May 2025
M T W T F S S
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031  

Programme for Government 25/26 – retreat on active travel, bus and traffic reduction

The Scottish Government’s 25/26 PfG has one big and welcome surprise on sustainable transport – peak rail fares will be permanently abolished from 1st September. Apart from that, funding for active travel is no longer transparent, the PfG confirms that the 20% traffic reduction commitment no longer exists, and trunk road expansion continues.

[…]

It’s “Wait and See for AT Projects” – #SpokesMtg report

A major report to the May 22 Transport & Environment Committee will lay out a 10-year prioritised programme of active travel and wider transport projects in support of the city’s Mobility Plan. Speaking to a crammed hall, Transport Convener Cllr Stephen Jenkinson said that when he came into post he found an ever-expanding list […]

Scot Budget 25/26: update

The budget 25/26 is now expected to pass with no changes to active travel (AT) funding from December’s draft version. At no more than 4.6% of total transport spending it will be well below the 5.6% in the original 24/25 budget and far below the 10% previously promised – although probably up on 24/25 […]

20% Traffic Reduction: ScotGov research shows how

30.1.25 update: In a scathing report, Audit Scotland confirms that, 5 years after its commitment to cut car-km 20% by 2030, the Scottish Government “still does not have a clear plan.” Yet the research in the article below is not covered, and even Audit Scotland’s “Key messages” don’t explicitly mention the road user […]

2024–>2025 : What for Active Travel ?

Edinburgh 2024 saw big highlights for cycling, as major long-term projects came to fruition, and data showed bike use rising alongside new infrastructure. But 2025 may be a disappointing contrast, with no completions on a similar scale, and a general slow-down following the Scottish Government’s 2024 active-travel funding procrastination and eventual cuts.

Meanwhile, both […]

ScotGov draft budget 25/26: active travel cuts disguised

See also our 4.2.25 update to this article.

Despite larger than expected financial support from the UK government, the 25/26 Scottish draft budget cuts funding for rail, for bus investment and for active travel (AT). Presentation of the figures hides the extent of the AT cuts, which we estimate to be a £40m+ […]

What’s in store for 24? – it’s mainly wait and see!

What can we expect locally for bike use and wider sustainable transport? What will Spokes – and you! – need to support, oppose, provide, improve or highlight in order to speed up the move towards more sustainable and healthy places to live and get about? This article outlines a few of the topics which […]

ScotGov Budget 24/25: not what transport needs

Despite a rise in active travel funding in the draft budget, the overall transport picture was not what is needed in a climate emergency – and already transport is Scotland’s worst performing sector in terms of climate emissions. Indeed, the increase in trunk road cash (£210m) almost equals the total of active travel investment […]

Programme for Government 23/24 – little change

The Scottish Government’s 23/24 PfG is very much ‘steady as she goes,’ although given the growing climate crisis more was hoped for. SCCS pointed to “few, if any, new measures to deliver emissions’ reductions .. in the context of Scotland missing annual targets in eight of the past twelve years.” Specifically on cycling, Cycling […]

Edinburgh Cycling: what will we see in ’23?

What can we expect locally for bike use and wider sustainable transport under Edinburgh’s new minority council? What will Spokes – and you! – need to support, to oppose, to provide, to improve or to highlight in order to encourage and speed up the move towards more sustainable and healthy places to live and […]