Appendix A - Cycling Framework ICIA Screening Tables
Safe Cycling Infrastructure
Action 1
Work with local authorities on creating active travel strategies to prioritise investment in the creation of a dense, coherent network of connected cycling infrastructure in every town and city that is segregated from traffic and integrated with public transport.
How is the Action likely to impact on island communities?
Minor positive.
Comments and evidence relating to these groups with regards to the action
The impact on residents and businesses could be generally positive if Active Travel demand increases at a local level. The option could also further encourage sustainable tourism through linking with existing National Cycle Network routes, settlements and popular tourism destinations. Option would however, in its current wording, would disproportionately benefit urban settlements and impacts may not be experienced in more rural island locations.
This option should have positive impacts through improving accessibility and attractiveness of multi-modal journeys, particularly over longer distances. As well as considering opportunities to increase access to educational, health, employment and leisure opportunities for existing communities the option could further improve transport offering for the tourism sector.
Action 2
Remove barriers to the fast implementation of cycling infrastructure, including through changes to the TRO process, and support the use of temporary and trial schemes.
How is the Action likely to impact on island communities?
Minor negative.
Comments and evidence relating to these groups with regards to the action
Island communities may be either positively or negatively impacted by this proposed action, if any changes to the TRO process result in alteration to the level of consultation required.
Recommend wording be added to the action to ensure opportunities for consultation are retained: Remove barriers to the fast implementation of cycling infrastructure, including through changes to the TRO process, and support the use of temporary and trial schemes, whilst retaining adequate opportunities for consultation, in-line with Scottish Government Guidance.
Action 3
Make it safer to walk, cycle and wheel across and along the trunk road network, both where it passes through towns and villages and where it links two or more settlements.
How is the Action likely to impact on island communities?
Minor positive
Comments and evidence relating to these groups with regards to the action
As the A87 trunk road travels along the length of the Isle of Skye, this action has the potential to positively impact on communities living on Skye, where provision for cyclists beyond the trunk road network is sparse.
Action 4
Use the Scottish Government’s compulsory purchase reform programme to consider whether powers to acquire land for the purposes of cycling infrastructure are fit for purpose.
How is the Action likely to impact on island communities?
Minor negative
Comments and evidence relating to these groups with regards to the action
Section 22 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 contains provision for a core path to be enforced via means of a path order
Reallocation of land for cycling infrastructure within the limits of the adopted road network is within the powers of local authorities via the TRO process. The Acquisition of Land (Authorisation Procedure) (Scotland) Act 1947 provides for the compulsory purchase of land by a public body (Acquiring Authority), if confirmed by Scottish Ministers. The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 also extends the powers of an Acquiring Authority to some non-public bodies. These powers extended to any development, including land for cycling infrastructure. However, this is a costly and lengthy process.
Procurement of land outwith the above legal processes would be subject to negotiation with individual private land owners. Fast-track powers which do not include a sufficient element of consultation and engagement with local communities, including crofters could have potentially significant negative impacts.
Action 5
Provide ongoing development and governance of co-produced design guidance, including mitigation of unintended impacts on vulnerable road users and that infrastructure is suitable for non-standard cycles.
How is the Action likely to impact on island communities?
Minor negative.
Comments and evidence relating to these groups with regards to the action
This action has the potential to impact island communities by favouring an approach to network planning which is more suited to dense urban centres. Specific provision for rural and island communities should therefore be considered within the Cycling Framework.
Action 6
Develop a national approach to the creation of quiet road/cycle friendly roads in rural areas with everyday journeys prioritised.
How is the Action likely to impact on island communities?
Minor positive.
Comments and evidence relating to these groups with regards to the action
Could have significantly positive impacts for Island communities, where additional road space is unavailable for segregated or remote cycle routes.
Action 7
Update design and asset management guidance to enable national, consistent principles of infrastructure.
How is the Action likely to impact on island communities?
Minor negative
Comments and evidence relating to these groups with regards to the action
This action has the potential to impact island communities by favouring an approach to network planning which is more suited to dense urban centres. Specific provision island communities should therefore be considered within the Cycling Framework.
Action 8
Engage the business sector to embed active travel in wider corporate culture including through the use of cargo cycles as the normal choice for local deliveries.
How is the Action likely to impact on island communities?
Uncertain.
Comments and evidence relating to these groups with regards to the action
This may alter how goods are delivered across the Islands, especially for communities which are more-remote than other areas. Further information would be required to understand potential impacts.
Action 9
Support communities to close roads to allow for community events such as Play Streets and Car Free Days and to transition successful schemes to more permanent arrangements.
How is the Action likely to impact on island communities?
Uncertain
Comments and evidence relating to these groups with regards to the action
Whilst the option is recognised as a positive intervention, further information in relation to baseline conditions to understand whether this specific intervention is required for island communities where travel demand patterns are different to that of more-urbanised communities in the Scottish Mainland.
Action 10
Support the various deliverables set out in Scotland’s Road Safety Framework 2030 under its Active and Sustainable Travel Strategic Action, ensuring that road safety remains a key focus of active and sustainable travel in Scotland.
How is the Action likely to impact on island communities?
Minor positive
Comments and evidence relating to these groups with regards to the action
The total cost of collisions to Scotland was £1billion in 2018 compared to a GDP of £180billion (Reported Road Casualties Scotland 2018).
Reducing Road Traffic Collisions through delivering safety improvements will benefit a wide range of user-groups across Island communities, particularly when considered with high-levels of car ownership and access across Island households.
Effective resourcing
Action 1
Review options for multi-year, long-term funding for infrastructure and behaviour change programmes where appropriate.
How is the Action likely to impact on island communities?
Major positive.
Comments and evidence relating to these groups with regards to the action
Low-carbon and low-cost transport mode choice to be implemented, specifically targeted to benefit unique needs of user groups across island communities.
Action 2
Increase active travel budget to £320 million or 10% of the transport budget, whichever is greater, by 2024-25.
How is the Action likely to impact on island communities?
Minor positive.
Comments and evidence relating to these groups with regards to the action
The active travel budget is committed within the ‘Bute House Agreement’ The Cycling Framework and Delivery Plan for Active Travel in Scotland 2022-2030 is a means by which this investment will be delivered. The impacts of the investment will therefore be in line with the overall assessment of the actions within this document.
Action 3
Ensure the appropriate level of resource is in place to develop and deliver active travel strategies ensuring that cycling for transport is prioritised appropriately.
How is the Action likely to impact on island communities?
Major positive
Comments and evidence relating to these groups with regards to the action
Would catalyse Active Travel strategy delivery and encourage more sustainable travel behaviours to decarbonise the transport sector, also health benefits and improving access to services, facilities and amenities.
Action 4
Work with manufacturers, social enterprises and industry vocational partners to increase cycle and cycle parts production and recycling in Scotland with a focus on green skills and materials research and development.
How is the Action likely to impact on island communities?
Minor positive
Comments and evidence relating to these groups with regards to the action
Would stimulate enterprise and encourage economic growth within Island communities, further diversifying economic offering. However, the challenge of distribution of goods, people and services between some island communities needs to be considered.
Fair access
Action 1
Expand access to cycles, including adaptive cycles, e-cycles and cycle share.
How is the Action likely to impact on island communities?
Minor positive.
Comments and evidence relating to these groups with regards to the action
Option likely to increase access to cycling, although services are generally located in urban areas and consideration needs to be applied to how such an offering could be delivered to serve both rural and urban communities in the Islands. Offering could also be twinned with tourism offering to further encourage sustainable tourism in some areas.
Action 2
Review funding criteria to ensure that fair access is appropriately weighted and improving accessibility is given an appropriate level of priority.
How is the Action likely to impact on island communities?
Minor positive
Comments and evidence relating to these groups with regards to the action
Some island communities suffer from Transport Poverty and have identified needs to improve accessibility for alternative transport modes to move away from reliance on travel by car / van. Whilst in some instances this mode will be required for some communities, improving accessibility with and between settlements across the islands will provide a positive benefit.
Action 3
Improve quality and level of service of carriage of bikes on trains and require rural and island bus services to carry cycles, where appropriate.
How is the Action likely to impact on island communities?
Minor positive.
Comments and evidence relating to these groups with regards to the action
Lack of rail services on Scotland's Islands means that this option only applies for Bus Services. Option would enable more multi-modal trips to be made. However, need for increased provision would need to be considered in context of existing passenger capacity, particularly on smaller, yet crucial, services. Enables more multi modal trips. Needs to consider impact on passenger capacity on busy routes. Potential to also benefit tourism sector through offering increased access to popular destinations.
Action 4
Support cycling journeys to and from public transport hubs as part of a multi-modal journey.
How is the Action likely to impact on island communities?
Minor positive.
Comments and evidence relating to these groups with regards to the action
Expected to have a positive impact, particularly within existing settlements for those who live, work and visit near to these transport hubs across the Islands as they increase accessibility by cycle to access Public Transport modes.
This option has the potential benefit of increasing accessibility to other modes (e.g. Bus) and facilitate longer distance journeys. This helps to increase the share of multi modal journeys, which can be coupled with gateways to provide tourism benefits. Improving access to Public Transport hubs will enable a wider network of Active Travel infrastructure to be considered and developed.
Action 5
Provide a free bike to all children of school age who cannot afford one.
How is the Action likely to impact on island communities?
Major positive
Comments and evidence relating to these groups with regards to the action
Likely to increase access to cycling for young people across all income levels, however for some young people due to the distance of travel required it would still not be potentially feasible nor practical to cycle to school. However, the option is likely to increase access to wider opportunities and provide a low-cost form of travel to young people, in communities where Public Transport fares are generally high.
Training and education
Action 1
Provide a comprehensive cycle training offer for all life stages, including learning to ride in pre-school, learning to ride on-road through school bikeability training, and for adults of all ages, including cycle awareness training.
How is the Action likely to impact on island communities?
Major positive
Comments and evidence relating to these groups with regards to the action
This option will enable the development of an awareness, understanding and proficiency in riding and maintaining a bicycle. This will encourage low-carbon journeys, particularly over shorter distances and increase accessibility to health, educational, employment and educational facilities and services. Potential to alleviate transport poverty which exists across island communities through enabling low-cost journeys to be made. Such opportunities in Island communities are not always readily accessible via cycling and consideration would need to be applied of the potential benefits for more rural households.
Action 2
Use the Cycling World Championships to inspire people, especially young people to cycle.
How is the Action likely to impact on island communities?
Neutral.
Comments and evidence relating to these groups with regards to the action
Action aimed at encouraging young people to take up cycling, which may provide them with wider opportunities. The relative remoteness of some Island communities means that the impact may not be particularly significant.
Action 3
Action aimed at encouraging young people to take up cycling, which may provide them with wider opportunities. The relative remoteness of some Island communities means that the impact may not be particularly significant.
How is the Action likely to impact on island communities?
Minor positive
Comments and evidence relating to these groups with regards to the action
Improving safety for all road users should increase driver behaviours and encourage increased awareness when driving.
Action 4
Provide local authorities with resources, including guidance and best practice examples, to enable effective local community engagement
How is the Action likely to impact on island communities?
Major positive
Comments and evidence relating to these groups with regards to the action
Would catalyse Active Travel strategy delivery and encourage more sustainable travel behaviours to decarbonise the transport sector, also health benefits and improving access to services, facilities and amenities.
Action 5
Develop a long-term communication plan that represents cycling as something that anyone can do, including with assistance/adaption and is a transport mode that brings many benefits to Scotland.
How is the Action likely to impact on island communities?
Minor positive
Comments and evidence relating to these groups with regards to the action
Communication may raise awareness and understanding across various user groups, particularly those wishing to cycle more. However, consideration would need to be applied to message in the context of Island communities, particularly recognising that cycling as a transport mode is not always a viable and practical option.
Network planning
Action 1
Produce active travel strategies for each local authority area, setting out plans to improve active travel networks and facilities to 2030.
Strategies should be in line with regional transport strategies, include detailed mapping and use an evidence-led approach to network planning.
How is the Action likely to impact on island communities?
Uncertain.
Comments and evidence relating to these groups with regards to the action
Though it is not given in detail, this action has the potential to negatively impact island communities by favouring an approach to network planning which is more suited to dense urban centres than dispersed populations. Island communities would therefore be at a disadvantage in funding applications, when compared to more urban Local Authority areas. AT strategies guidance should contain provision for infrastructure to be planned for the specific circumstances of island communities. Consideration should be given to different intervention rates in island and rural communities.
Action 2
Produce digital active travel mapping (“a network blueprint”) for Scotland, which is informed by local authority transport strategies.
How is the Action likely to impact on island communities?
Uncertain.
Comments and evidence relating to these groups with regards to the action
There is some uncertainty around the way in which such a blueprint would be implemented in island communities. It is unlikely that conurbations within island communities would lend themselves to measures such as active freeways and it must be ensured that island communities do not experience a differential level of cycle provision as a result. This detail may be picked up through guidance on active travel strategies and this should be referenced in the action.
Action 3
Work with other policy areas to introduce localised active travel networks as part of a larger package - eg local development plans - to create efficiencies.
How is the Action likely to impact on island communities?
Uncertain.
Comments and evidence relating to these groups with regards to the action
Further information on type and scale of measures that could feasibly be delivered for island communities would need to be provided to enable the potential impacts to be assessed.
Action 4
Support the travel demand management measures aligned with the national 20% car km reduction route map.
How is the Action likely to impact on island communities?
Minor positive
Comments and evidence relating to these groups with regards to the action
This target is noted to broadly apply to reducing the frequency of short-distance car trips, primarily within heavily urbanised areas and underlying issues that are sought to be addressed may not be fully representative at an island-community level. However, many short distance car trips are made in island communities which could be made on foot or by bicycle if people across the country were encouraged to question their travel choices.
Action 5
Review how active travel/cycling schemes are appraised – broaden the benefits to include social, economic and equality benefits.
How is the Action likely to impact on island communities?
Minor positive
Comments and evidence relating to these groups with regards to the action
This option would support Active Travel appraisal for interventions were they have broadly low Value for Money (i.e. Benefit-to-Cost ratio) but have much wider health, equality and socio-economic benefits. This option would complement the recent Green Book Update by HM Treasury which emphasised the role and importance of the Strategic Fit of development proposals, moving away from solely focusing on the Value for Money criteria.
Monitoring
Action 1
Expand and where possible align monitoring and reporting of cycling levels at local, city, regional and national level and share learning.
How is the Action likely to impact on island communities?
Minor positive.
Comments and evidence relating to these groups with regards to the action
Option likely to improve data at local and regional level across Islands and their communities, consideration would need to be made to how monitoring and reporting can be expanded to gain a representative sample size of user groups and prevent process disproportionately collecting data solely in urban areas.
Action 2
Continuously monitor and evaluate the impact of active travel investment and embed learning in future investment decisions.
How is the Action likely to impact on island communities?
Minor positive
Comments and evidence relating to these groups with regards to the action
Would increase knowledge sharing of best practice when considering and developing future Active Travel facilities and infrastructure, however future investment decisions must be informed by a variety of case studies and consideration must be applied to include relevant references from infrastructure and facilities delivered across the Islands.
Action 3
Conduct research on the social, environmental and economic factors influencing network planning, for example pandemic recovery and climate change impacts.
How is the Action likely to impact on island communities?
Minor positive
Comments and evidence relating to these groups with regards to the action
Likely to provide positive benefits for how network planning is considered at an Islands perspective, however assessment criteria may need to be expanded to reflect differing processes undertaken in island communities at both an urban and rural scale.