The next five years will see £500 million invested in cycling and walking in Scotland, according to its new Programme for Government.

There will also be further development of hydrogen-powered vehicles to cut emissions and dedicated lanes, initially in Glasgow, to be dedicated to buses and other vehicles carrying multiple vehicles.

The Programme for Government 2020-2021: Protecting Scotland, Renewing Scotland, will continue to address cycling and walking infrastructure through space reallocation to help alleviate pinch points and ensure ‘transition from lockdown doesn’t result in a surge in private car use,’ according to the Programme for Government. It said: “To support this, we will commit to just over £500m over five years for active travel, including for local authorities and others to bid in for funding of large scale, transformational active travel infrastructure projects, reallocating road space in favour of walking, cycling and wheeling over cars.”

The programme also asks whether Scotland’s Spaces for People programme could now become permanent. “Local authorities now have the opportunity to review the temporary infrastructure projects – turning many of them into permanent schemes.” It also said hydrogen technology would help the country with its target of reaching net zero emissions by 2045, with a least £1 million for testing of hydrogen fuels.

A bus partnership fund is also to be launched to help councils tackle congestion to speed up buses and make them a more attractive option.