Scottish Budget update means more money for cycling

By Sam Jones
Thursday, 27 February 2020
More funding for cycling in Scotland will help local authorities build dedicated cycling infrastructure.
Cycling UK today (Thursday, 27 February) welcomed the announcement of an extra £15m in the Scottish Budget for cycling and walking.
  • Scottish Green Party and Scottish Government agreement nets more than £20m a year for local authorities to spend cycling infrastructure
  • Move takes active travel budget above £100m for the first time

The extra investment in active travel follows the Scottish Green Party finding an agreement with the Scottish Government on the Budget which was initially announced on 06 February.

In the earlier announcement, there was only a modest increase of £5.5m per year for local authorities to spend on cycling. Cycling UK said this would not be enough to tackle climate change in Scotland, and needed to increase to at least £20m in 2020/21.

The extra £15m now takes the annual budget for cycling and walking to more than £20m, and means all 32 of Scotland’s local authorities have an increased budget to build dedicated cycling infrastructure. In total, the Scottish Government is now investing more than £100m per year in cycling and walking.

In reaction to the news, Jim Densham, Cycling UK’s campaigns and policy manager in Scotland said:

“Yesterday’s breakthrough between the Scottish Green Party and Government on the Budget is good news for the future of cycling and walking, and shows Scotland’s ambitions to cut emissions and get more people active is not just hot air.

“Cycling UK is extremely pleased that there is more money for local authorities across Scotland to spend on cycling. If spent well this can encourage more people to be active on their shorter everyday journeys and help them reduce their carbon footprints.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

  1. Cycling UK, the national cycling charity, inspires and helps people to cycle and keep cycling, whatever kind of cycling they do or would like to do. Over a century’s experience tells us that cycling is more than useful transport; it makes you feel good, gives you a sense of freedom and creates a better environment for everyone. www.cyclinguk.org
  2. Cycling UK’s initial reaction to the Budget on 06 February is available here: https://www.cyclinguk.org/news/modest-increase-scotlands-active-travel-budget-welcome-more-needed

Press contact information

For more information contact the national Cycling UK Press Office on 01483 238 315, 07786 320 713 or email [email protected]

Funding for Cycling and Walking Campaigner and activist Cycling UK in Scotland

Further reading