Sustainable Transport
Welcome to the Scottish Government's sustainable transport home page. Sustainable transport is about reducing the environmental, social and economic impact of travel by promoting and facilitating people and organisations to use more sustainable and active forms of travel.
Sustainable Transport is about
- Improving local environment and facilities so that amenities can be reached by more sustainable and active means thus reducing the need to travel;
- Promoting the use of more sustainable modes like walking, cycling, bus and trains to reduce the number of single occupancy car journeys;
- Making more efficient use of vehicles through car sharing, eco-driving and using the most appropriate vehicle for the particular journey; and
- Identifying future and more sustainable vehicles and fuels and planning for their use.
Sustainable transport supports the Scottish Government's strategic objectives for the economy, health, the environment and communities.
Sustainable transport also complements the Government's commitment to tackling climate change .
Some current trends and impacts of travel
The evidence base that supports efforts to change our travel behaviour is considerable.
Travel to Work
- 69 per cent by car or van
- 11 per cent walked
- 16 per cent bus or train
- two per cent cycle
Source: Scottish Household Survey (2006)
Climate Change & Air Quality
- Greenhouse gas emissions from transport in Scotland grew by 14 per cent between 1990 and 2006
- Transport emissions, including international aviation and shipping, accounted for 24.4 per cent of total Scottish emissions in 2006. This proportion has increased from 18.8 per cent in 1990
- In 2006, road transport contributed the greatest amount of transport emissions, 10.5 mega-tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (70 per cent)
Source: National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory
A number of local authorities in Scotland have declared Air Quality Management Areas, which means that National Air Quality objectives are not being met. Road transport is a direct contributor to air quality problems.
Evidence also shows that congestion is worsening on the trunk road network and local authorities are reporting similar problems on the local road network.
Growth in traffic and car ownership
- In 2007, 34,545 million km were driven by cars on Scotland's roads, an increase of over 12 per cent since 1997
- The number of cars licensed in Scotland at 31 December 2007 was 2.2 million - a growth of 28 per cent since 1997
- 70 per cent of Scottish households have access to one or more cars
Congestion
- 12.8 per cent of car drivers' journeys were reported as delayed by congestion in 2006
- Around, 25 per cent of car drivers' journey in weekday rush hours (7-9am & 4-6pm) were reported as delayed by congestion in 2006
- On Scotland's trunks roads, 18 per cent of the routes monitored experienced serious or severe congestion for more than one hour per day
Sources: Scottish Transport Statistics, Scottish Government 2008 and Congestion on Scottish Trunk Roads 2003, Scottish Executive March 2005
Health and active travel
Most men and women are failing to achieve the minimum recommended level of physical activity (accumulate (build up) at least 30 minutes of moderate activity on most days of the week). See: The Scottish Government's publication: " Let's Make Scotland More Active: A strategy for physical activity" - strategic objectives.
The 2003 Scottish Health Survey estimated that in Scotland 22 per cent of men and 24 per cent of women are obese - an increase from 16 per cent of men and 17 per cent of women in 1995.
Source: The Health Education Population Survey (HEPS) which samples adults aged 16 to 74 years old in Scotland.
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