The Scottish government has announced that Scotland’s seven Regional Transport Partnerships will share £23.45m for active travel programmes.
Specifically, the funding will be for programmes which help make walking, wheeling and cycling the safe and easy choice for short everyday journeys.
The funding will be used to support projects that make active travel and sustainable travel easier across four key themes:
- Active schools
- Active workplaces
- Accessibility and inclusion
- Capacity and capability
It will also support the development of active travel strategies and plans, the installation of supporting infrastructure and the creation of safe school routes to tackle congestion, reduce air pollution and make local communities and roads safer.
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For 2025-26, the programme is expanding to include sustainable travel projects, such as Demand Responsive Transport buses, access to shared cycle and car schemes, and sustainable travel hubs which make it easier to move quickly between different types of greener transport.
South East of Scotland regional transport partnership chair, Sally Pattle, said: “Active travel projects, such as the fantastic one we’ve seen in action today in Armadale, are an important part of our transition to a sustainable transport system that will last long into the future.
“It’s been amazing to see how much the children enjoy being part of the Walking Bus, which has both a positive impact on their physical and mental health, and also means a reduction in the number of vehicles at the school at drop-off and pick-up times.
“In the south-east of Scotland, the People and Place programme is enabling us to provide around £2.1m of funding to active travel projects that will work with schools and young people.
“By supporting local projects such as these across our entire region, the People and Place programme means that walking, wheeling and cycling opportunities are targeted to local needs and challenges, giving the best possible opportunity for behaviour change.”
Achievements in transport planning will be recognised and celebrated at the fourth annual CiTTi Awards on 25 November 2025 at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. Visit www.cittiawards.co.uk to learn more about this unmissable event for the UK’s transportation sector!
