Give us more cash to get Scots in the saddle, demand campaigners

A critical report by the transport, infrastructure and climate change committee has called on the Scottish Government to do more to encourage people to ditch the car for more active methods of travel. It warns a target of 10 per cent of the population to take up cycling will be rendered meaningless unless ministers commit more funds.

Currently, just 2 per cent of people get on their bike to travel to work and only 1 per cent of children cycle to school.

The Scottish Government hopes increased participation in walking and cycling will save road maintenance costs, reduce air pollution and improve health.

But the hopes will be dashed unless ministers send a clear message to transport agencies, public bodies and local authorities to further promote active travel in Scotland, the committee warned.

It has also urged the Scottish Government to adopt a similar funding model to Cycling England, an independent body of experts set up to champion cycling.

Committee convener Patrick Harvie, MSP said: "At the moment, Scotland is way behind other European countries in terms of the number of people choosing walking and cycling over other forms of transport.

"The Scottish Government, local authorities and other agencies have made commitments to walking and cycling for years, but the level of funding is a tiny proportion of what is spent on more polluting transport. Better results won't be delivered with more of the same.

"The Scottish Government needs to increase the amount of money it allocates to active travel if it wants to see 10 per cent of the population choosing to cycle.

"Strategic leadership is also an issue. It is essential that leadership and drive is provided by ministers, and the government has to send a clear message to transport agencies, other public bodies and local authorities that leadership is crucial in driving active travel forward to bring Scotland in line with its European neighbours."

David de Feu, lead organiser at Spokes, the Lothian cycle campaign, who gave evidence to the committee, said he hoped the report would lead to improved funding for cycling in Scotland, which has fallen year-on-year since the SNP came into power.

Cycling Scotland chief executive Ian Aitken said: "Good schemes are in place that can deliver impressive results, but overall the implementation across the country is weak, and is let down by a lack of commitment at all levels.

"Despite the fact that cycling can deliver so many important outcomes for the environment and public health, significant lack of commitment has been shown by many local authorities, transport organisations, politicians and national government."

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "Despite the worst financial settlement since devolution, government investment in cycling has been increasing since 2008 and in 2010-11."