http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Tag: Cassandra - Recent Topics en Tue, 19 May 2026 17:10:00 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20822#post-357873 Thu, 13 Jan 2022 09:16:34 +0000 Morningsider 357873@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Looks like the Scottish Government will be publishing its "roadmap" setting out how it will achieve a 20% reduction in the distance travelled by car in 2019 by 2030 this afternoon (13 January 2022). </p> <p>For the record - I think the target will be missed.</p> <p>So what do we reckon might be in it (I have not seen an advance copy)? Well, my bet is on lots of reiterating past policy announcements:</p> <p><strong>Workplace Parking Levy:</strong> Not in force anywhere in Scotland and only even under vague consideration by Edinburgh and Glasgow.<br /> <strong>Low Emission Zones: </strong> Only proposed for four small city centre areas. As discussed on other threads, unlikely to reduce car travel due to applying to very few vehicles.<br /> <strong>Record active travel investment: </strong> Expect much trumpeting of this, but no evidence it is being spent on anything that will shift the dial at present.<br /> <strong>Bus priority measures: </strong> Expect the mythical £500m allocated for bus priority measures a few years ago at be rolled out again. No new bus lanes have been introduced in years.<br /> <strong>Active travel freeways: </strong> A recent announcement, no-one really seems to know what these are.<br /> <strong>Free bus travel for young people:</strong> A good thing, but evidence from elsewhere is that it has a very limited impact on car travel - can even reduce walking and cycling.</p> <p>I also expect the document to bemoan lack of action by the UK Government on road pricing (as a replacement for fuel duty) by the UK Government. This despite no Scottish political party showing any support for road user charging, which has been available as a policy tool in Scotland since 2001.</p> <p>I would also expect lots of waffle about investment in "de-carbonising" buses and rail, which is a good thing - but does precisely nothing to encourage modal switch from car to public transport.</p> <p>I assume there will also be some kind of "new" announcement.</p> <p>Have I missed anything? </p>