong emphasis on supporting LAs to maintain and develop the staff and expertise that hold the People and Place delivery model together. For enquiries related to this funding, please contact PPLADA@transport.gov.scot
Support for sustainable travel
For 2025-26, sustainable travel is now within the remit of the P&P programme. Sustainable travel interventions include supporting low and zero carbon transport, shared transport, public transport, and work to integrate journey planning and ticketing. Sustainable travel behaviour change addresses modal shift in line with the Sustainable Travel Hierarchy as set out in NTS2, and involves joint work with RTPs, LAs, and public and shared transport providers. Sustainable travel interventions complement active travel interventions by helping people make joined-up journeys with options that are more sustainable than the private car, such as shared transport schemes, Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) services, using multi-modal hubs, and Mobility as a Service (MaaS) platforms.
Support for community-led action
From this year community projects are also now funded by RTPs through the P&P programme. These sources of community support replace the previous national SCSP Open Fund (and the interim Community Projects Transition Fund), and are providing a route to funding for small, community-led interventions that address local challenges aligning with the key themes of the programme. 2025-26 funding application windows have now largely closed, but further information can be found in the following links and it may be worth making enquiries or keeping an eye out for developments throughout the year:
National programmes: Bikeability
Participation in Bikeability Scotland is at record levels. 66% of primary schools in Scotland deliver the programme and a record 54,039 children received training in 2023-24, the latest period for which data is available. Investment in Bikeability for 2025-26 has increased to £2.5 million. This will support Cycling Scotland to build on the success of previous years, and target further growth to 70,000 children across 75% of primary schools in the 2025-26 academic year.
Monitoring and Evaluation
A key area of focus that Transport Scotland will be driving forward this year through engagement with partners is the strengthening of the monitoring and evaluation of the new delivery system, and its outcomes. Doing so will provide a sound evidence base of what has been achieved and ensure there is a strong case for further investment in the sector.
People and Place Workshop
The People and Place team hosted a day-long monitoring and evaluation workshop in Edinburgh in February, bringing together lead figures in monitoring and evaluation from each of the RTPs and a number of our key delivery partners, as well as external voices from the University of Strathclyde’s Active Mobility Hub. Collectively, we took stock of our approach to evaluation, in theory and in practice, working through why, what, and how we are seeking to evidence the impact the programme is having, and the roles we each play in bringing that together.
We would like to thank everybody who contributed their time and energy to the workshop, which was very useful for crystallising the challenges involved. Discussions are continuing to shape our thinking on how we design and carry out programme evaluation in the long-term.
Active Travel News and Engagements
Cycling data recorded by Cycling Scotland, published in March 2025, has demonstrated that where good quality segregated cycling infrastructure is built, people feel safe and confident to use it, leading to increased numbers of cyclists using dedicated routes.
In January 2025, over a 48 hour period, the CCWEL route recorded 2,199 cyclists on the West Coates section, an increase of 83% compared to the same period the previous year.
Alloway Rail Tunnel
On 21 March Ms Hyslop visited the Alloway Rail Tunnel in South Ayrshire. This project was supported by £100,000 funding from Transport Scotland through Paths for All’s Ian Findlay Path Fund, and has opened up a connection between the communities of Kincaidston, Alloway and Doonfoot to Ayr town centre.
A separate project to create an art installation within the tunnel received funding from Transport Scotland through Sustrans’ NCN ArtRoots programme, with a hand painted mural paying tribute to Robert Burns, just metres from his birthplace.
Active Travel Infrastructure Investment Report 2023-24
The Active Travel Infrastructure Investment Report was published on 24 March, outlining the investment made in walking, wheeling and cycling infrastructure during 2023-24, and reporting for the first time on the delivery of Active Travel infrastructure across numerous funding streams. This is the first edition of what will be an annual report, and it provides a critical baseline that will allow us to evidence our progress with each year of the new Active Travel delivery model. Headlines from the report include:
The report was published as part of a wider visit by the Cabinet Secretary for Transport to the A807 active travel infrastructure project in East Dunbartonshire, where a new shared-use path will make walking, wheeling and cycling a viable option between Torrance and Milngavie. This project received £656,000 Tier 2 funding through the Active Travel Infrastructure Fund.
Walk, Cycle, Live Stirling
On 24 April, Ms Hyslop visited the landmark Walk, Cycle, Live Stirling project. In total, 6.5 km of new infrastructure will be created, smoothly interlinking with existing but currently disconnected routes across the city. This will connect communities, businesses and education institutes throughout Stirling for active travel for the first time. The project was supported by Transport Scotland funding of £8.4 million provided through the Sustrans Places for Everyone programme.
We would like to thank Stirling Council for organising this event.
Connecting Battlefield, Glasgow
On 15 May Fiona Hyslop visited the Connecting Battlefield Phase 1 project. £1.7 million funding was provided for this project through the Active Travel Transformation Fund (ATTF). A completely new junction has been constructed enhancing pedestrian safety, and accessible crossing points at key junctions have been introduced, emphasising pedestrian priority in accordance with revised Highway Code guidance.
The project will improve active travel connectivity and access to public space and amenities; make the area safer; prioritise people over vehicles; reduce traffic speed and volume and improve connectivity across the area including better access to public transport.
Easthouses, Midlothian
On 19 June, as part of wider engagements for Scotland’s Clean Air Day, Fiona Hyslop visited new active travel infrastructure in Midlothian. In November 2024, through ATIF Tier 2, Midlothian Council was awarded up to £485k for the delivery of this project. Combined with Tier 1 funding, the project was delivered on time using over £545k of ATIF funding.
The project delivers significant benefits directly supporting Easthouses Primary School. The improvements have substantially improved safety and accessibility for vulnerable pedestrians and cyclists – particularly children – by creating safer connections and more inclusive travel routes.
Armadale Active Travel Hub – SEStran/ West Lothian Council
On 20 June, Fiona Hyslop visited the Armadale Active Travel Hub in West Lothian, as part of the announcement of the People and Place funding for 2025-26. This is a ‘play along the way’ project, funded by SEStran in partnership with West Lothian Council.
The ‘walking bus’ project supports local children to play and walk to school together in a supervised group. It makes the journey to school safer and healthier while cutting traffic congestion and promoting active travel.
Guidance on Inclusive Design for Town Centres and Busy Streets
Transport Scotland has published Guidance on Inclusive Design for Town Centres and Busy Streets. Our town centres and streets provide facilities and amenities which play a vital role in supporting the needs of our communities and in developing a positive sense of local identity. Ensuring that all members of Scotland’s communities have the ability to access these areas safely and confidently is an important part of delivering an inclusive society.
This document aims to support inclusive design and engagement processes that deliver accessible town centre and busy street environments for everyone. It has been developed in response to concerns relating to the particular difficulties which disabled people can encounter in accessing and moving around town centre and busy street environments.
This non-statutory national guidance has been collaboratively developed with disabled people’s lived experience, HOPS, SCOTS and other professional policy and design experts. It is based on the premise that considering the needs of disabled people in all aspects of design will deliver environments that meet the needs of everyone. Although the guidance focusses on the needs of disabled people, previous research has identified that street design should consider the needs of everyone and should take into account all protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010.
The Scottish Children’s Walking and Cycling Index (WACI) 2024
Sustrans published its first Children’s WACI on 2 April. It provides insights into the travel behaviour of children between the ages of 6 and 15 years old, based on their own experience and opinions.
The report reveals that children supported more traffic-free paths, quiet routes for walking and cycling, and the creation of more segregated cycle paths along roads. Fewer girls cycle regularly compared to boys, and fewer girls than boys think they can cycle safely in their local area. The report reinforces the need for safer routes and shows that children across Scotland rely on active travel - more than half of their trips are made by walking, wheeling, scooting or cycling.
Transport Times Scottish Transport Awards 2025
The Scottish Transport Awards took place in Glasgow on 19 June. These awards recognise the initiative, effort and innovation that improves the nation’s transport system. We congratulate all our winning and nominated delivery partners. Award winning projects include:
- Excellence in Walking, Public Realm, Cycling: Angus Council NCN1 Carnoustie Phase 2 project
- Excellence in Transport Accessibility: Sustrans NCN Accessibility Programme
- Transport Team / Partnership of the Year: Network Rail Levenmouth Rail Link Project
- Excellence in Transport design: City of Edinburgh Council Roseburn to Union Canal Active Travel Route and Greenspace