Paths for All submits evidence to the Scottish Parliament's Active Travel Inquiry

Paths for All has submitted it's written evidence to the active travel inquiry currently being undertaken by the Scottish Parliament's Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee

in our submission to this inquiry, Paths for All argues that:

Active travel delivers cross-cutting, significant public benefits

Active travel makes a positive and significant contribution to delivering on a whole range of public policies and national indicators including transport, health and well-being, economy, climate change and the environment and community development.

Adequate, ‘fit for purpose’ infrastructure is an essential foundation

The provision, management and maintenance of adequate infrastructure that encourages more people to walk and cycle safely, efficiently and enjoyably, and connect easily to other transport modes, is an essential foundation for active travel.

Promotion of society-wide behaviour change

Adequate infrastructure on its own is insufficient. Greater uptake of active travel will require society-wide culture change. Awareness raising, promotion and marketing, education, training and incentives are required to encourage the necessary individual behaviour change.

Robust implementation is required for success

In general and with the exception of walking, policies and strategies to support active travel are in place. Robust implementation of these policies is now the priority. This will require strong leadership and vision, adequate, long-term investment, co-ordination and partnership working.

Paths for All's Chief Officer, Ian Findlay, will give oral evidence to the Committee on 1 December 2009. More information on this inquiry is available at Committee's pages on the Scottish Parliament website.