Scotland’s seven regional transport partnerships will share £23.45 million of Scottish Government funding for programmes which help make walking, wheeling and cycling the safe and easy choice for short everyday journeys.
The funding will be used to support projects that make active travel and sustainable travel easier across four key themes: active schools; active workplaces; accessibility and inclusion; and capacity and capability.
It will support the development of active travel strategies and plans, the installation of supporting infrastructure and the creation of safe school routes to tackle congestion, reduce air pollution and make local communities and roads safer.
For 2025-26, the second year of the programme is expanding to include sustainable travel projects, such as demand responsive transport buses, access to shared cycle and car schemes, and sustainable travel hubs which make it easier to move quickly between different types of greener transport.
Fiona Hyslop, cabinet secretary for transport, said: “It is really important that we support people and communities to make different choices about how they get around in their local areas, and making it easier and safer to walk, wheel and cycle is a key part of that.
“So I am pleased to announce that over £23 million has now been allocated to support projects which will help to achieve this. It forms part of over £188 million that we are allocating for active and sustainable travel in 2025-26.”
The cabinet secretary for transport made the announcement during a visit to Armadale Active Travel Hub, West Lothian, where local pupils were undertaking a walking bus journey to school.
Fiona Hyslop added: “It is a pleasure to see children walking to school and projects like the Walking Bus here in Armadale is playing an important role in encouraging children to walk to school.
“It is providing them with the training to develop the skills and confidence they need to be able to eventually undertake the journey on their own.
“The Scottish Government is investing significantly to create appropriate infrastructure – but we also need to invest in projects, similar to the Walking Bus, that widen access, encourage participation and support uptake in schools and workplaces. In doing so, we will encourage a shift away from cars and towards more sustainable travel that improves health, saves people money and reduces emissions.”
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