Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 29 March 2012
29 Mar 2012 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Cycling
At the road safety forum, we discussed several initiatives that are taking place in different localities, and the need to spread those out as best practice. Kevin Stewart mentioned one such initiative; others are happening elsewhere. The leadership role of the Scottish Government is to draw in those examples and to ensure that they are extended where that is possible. I commend Nestrans for having undertaken that initiative. A number of approaches to better cyclist safety are either being trialled or are in practice around Scotland, but people are not always aware of them. There is a role for Government in making people aware of them.
Currently, 98 per cent of Scottish primary schools offer cycle training and 70 per cent of pupils take up the offer. Of the eligible cohort of 55,000 pupils, 69.5 per cent receive some form of cycle training, but only 31.5 per cent are receiving on-road training to the national standard. That is why I have agreed a target with Cycling Scotland of 40 per cent of children receiving on-road training by 2015. I urge every local authority in Scotland to work in partnership with Cycling Scotland not just to meet that target, but to exceed it. We must reinforce the message that learning to cycle in a live environment is more beneficial than learning to ride a bike in a playground.
An immediate development from the operational partnership group meeting is that, following a representation from the sustainable transport team, which has responsibility for cycling, it will provide on-going feedback to the group on what the cycling action plan delivery forum and the national cycling interest group are doing, and on whether those fora have raised concerns about road safety. I hope that that will provoke wider discussion of the issues and improved communication in the established cycling groups, without unnecessary duplication of effort. There are quite a number of players, so we should co-ordinate our activities productively.
Funding has been mentioned. Over the next three financial years, £20.25 million will be provided for active travel projects, with a focus on cycling and walking infrastructure. That is in addition to £15 million for wider sustainable and active travel initiatives.
Sustrans was also mentioned. Its budget will increase from £5.5 million this year to more than £7 million, £8 million then £9 million in the next three years. We are retaining the ring fencing of the cycling, walking and safer streets grant, which is allocated to local authorities to deliver active travel projects. Alison Johnstone made the point that we rely on local authorities to play their part. Some—not least, the City of Edinburgh Council—do that substantially.
Currently, 98 per cent of Scottish primary schools offer cycle training and 70 per cent of pupils take up the offer. Of the eligible cohort of 55,000 pupils, 69.5 per cent receive some form of cycle training, but only 31.5 per cent are receiving on-road training to the national standard. That is why I have agreed a target with Cycling Scotland of 40 per cent of children receiving on-road training by 2015. I urge every local authority in Scotland to work in partnership with Cycling Scotland not just to meet that target, but to exceed it. We must reinforce the message that learning to cycle in a live environment is more beneficial than learning to ride a bike in a playground.
An immediate development from the operational partnership group meeting is that, following a representation from the sustainable transport team, which has responsibility for cycling, it will provide on-going feedback to the group on what the cycling action plan delivery forum and the national cycling interest group are doing, and on whether those fora have raised concerns about road safety. I hope that that will provoke wider discussion of the issues and improved communication in the established cycling groups, without unnecessary duplication of effort. There are quite a number of players, so we should co-ordinate our activities productively.
Funding has been mentioned. Over the next three financial years, £20.25 million will be provided for active travel projects, with a focus on cycling and walking infrastructure. That is in addition to £15 million for wider sustainable and active travel initiatives.
Sustrans was also mentioned. Its budget will increase from £5.5 million this year to more than £7 million, £8 million then £9 million in the next three years. We are retaining the ring fencing of the cycling, walking and safer streets grant, which is allocated to local authorities to deliver active travel projects. Alison Johnstone made the point that we rely on local authorities to play their part. Some—not least, the City of Edinburgh Council—do that substantially.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick)
NPA
Good morning. The first item of business is a debate on motion S4M-02522, in the name of Alison Johnstone, on cycling.09:15
Alison Johnstone (Lothian) (Green)
Green
It is often the case that the public are ahead of the politicians. In our capital city, on certain routes and at certain times of day, up to 20 per cent of t...
Jim Eadie (Edinburgh Southern) (SNP)
SNP
I thank Alison Johnstone for taking my intervention and for the constructive way in which she has brought the issue before Parliament.Alison Johnstone has th...
Alison Johnstone
Green
Absolutely, I will. We all commend the work of Spokes, pedal on Parliament, and Sustrans. They have all played very important parts in raising the profile of...
The Minister for Housing and Transport (Keith Brown)
SNP
I thank Alison Johnstone for lodging the motion and for the way in which she has spoken to it. It is a comprehensive motion on cycling that provides us with ...
Kevin Stewart (Aberdeen Central) (SNP)
SNP
I declare an interest as a former chair of the north east of Scotland transport partnership. In the north-east, there has been an initiative to fit Fresnel l...
Keith Brown
SNP
At the road safety forum, we discussed several initiatives that are taking place in different localities, and the need to spread those out as best practice. ...
Jim Eadie
SNP
Does the minister agree that, by pledging to spend 5 per cent of its transport budget on active travel schemes, the City of Edinburgh Council sets a good exa...
Keith Brown
SNP
It is true that, over a long period—certainly even when I lived in Edinburgh up to the 1980s—the council’s leadership role has been evident. Other local auth...
Alison Johnstone
Green
Will the minister take an intervention?
The Presiding Officer
NPA
I am sorry—the minister does not have time to give way.
Keith Brown
SNP
The cycling, walking and safer streets grant will be just over £6 million in 2012-13. Our grant offer retains a request for at least 36 per cent, and prefera...
Elaine Murray (Dumfriesshire) (Lab)
Lab
I, too, welcome the opportunity to discuss cycling. We have had debates on buses, ferries and railways in the past few weeks, so it is about time we discusse...
Kevin Stewart
SNP
A mandatory 20mph limit was put in place in Sunnybank in my constituency in Aberdeen without any accompanying traffic-calming measures. Such measures had to ...
Elaine Murray
Lab
That comes back to policing, which is where some resistance comes in from local authorities and police forces. They do not want to have to police the 20mph l...
John Lamont (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con)
Con
I congratulate Alison Johnstone on using her party’s business time to bring this very important issue to the chamber. I think that it is the first time durin...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Thank you, Mr Lamont. Your cycling history is impressive.09:43
Marco Biagi (Edinburgh Central) (SNP)
SNP
I will not even try to follow that with my cycling record.I am grateful to the Green party for bringing this timely debate to the chamber. Cycling has been a...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
You need to start winding up.
Marco Biagi
SNP
The City of Edinburgh Council is now showing the kind of leadership that has been shown by other cities across Europe. I hope that Scotland’s other local aut...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
I call Malcolm Chisholm. I remind members that they have a strict four minutes.09:47
Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (Lab)
Lab
I welcome the Scottish Government’s reaffirmation of its commitment to ensure that 10 per cent of journeys will be made by bike by 2020, since that is clearl...
Fiona McLeod (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP)
SNP
I join other members in welcoming this Green party debate.It seems to me that there are three strands in this debate about cycling. We are talking about cycl...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Many thanks, Mrs McLeod. I appreciate your brevity.09:54
Helen Eadie (Cowdenbeath) (Lab)
Lab
I congratulate the Green party on choosing to use its parliamentary time to highlight cycling and call on the Scottish Government to improve the offering for...
Clare Adamson (Central Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I declare an interest; I am an executive member of the Scottish Accident Prevention Council.I welcome the debate and endorse the comments about the health an...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith)
Lab
We come to the closing speeches.10:02
Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
I have enjoyed listening to the debate and I commend Alison Johnstone for giving us the opportunity to focus on the benefits of cycling and active travel.I a...
Claudia Beamish (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Will the member take an intervention?
Nanette Milne
Con
I am just finishing.