Scotland’s seven Regional Transport Partnerships will share £23.45 million of Scottish Government funding for programmes which help make walking, wheeling and cycling “the safe and easy choice for short everyday journeys”.

The funding will be used to support projects that make active travel and sustainable travel easier across four key themes: Active Schools; Active Workplaces; Accessibility and Inclusion; and Capacity and Capability. It is aimed to support the development of active travel strategies and plans, the installation of supporting infrastructure and the creation of safe school routes to tackle congestion, reduce air pollution and make local communities and roads safer.

For 2025-26, the second year of the programme is expanding to include sustainable travel projects, such as Demand Responsive Transport buses, access to shared cycle and car schemes, and sustainable travel hubs which make it easier to move quickly between different types of greener transport.

The Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop made the announcement during a visit to Armadale Active Travel Hub in Armadale, West Lothian (pictured), where local pupils were undertaking a walking bus journey to school.

She said: “It is really important that we support people and communities to make different choices about how they get around in their local areas, and making it easier and safer to walk, wheel and cycle is a key part of that.

“So I am pleased to announce that over £23 million has now been allocated to support projects which will help to achieve this. It forms part of over £188 million that we are allocating for active and sustainable travel in 2025-26.”

(Picture – Transport Scotland)