Transport Scotland has announced that £4.5m is to be allocated to Cycling Scotland over the next two years to encourage more people to cycle.
The funding – provided by a partnership comprising Scotland’s transport, environment and education departments – is the largest amount ever allocated to Cycling Scotland. It will be used to develop the first Cycle Friendly Campus and encourage more children to take up on-road cycle training through Bikeability Scotland.
Keith Brown, Scotland’s transport minister, said: “Reducing carbon emissions and teaching our young people to cycle safely are two areas where we need to focus effort on.
“This cross-portfolio funding will help deliver our commitment to the shared vision as reiterated in the Cycling Action Plan for Scotland 2013, that by 2020 10% of all journeys will be by bike.”
Ian Aitken, chief executive of Cycling Scotland, said: “This funding represents clear support for getting more young people on their bikes more often, supporting the delivery of the shared vision of the Cycling Action Plan for Scotland.
“Bikeability Scotland helps give young people the skills and confidence they need to make journeys by bike. By gaining these skills, children are able to experience the enjoyment and feeling of freedom that cycling brings.
“With the addition of the Cycle Friendly Campus programme, young people will see a supportive environment for cycling continue beyond primary and secondary school all the way through their time at college and university.
“From healthier, more physically active Scots to cleaner air and less traffic congestion, more people cycling means that the wider population and environment improves.”
If the figures are as Duncan says he is of course quite right, the target would be nonsense.
But as stated here the target is nonsense for another reason – what exactly is a “journey”? Next door but one to see a friend or 20 miles to work? The only parameter that would make sense would be cycle miles, is that what they mean? But as the average driver covers 12,000 miles a year there is no prospect whatever of cycling achieving 10% of that figure.
Idris Francis Fight Back With Facts Petersfield
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According to current statistics, the target would represent a 16 fold increase in the number of journeys carried out by push-bike. In a country that’s noted for its steep hills, doubling the current number of journeys would be a good trick, but increasing them by 16 times would be practically impossible.
Duncan MacKillop, Stratford on Avon
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