This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Transport lessons in town and country
11/12/2001
People living in urban and rural Scotland can learn a lot from each other in terms of how they use public transport, it was claimed today.
Deputy Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning Minister Lewis Macdonald commenting on figures which show big differences within Scotland in transport facilities and travel patterns.
The Executive's statistical bulletin, Transport across Scotland: some Scottish Household Survey results for parts of Scotland, highlights the high percentage of households in rural areas that do not have a bus service nearby, the large proportion of households with two and more cars, and the percentages who travel to work by car.
Mr Macdonald said:
"These statistics are important to show us what progress has been made and where we can improve in the future. There is clearly more that can be done to make potential passengers more aware of their local bus services and I would call on local authorities to ensure the correct level of public transport traveller information is made available to the public.
"More children living in rural areas travel to school by bus than those in the cities. Likewise, more people travel to work in cities by bus than those living in rural areas of Scotland. By learning from what works around the county will help us improve public transport services.
"Levels of congestion in Scotland's cities are on the increase. Today's statistics about car use illustrate the tough task the Executive is meeting head on with it's Travel Awareness Campaign - "Learn To Let Go" - to encourage the use of public transport, and walking and cycling for shorter trips, instead of taking the car into town.
"I am therefore committed to improving the choice of comfortable, efficient and reliable travel alternatives available to all across Scotland."
Transport across Scotland: some Scottish Household Survey results for parts of Scotland costs £2 and may be purchased from the Stationery Bookshop, 71 Lothian Road, Edinburgh EH3 9AZ.