‘We’re on the right path - but there’s a long way to go’ says Cycling Scotland boss

Keith Irving

Keith Irving

Scotland must go “further and faster” in its efforts to close the gap with other European nations on cycling mode share, says Keith Irving, chief executive of Cycling Scotland. At Cycle City Active City he will present the key findings from an International Comparator Study, produced in early 2016 by Cycling Scotland, Urban Movement and the European Cycling Federation.

The report examined progress made in key European countries, regions and cities in Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Spain and Austria in increasing cycling mode share, with breakdowns by key city/region, bike ownership, age and gender diversity.

Irving said: “The report indicated that Scotland is on the right path but must go further and faster to increase cycling levels. As we know, many European cities and countries have started decades earlier on enabling more people to cycle easily and safely and Scotland needs action, crucially at both national and local authority level to achieve progress and improve the health and quality of life for more people.

“The report also shows that progress varies considerably within each country, region and locality and there are many challenges ahead to maintain the upward trajectory.”

While a clear pro-cycling policy is essential for change, the key measure of practical commitment to that policy is funding, said the report.
That funding needs to provide better physical conditions for cycling as the top priority for growing mode share substantially. And efforts to grow cycling from a low base will be most effective when targeted on relatively short journeys.

The report also stated that training for school-age children remains important for growing and maintaining cycling. Also, mode share is the most reliable indicator of cycling’s popularity and needs to be the central aspiration of government (national or local) policy, said the report.
http://www.cyclingscotland.org/news/cycling-scotland-international-comparator-study-highlights-key-learnings-to-get-more-of-scotlands-people-cycling