Government transport policies

January 2022

SG Route Map for reducing car use

The Scottish Government has published a document outlining its policy of reducing car use by 20% by 2030, and begun a public consultation on it which runs until 6 April.

The Route Map was introduced by Transport Minister Graeme Dey, addressing a hybrid meeting of the Scottish Parliament on 13 January.  His statement was notable for the lack of clarity and concision one has unfortunately come to expect from government policy announcements, and its lack of specific proposals was noted by other MSPs in subsequent questioning.

The core of the policy lies in the list of over 30 'interventions' listed in section 3 of the route map, but their multitude and complexity - not to mention the quirky numbering system - do not inspire much confidence that the policy is likely to succeed.

From Transport Scotland

Reducing car use for a healthier, fairer and greener Scotland

The Scottish Government has published its route map outlining steps needed to reduce car kilometres travelled by 20% by 2030.

The world-leading target was set out in the Climate Change Plan Update (CCPu), published in December 2020.

The route map sets out a range of sustainable travel behaviours grouped into four categories:

• travel less: use online options where appropriate
• stay local: chose a more local destination to meet your needs
• switch mode: to walk, wheel, cycle, or use public transport where possible
• combine a journey: where the other options are not feasible

Additionally, research will be commissioned to explore equitable options for demand management to discourage car use, to enable the development of a new Framework for Car Demand Management by 2025.

The route map has been developed by the Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) and will now be the subject of a 12-week public consultation.

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