The Scottish Government

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3. POLICY

3.1 The Scottish Executive has a role in achieving successful transport objectives. Attainment of these objectives will require legislation and investment, as well as the Executive's influence in guiding planning policy, standard setting, demand management and joint working.

3.2 Scotland's Transport Future; the Transport White Paper issued in June 2004 set out proposals for a Scottish Transport Agency (Transport Scotland) and Regional Transport Partnerships. Together these bodies play a key role in the strategies required for the planning and delivery of transport objectives. The publication of the National Transport Strategy in December 2006 is fundamental to the delivery of these objectives. It should cover all modes in a balanced way and provide a framework within which councils and the 7 Regional Transport Partnerships develop their own plans.

3.3 Motorcycles and PTWs are part of the transport mix on all roads. The proportion varies considerably, with the highest levels of PTW use generally being found in larger urban areas. Relatively little attention has previously been given to any special needs of motorcyclists despite the fact that numbers have been increasing over recent years.

3.4 As increasing numbers of motorists are switching to the motorcycle option. Local policy and planning should be encouraged to look more closely at how safety, access and security issues can be addressed to reduce motorcyclists vulnerability. Transport strategies have a key role to play in addressing these issues and motorcycles should figure in all transport strategies as a legitimate, beneficial (compared to cars) transport mode in local policy.

3.5 In particular transport strategies and plans should consider:

• Raising the awareness of motorcycles as a beneficial transport mode;
  
• Recognising the benefits of motorcycle use, tied to specific local land use and transport planning issues;
  
• Recognising the wide spectrum covered by the term motorcycle (or Powered Two Wheeler);
  
• Encompassing frank examination of the drawbacks to motorcycling - the most obvious being safety, include serious data-led analysis of the local situation and include the kernels of positive action to address other drawbacks including security, noise and vehicle pollution concerns;
  
• Committing local authorities to giving specific undertakings to include identified best practice in their operational procedures;
  
• Considering the role of motorcycling in helping reduce congestion, emissions, and in transport policies.

3.6 Transport strategies should refer to the role that motorcycles can play and should contain strategies to reduce their accident involvement rate. These strategies should cover both engineering and non-engineering activities.

3.7 Consultation with riders is essential to ensure that strategies and initiatives meet the need of the users and road authorities may find it useful to establish a Motorcycle Forum. Consultation at local level can involve motorcycle forums where practicable, or within broader forums of stakeholders of other transport modes.

3.8 In addition to inclusion within Transport Strategies, motorcycles also have a role to play in travel plans produced by employers and adult or late-teen educational establishments to reduce the amount of traffic they generate. Local authorities should play a role in the promotion of travel plans and include best practice in relation to provision for motorcycles.

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