Background

Background

This Cycling Framework for Active Travel builds on the progress made through three iterations of the Cycling Action Plan for Scotland (CAPS) between 2010 and 2020. It reflects our aim to move beyond CAPS and to develop an ambitious plan for Scotland for the next 10 years.

It takes account of the recommendations of the Independent Review of CAPS in 2020, which was carried out by Professor Tom Rye. The CAPS review made recommendations for the future priorities for cycling for active travel in Scotland. These recommendations are reflected in this Framework.

Framework and Delivery Plan Purpose

The Cycling Framework sets out our strategic priorities and shared actions to maximise cycling’s contribution to realising the Scottish Government’s long term Vision for Active Travel in Scotland: That Scotland’s communities are shaped around people, with walking and cycling the most popular choice for everyday short journeys.

The top priority for the achievement of our vision is for the delivery of more dedicated, high quality, safe cycling infrastructure, effectively resourced, where fair access is ensured and uptake is supported with training and education.

The actions in the delivery plan will drive forward work across national and local government, business and the third sector, which will support the building of connected cycling infrastructure, protected from motor traffic, integrated with public transport, and interfacing with rural routes and the trunk road network. This infrastructure will be truly world class, properly maintained, inspected, repaired and enforced.

While this Framework acknowledges the importance of all types of cycling, it is the Cycling Framework for Active Travel. Therefore, its focus is on increasing rates of cycling for everyday journeys. It is aligned with wider active travel outcomes including in the Scottish Government walking strategy and accessible travel framework but does not consider active travel modes other than cycling. In this context, “cycling” includes the use of e-cycles, cargo cycles, and other adapted and non-standard cycles.

Framework and Delivery Plan Development

This Framework recognises the ongoing contributions that will be made by a wide range of partners to deliver the identified actions. The document has been developed in close collaboration with Cycling Scotland, Sustrans, Local Authorities, Regional Transport Partnerships, the Mobility and Access Committee Scotland (MACS) the Society of Chief Officers of Transport in Scotland (SCOTS) and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA), in recognition of the important roles that these and many other organisations play in its implementation.

Key stakeholders were consulted in the development of this Framework and their views are reflected in the document. The Delivery Plan distinguishes between actions that can be delivered in the short to medium term and actions for the longer-term. However, work is already underway to support many of these longer term actions.

Evidence Review

To inform the new Framework a review of a range of active travel, cycling and place making strategies and concepts from around the world was carried out. This has considered if the work done in Scotland to date is aligned to good practice and has identified useful insights.

The aim was to draw on good practice that has worked elsewhere in the UK and around the world to inform the creation of a Framework and Delivery Plan that is both ambitious, achievable and looks forward to the next 10 years. The evidence review was further informed by the feedback from stakeholder consultation and the recommendations of the Independent Review of CAPS. The evidence review is published in full alongside this Framework.