HOW far have we come in 10 years, and where are we headed?
That was the question as Scottish transport bosses issued a tenth anniversary "refresh" of the nation's transport strategy last week.
Among the Government's priorities for the decade ahead were direct flights between Scotland and the "emerging economies" of China and India. The Herald has previously reported that both Glasgow and Edinburgh Airport are vying for the Holy Grail of a Far East connection, having already established strong links to North America and the Gulf, the prospect of a direct connection with China in particular is now a "strategic focus" for ministers too.
Also in the frame is the ambition for "smart and integrated ticketing" which will eventually enable public transport users across the country to switch seamlessly from bus, train, ferry, tram and Subway using a single smartcard on any journey, anywhere, potentially creating an entirely cashless transport system.
By 2030, "half of all diesel and petrol fuelled vehicles" should be phased out in towns and cities as motorists increasingly switch to electric vehicles, trains, cycling and walking.
Against these targets though were criticisms from campaigners who feel there are many areas where little progress has been made since 2006.
Among commuters, the car is still king, with 68 per cent of drivers travelling to work by car in 2014 compared to 67 per cent in 2014.
Parallel to that was a meagre one per cent increase in people cycling to work, offset by a one per cent fall in the number of people commuting on foot.
Public transport was a mixed bag. Overall, public transport use in Scotland was down six per cent - seemingly at odds with the push from policymakers north and south of the Border to get more people on board.
In fact, the decline has been driven by falls in bus and ferry passengers, overshadowing a dramatic surge the demand for trains which are now busier than ever.
Since 2006, bus passenger journeys are down 12 per cent and ferry passenger journeys are down seven per cent.
The volume of passengers traffic through Scotland's airports has stayed more or less the same, having falling dramatically during the global downturn and only just recovering to the pre-recession levels in the last few years.
Meanwhile, rail passenger journeys have soared 29 per cent.
It leaves policymakers with a bit of a quandary when it comes to taxpayer funds: should you invest most in the most popular form of public transport, or the fastest-growing?
Despite the decline in bus passengers, bus travel still accounts for the vast majority of public transport journeys - eight in every ten.
Either way, measures to make public transport cheaper for everyone. The report notes that there have been "steady increases" in the cost of bus and train travel since 2006, up 14 and 16 per cent respectively, as passengers foot the bill for the ballooning costs of the concessionary bus scheme and railway upgrades.
Given that motoring costs - including both the purchase of a vehicle and the runnings costs - have increased by only two per cent, it is not difficult to see why many people are still reluctant to make the switch.
Perhaps cheaper bus and train fares should be one of the biggest priorities in the decade ahead.
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