Scottish Transport Strategy set for rethink

24th January 2016

Today, Living Streets Scotland welcomed the launch of a refreshed transport strategy for Scotland, the first since 2006 [1]. This update sets out the need for a more fundamental rethink on meeting Scotlands transport challenges, after the next election (May 2016).

Stuart Hay Director of Living Streets Scotland said:A new focus in transport policy on fairness and participation, as well as prosperity, is a useful update. Hopefully this will give added importance to programmes aimed at promoting active travel, including walking.

Despite investment over the last decade, there has been little progress on getting more people to walk, or in halting the decline in bus use [2]. The Scottish Government data published today shows that Scotland remains an overly car dependant country [3]. Given this challenge, the commitment to a more fundamental review of transport strategy after the election is timely and important.

[1] The refreshed document can be found here http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/strategy/national-transport-strategy

[2] Walking accounts for 13 per cent. A decrease since 2006

[3] There has been a slight increase in traffic since 2006 (p.15) 68 per cent of trips to work are by car, which has increased since 2006 (p.18)