FMQs: JOHNSTONE DEMANDS SAFER WALKING AND CYCLING
Scottish Greens Parliamentary Co-Leader Alison Johnstone MSP has urged the First Minister to make Scotland’s streets safer after a new report showed that children from the most deprived areas are three times more likely to be killed or injured while walking and cycling than those from better off communities.
She called on the Government to back Mark Ruskell MSP’s bill to make 20mph the default speed limit in residential areas as a vital public health measure.
Alison Johnstone MSP said:
“A report today shows that children in the most deprived areas of Scotland are more than three times more likely to be killed or injured when walking and cycling. When our streets aren’t safe for our children to it’s no surprise that the Government’s own deadline for ‘10% of journeys being made by bike by 2020’ looks more unachievable than ever.
“Reducing speed limits is one of the cheapest ways to make our roads safer for everyone.
“The First Minister of Wales has announced that 20mph will replace 30mph as their default speed limit. Meanwhile, the Transport Secretary has rejected calls from SNP-led councils, including Glasgow and Edinburgh, to follow suit.
“There’s overwhelming support for this, from public health and child advocacy bodies to environment and active travel campaigners. We now need leadership from the First Minister to make our streets safer.”