Greater investment in cycling makes perfect sense

Thursday 3 January 2013

Keith Brown's announcement on new funds for cycling is welcome indeed.

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Paul Tetlaw

Cycling should be at the top of every government investment list – it is just common sense as it ticks so many policy boxes.

Getting more people cycling takes traffic off the roads so we have less congestion and less pollution, it helps to stimulate local shopping areas as opposed to car dependent out-of-town stores and will help to make our population healthier.

This last bonus, above all others, should have politicians falling over themselves to invest in more safe cycling facilities. Our health record is shocking indeed, and the cost to the NHS will only increase with time. Cross-cutting policy initiatives such as promoting walking and cycling are far more effective than ever more drugs and hospital treatment for the many conditions brought on by lack of exercise.There is no reason why Scotland should not enjoy the levels of cycling that are typical of many other northern European countries – our climate is much the same as theirs, as is our topography.If the Scottish Government is serious about 10% of journeys being by bike, then this new investment must be just the start of a concerted national strategy to create a network of safe and convenient routes linking all our communities.Currently only around 1% of the transport budget is spent on cycling. We will not seriously improve matters if we continue to invest such a small amount in cycling while pouring billions into new road schemes. In contrast to big road projects, where the contracts tend to go to overseas firms, the creation of new cycle routes creates local jobs – just what we need at the present time.New routes in rural areas are certainly welcome and will help to boost tourism, but what must now follow is a major programme for urban areas where most of Scotland's population lives – and where safe cycle routes are so desperately needed. Paul Tetlaw is a board member of Transform Scotland

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Greater investment in cycling makes perfect sense

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