Create an expanded cycling network
The Scottish Government must commit to the long-term development and creation of a cycle network throughout Scotland linking towns and cities, with denser networks in urban areas.
The fourth National Planning Framework has committed the Scottish Government to develop a National Walking, Cycling and Wheeling Network as a national development. This should build on and expand existing routes in the National Cycle Network and other high quality cycling infrastructure around Scotland, both for every day journeys and for leisure, tourism and helping people to connect with nature. The Scottish Government’s commitments for high quality Active Freeways along major roads into cities and towns and linking towns must also be part of a full, coherent network and requires many times the current level of investment.
A national ‘blueprint’ for the cycling network is needed to plan and guide its phased development.
Cycling infrastructure is urgently needed to enable people to cycle, and investment has been proven to increase cycling rates and provide social, economic and environmental benefits. Furthermore, 79% of respondents to a survey in 2023 said that creating safe cycling infrastructure would motivate them to cycle more. Each city in Scotland should have a high quality and separated main cycle network to allow for safe daily commutes and reduce dependence on motor vehicles. This would also embed the sustainable transport hierarchy in planning decisions, and improve connectivity for people without access to private cars.
This ‘framework’ or ‘skeleton’ of major cycle routes throughout Scotland must be linked in urban areas with a dense network of cycling infrastructure, including:
- traffic-free routes including through green areas
- cycle lanes separated from traffic
- reconfigured roads and junctions to improve safety
- 20mph zones and quiet routes in built up residential areas
- School Streets and safe routes to school
- paths shared with pedestrians in some circumstances
- safe cycle parking and bike hangars in residential areas
The majority of funding for this network will come from the Scottish Government’s transport budget but funding can also come from local government. Local Authorities should prioritise active travel infrastructure within other public realm and neighbourhood improvement projects to realise the benefits for communities and the local economy.
Disabled people’s organisations need to be involved in co-designing changes to the urban landscape.
For further information:
New research highlighting benefits of active travel projects in Scotland published, Sustrans, June 2024, https://www.sustrans.org.uk/our-blog/news/2024/june/new-research-highlighting-benefits-of-active-travel-projects-in-scotland-published/
Scotland Walking and Cycling Index, Sustrans, 2023, https://www.sustrans.org.uk/the-walking-and-cycling-index/scotland-walking-and-cycling-index/
