Cutting the cost of transport crucial to reducing car numbers
If we are to reduce the number of cars on our road we must ensure that transport is affordable and accessible for all, says Scottish Green MSP Mark Ruskell.
Mr Ruskell was speaking ahead of a Tory debate on Ending the “War” Against Scotland’s Motorists.
Mr Ruskell said:
“Scotland is on the road to climate chaos. We’ve known for decades that to tackle the climate emergency, we need to cut car use, but SNP and Labour governments have failed to act.
“Transport emissions remain the largest source of pollution in Scotland, and private car use makes up a huge share of that, but action has been lacking. Just last week, the Scottish Government scrapped their target to reduce car journeys by 2030.
“We need to ensure that public transport is always affordable and accessible. That means cheaper trains and buses, better connections for rural communities, and an end to spending on new unnecessary road building schemes.
“Scottish Greens have been working to make your commute cheaper by scrapping peak rail fares whilst in government, securing a bus fare cap and introducing free bus travel for young people.
“We all benefit from having less cars on the road. It means cleaner and safer streets and communities and less congestion misery for commuters.
“There are many who want to play their part in reducing our carbon emissions, but the cost is simply too high for them.
“We need to deliver even more radical change to make public transport more accessible for all, and that can only be delivered with more Scottish Greens in Holyrood.”