This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Cycling review shows progress
14/03/2002
A review published today on progress towards the National Cycling Strategy shows that local authorities across Scotland are working to promote cycling, and are increasing the provision of cycling facilities in their area.
Cycling is an affordable and environmentally friendly transport option, and more and more local authorities across Scotland are making progress in getting people on their bikes Deputy Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning, Lewis Macdonald said today.
The Minister was commenting in response to the publication of 'A Review of Progress Towards the Objectives in the National Cycling Strategy'.
The Executive commissioned research pulls together cycling information and what the local authorities are doing to meet the aims of the National Cycling Strategy.
The main conclusions from the research show:
- local authorities' expenditure and activities to increase cycle use in their area have increased significantly over the last three years
- 89 per cent of local authorities who responded now have a local cycling strategy as part of their local transport strategy
- 85 per cent of local authorities who responded give consideration to cycling prior to granting of planning permission
- 63 per cent of local authorities who responded have carried out some form of monitoring of local cycle use since 1996
The Minister said:
"The Scottish Executive is keen to encourage alternatives to travelling by car. Cycling is an affordable and environmentally friendly form of transport, as well as fun and a great way to keep fit. In the four years from 2000 to 2004 the Scottish Executive has allocated just over £21 million to cycling, walking and safer streets.
"With such a high percentage of local authorities currently building cycling measures into their local transport strategies this demonstrates the Executive's determination to promote cycling as a transport option is paying off.
"I want local authorities to build on this research and for those who do not yet feature cycling strategies in their local transport policies to do so."
The research was undertaken by the Scottish Cycling Development Project. Questionnaires were sent to all local authorities.
The National Cycling Strategy aims to double the number of trips made by bicycle between 1996 and 2002, and double them again by 2012.