A £3.9m plan to boost the number of people cycling in Scotland has been unveiled by Stewart Stevenson, Scotland’s transport minister.
The Cycling Action Plan for Scotland sets out how the Scottish Government plans to get 10% of all journeys made by bike by 2020, by expanding cycle routes across the country and enhancing delivery of cycle training in schools.
The plan includes £2.5m investment in cycling infrastructure, such as new paths; a £150,000 loan support scheme to help businesses improve workplace cycling facilities; £500,000 to Glasgow City Council for it’s Connect2 project; and £300,000 to be spent on child cycle training.
The minister published the plan while opening a newly completed section of the National Cycle Network between Kincardine and Culross in Fife.
Stewart Stevenson said: “Scotland has the toughest climate change legislation anywhere in the world and as our climate change delivery plan made clear we need to decarbonise almost all road transport by 2050.
“This means persuading more motorists to get out of their cars and getting more people to cycle – that’s why we have set the challenging vision for 2020 that 10% of all journeys taken in Scotland be made by bike.
“As a result of our cycling plan almost £4m will go into building new cycle routes and improving cycle training. I am confident that as we improve the delivery of cycle training in our schools and construct new cycle routes we will achieve our 2020 vision.”
Ian Aitken, chief executive of Cycling Scotland, said: “We welcome the Cycling Action Plan and are particularly pleased to see the prioritisation of cycle training in schools across Scotland. This is the first part of the process in making our cities, towns and villages more cycle friendly and our nation healthier and fitter.”
Click here to visit the Cycling Action Plan website.
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