Minister calls on drivers to leave theirs car at home and take the train

PEOPLE have been urged to swap their cars for alternatives such as walking, cycling and public transport during 2012.

Transport minister Keith Brown said the Scottish Government continued to support rail services in Scotland with subsidies, while the country was also well-connected by a network of bus and ferry services. In his New Year message, he said: “Many of us rely on our cars to get about.

“I know that there are journeys I make where I could leave the car at home and often I feel the benefit of doing so. We have some of the most stunning scenery in the world right on our doorstep and you really see the best of it if you take a train journey or get out on your bike.”

Mr Brown said the government continued to encourage children to take up cycling from an early age, with its cycle training programme in primary schools.