National policy context
A review of the national policies with relevance to active travel is included to assist with policy reviews within active travel strategies and framing how enabling active travel can help meet multiple policy objectives. Implications for specific measures or processes that it would be valuable to include in Active Travel Strategies are highlighted.
National Transport Strategy 2
Key extracts / relevance to active travel
Is underpinned by four priorities
- Reduces inequalities
- Takes climate action
- Helps deliver inclusive economic growth
- Improves our health and wellbeing
Active travel can contribute to all four priorities, which are also the subject of other national policies reviewed below.
Implications for active travel strategies
Emphasis in the policy review of the multiple benefits of active travel which can contribute to all 4 priorities of the National Transport Strategy.
Cycling Framework and Delivery Plan for Active Travel in Scotland, 2022-2030 (draft)
Key extracts / relevance to active travel
The national cycling policy with an associated delivery plan which highlights:
The top priority for the achievement of our vision is for more dedicated, high quality, safe cycling infrastructure delivered by effective resourcing ensuring fair access and supported with training and education.
Implications for active travel strategies
Explicit reference that Active Travel Strategies will provide the basis for funding applications by local authorities.
Many delivery plan actions are relevant to the content of Active Travel Strategies, key ones include:
- Produce active travel strategies and maps for each local authority area setting out plans to improve active travel networks and facilities to 2030 using a robust evidence-led approach to network planning.
- Build and maintain a dense, coherent network of connected cycling infrastructure in every town and city that is separate from traffic and integrated with public transport, and rural routes that link to these networks and interface with the trunk road network and NCN.
- Use active travel strategies to prioritise investment in the creation of cycling infrastructure integrated with public transport in every town and city, and inter-urban / rural routes that link to these networks. This will build on local networks, the National Cycle Network and proposals for Active Freeways in STPR2.
Let's get Scotland Walking - The National Walking Strategy
Key extracts / relevance to active travel
The national walking policy with an associated action plan for 2016-2026.
Implications for active travel strategies
The action plan contains a range of actions relevant to Active Travel Strategy content, with a broad action to:
Ensure all existing or developing Active Travel Plans assist with the delivery of the National Walking Strategy.
Scotland’s Road Safety Framework to 2030
Key extracts / relevance to active travel
Has a vision that is working towards a road traffic system that becomes free from death and serious injury including emphasis on journeys made on foot and by cycle and a specific casualty reduction target for cyclists.
One of the five outcomes is Safe Roads and Roadsides.
Implications for active travel strategies
Measures to segregate people cycling and walking from motor traffic are encouraged under the ‘Safe Roads and Roadsides’ outcome, along with speed limit reductions and promoting positive, safer behaviours in places where this is not possible.
Update to the Climate Change Plan 2018 –2032 (December 2020)
Key extracts / relevance to active travel
Target to reduce car kilometres by 20%by 2030 and associated route map.
Implications for active travel strategies
Modal shift to active travel will contribute to the 20% target.
To maximise the contribution, infrastructure and behavioural measures need to be planned, using analysis to determine those that are likely to be the most impactful, with as much delivered prior to 2030 as possible.
Evidence suggests implementing area-based town and city-wide interventions and networks are likely to have a greater impact than discrete projects.Implementing semi-permanent infrastructure to reallocate roadspace, as was trialled in Spaces for People is recommended for the rapid delivery of changes to streets and places. The new Experimental Traffic Order process is a way to achieve this, while also allowing engagement and modifications during the experimental period.
Climate Ready Scotland: climate change adaptation programme 2019-2024
Key extracts / relevance to active travel
An outcome-based approach which defines policies and proposals to respond to the effects of climate change, specifically projected increases in temperature (with greater warming in the summer than winter) and projected increases in rainfall in winter and reduced rainfall in summer. Key outcomes include:
Outcome 1: Our communities are inclusive, empowered, resilient and safe in response to the changing climate
Sub-Outcome 1.2: Scotland’s buildings and places are adaptable to Climate Change. This references Community Planning including developing active travel infrastructure using a place-based approach, Flood Risk Management Strategies and Greenspace.
Implications for active travel strategies
The programme’s cross-cutting approach promotes identifying co-benefits, and integration of adaptation into policy development and delivery.
How infrastructure and services proposed by Active Travel Strategies are built and managed to adapt to the impacts of climate change are an important consideration.
Fourth National Planning Framework
Key extracts / relevance to active travel
National Planning Policy
Local Development Plans should support the principle and development of 20 minute neighbourhoods (places where people can meet the majority of their daily needs within a reasonable walk, wheel or cycle of their home. The concept can be adjusted to varying geographical scales)
National Developments
Central Scotland Green Network. Creation and connection of green infrastructure in Central Scotland including active travel path networks which will include but be denser than the National Cycle Network
National Walking, Cycling and WheelingNetwork
Any new/and or upgraded routes for walking, cycling and wheeling that help create a national network.
Implications for active travel strategies
20 minute neighbourhoods are primarily a function of the distribution of housing and services. They also require creation of places where it is easy get about by active travel and have good access to public transport. Interventions which facilitate active travel in neighbourhoods (e.g. Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, path creation, 20 mph speed limits) will contribute to the creation of a 20 minute neighbourhood.
The Green Action Trust are co-ordinating strategic planning of greened path networks and development proposals with local authorities across the CSGN area.
The principle of development in this category does not need to be agreed in planning consent processes, however it does not change the need for planning permission where this is required.
Public Health Priorities for Scotland
Key extracts / relevance to active travel
There are 6 priorities, of which 5 are relevant to active travel:
- A Scotland where we live in vibrant, healthy and safe places and communities
- A Scotland where we flourish in our early years
- A Scotland where we have good mental wellbeing
- A Scotland where we have a sustainable, inclusive economy with equality of outcomes for all
- A Scotland where we eat well, have a healthy weight and are physically active
Implications for active travel strategies
Planning changes to places where people live which support people to be healthy will contribute to achieving this priority. This includes measures to increase access to greenspace, reduce the dominance of motor traffic and co-designing changes with communities so they feel empowered to make decisions that directly affect them.
Measure that facilitate children’s independent mobility will contribute to achieving this priority as will creating safe, accessible outdoor spaces for play in streets and parks
Enabling active travel and improving access to greenspace will contribute to achieving this priority
Measures to reduce transport poverty through enabling uptake of active travel options, particularly in areas of socio-economic disadvantage, will contribute to achieving this priority.
Measures to enable people to work active travel into their daily routines will contribute to achieving this priority, in particular focusing on the least active in order to reduce health inequalities.
Cleaner Air for Scotland 2
Key extracts / relevance to active travel
Modal shift from private car to active travel will reduce transport-related emissions that are responsible for poor air quality.
Implications for active travel strategies
The positive impact of modal shift from private car to active travel on air quality can be emphasised in the Policy Review section and when carrying out engagement for active travel interventions in relation to places with poor air quality.