Ministers must up cycling rates
The Scottish Government must move quickly to increase the number of people cycling on daily journeys after it failed to reach its target that 10% of everyday journeys would be made by bike by 2020, according to Scottish Greens Transport Spokesperson John Finnie MSP.
The latest Transport Scotland statistics reveal that around only 2% of everyday journeys are made by bike, despite Scottish Ministers having had the 10% target in their cycling action plan for at least ten years.
John Finnie MSP said:
“Whether commuting to work, getting to school or nipping to the shops more and more adults and children realise that travelling by bike is a cheap, quick and healthy option. Sadly, the Scottish Government seems content to leave Scotland in the slow lane, choosing to prioritise more motorways, trunk roads and air travel.
"In recent years Green MSPs negotiated a doubling of the active travel budget to allow Ministers to go further and faster. However this was starting from a very low base, and it’s clear that without a serious, joined up approach led by government and involving local councils, the transformation so urgently needed will not be delivered.
"Investing in safe walking and cycling routes can help tackle everything from the obesity epidemic to air pollution that causes heart disease. Having missed its target by miles, its clear Ministers must shift their commitment up several gears and deliver the change our communities so desperately need.”