Active travel debate

Transport Committee convener Patrick Harvie told MSPs the Scottish government would have to substantially increase funding to cycling to achieve its targets on active travel.

MSPs were debating the Transport Committee's report on active travel on 9 June 2010.

The report from the committee said more ­spending is required if the target to get 10% of Scotland's population cycling by 2020 was to be met.

Green MSP Patrick Harvie said the government should provide better strategic leadership to stop Scotland from lagging further behind other European countries, who spent far more per capita on encouraging cycling.

Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson said the government would publish its Cycling Action Plan in the near future, which would set out an ambitious vision for active travel.

Labour MSP Cathy Peattie said the Transport Committee felt the plan would be "meaningless" without the necessary funding.

MSPs unanimously voted to note the findings and recommendations of the committee's report during decision time.