Cycling up by a third in Scotland but still not a main mode of transport for many people

A new report from Cycling Scotland shows a 32 per cent increase in cycling between 2003 and 2013. However, with it still only representing 0.75 per cent of total traffic volume, there is a strong belief that much more needs to be done.

The report covers a range of topics, including estimated levels of cycling, cycle commuting, cycling to school and road safety.

Cycling as a main mode of travel in Scotland was estimated at just one per cent in 2013, while the volume of cycling traffic was 329 million vehicle kilometres travelled, a 32 per cent increase on 2003’s 249 million kilometres. This represented growth from 0.59 per cent to 0.75 per cent.

Minister for Transport and the Islands, Derek Mackay MSP, welcomed the improvement but said there was much to be done if the target stated in the Cycling Action Plan for Scotland was to be met.

“I welcome this latest update from Cycling Scotland as part of its role in delivering the Cycling Action Plan for Scotland. The increase in some figures is a positive sign but there is still work to be done among all partners to achieve our shared vision of 10 per cent of journeys by bike by 2020.”

Chief Executive of Cycling Scotland, Keith Irving, said that the report would help identify where efforts needed to be made.

“Investment in cycling is at record levels and as national and local government continues to invest in cycling, improving health, cutting emissions and tackling inequalities, it is essential we continue to monitor the progress in enabling more people to cycle more. We need action across Scotland to enable the Cycling Action Plan vision of 10 per cent of journeys by bike to be reached and today’s report helps demonstrate where we need to renew our efforts.”

The proportion of those cycling to work at least ‘regularly’ is now 5.6 per cent for Scotland as a whole with the highest levels seen in Edinburgh (12.2%), Moray (10.3%) and Argyll & Bute (9.1%).

In 2013, five per cent of children indicated that they normally cycle to primary school with levels highest in Highland (10.7%), East Lothian (9.5%) and Stirling (9.2%). However, just 0.9 per cent of children cycle to secondary school nationwide.

The rate of cycle casualties per million vehicle kilometres travelled has fractionally fallen over the last decade with the rate in 2013 at 2.68 casualties per million vehicle kilometres travelled compared to a 2009-2013 average of 2.75.

The report also lists the top reasons given for not cycling. The top five are: too far, weather, do not have a bike, too many cars on road, traffic travels too fast.

In November, Scottish Transport Minister Keith Brown unveiled A Long Term Vision for Active Travel in Scotland 2030. While the document depicted a future Scotland in which people are walking or cycling for the majority of shorter journeys, critics questioned whether enough was being done to make such dreams a reality.

Speaking at the time, Colin Howden, Director of Sustainable transport lobby group Transform Scotland, said:

“What we do know is the Scottish Government’s investment in active travel falls in this year’s budget despite the overall transport budget again rising. Some short-term action to tackle that situation would be more helpful than platitudes about long-term priorities.”