Funding for green travel options

Dumfries and Dundee could develop self service bike rental schemes

Seven towns and cities in Scotland have been awarded £15m in funding to promote alternatives to car use.

The cash will be used to develop better walking and cycling routes and promote greener forms of travel.

Funding will be split between Barrhead, Kirkwall, Dumfries, Dundee, the east end of Glasgow, Kirkintilloch and Lenzie and Larbert and Stenhousemuir.

Plans for the UK's first self service bike rental schemes were among the many projects being considered.

These would allow people in Dumfries and Dundee to pick up a bike at a rail or bus station, use it for free for 30 minutes, then pay a rental fee at an hourly rate.

Once finished, the bike could be left at one of a number of local "interchanges".

We need to look at new ways of persuading people out of their cars and onto more sustainable forms of travel such as trains, buses, walking and cycling Stewart Stevenson Transport Minister

Other schemes would see the building of more pedestrianised zones and free trial bus and rail passes.

The sustainable travel demonstration communities project was launched in Barrhead by Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson.

He said: "With more cars on our roads, increasing levels of congestion and rising emissions, it is time for us all to look at our travel behaviour.

"We need to look at new ways of persuading people out of their cars and onto more sustainable forms of travel such as trains, buses, walking and cycling.

"The proposals have been impressive and the seven communities selected now have the chance to improve travel options for thousands of residents.

"These schemes will make a real difference, making transport choices cheaper, healthier, safer and greener."