National Assessment 2008
Download the 2008 National Assessment Here
Cycling Scotland's National Assessment of Cycling Provision is complete and is available to download here - National Assessment 2008 Main Report (Web final)
The National Assessment 2008 is a qualitative assessment of local authority cycling policy.
The purpose of the study is to encourage an organisational culture that ensures cycling
becomes a realistic travel and leisure choice for the travelling public.
The study builds on the assessment of local authorities published in 2005.
Key Findings
The National Assessment 2008 demonstrates that almost every aspect of local authority
cycling policy has advanced since 2005, with an overall improvement of 8%. A significant
part of this improvement is attributable to local authorities implementing the recommendations
of the 2005 Assessment.
28 of the 32 local authorities have improved cycling policies as compared
with 2005;
Best performing local authority - Fife Council; and
Most improved local authorities – Falkirk and West Dunbartonshire.
Areas of strength
Cycling strategy development;
Staff resource allocation;
Off-road child cycle skills development;
School Travel Plans and associated interventions;
Staff Travel Plan formulation;
Use of cycle route design guidance;
The implementation of individual cycle route measures;
Individual promotional measures; and
Strategy and scheme consultation.
Areas of development required:
Greater political leadership;
More substantial and consistent capital and revenue funding;
Inter-departmental co-ordination;
Multi-stage delivery of child and adult cycle skills development;
Integration of cycle network planning principles within development and roads
planning;
Integrating cycling with all modes of transport;
Road traffic reduction measures;
Development of outcome-related promotional strategies;
Monitoring cycle use trends;
Evaluation of policy and demonstration of intervention benefits; and
Engaging users as strategic partners.
In many cases, local authorities are too focussed on local priorities to deliver the strategic
objectives being asked of them. There is a need for consistent transport policy at a national
level and a long term approach taken to sustainable investment and strategy.
Regional Transport Partnerships have a key role in continuing to develop a strategic outlook
and a partnership approach at a local level.
National Agencies have a vital supporting role in providing expertise, guidance and delivery
support. There is also a need to engage more effectively with the private sector.
It is hoped that the National Performance Framework will provide the consistent approach
required.
The findings of the National Assessment 2008 will be taken forward to inform the
development of the proposed Cycling Action Plan for Scotland (CAPS). The CAPS aims to
strengthen the role of cycling within the outcomes of the National Performance Framework at
a local and national level. The CAPS will be developed from the participatory involvement of
all stakeholders and the public, and aims to cut across traditional policy areas.
Next Steps
Each local authority is provided with a full report on its National Assessment 2008
performance. It is hoped that local authorities will consider the findings of the Assessment
and implement some of the recommendations into future cycling policy.
It is clear that local authorities require a significant level of support to help deliver the change
required to realise real increases in cycle use.
For its part, Cycling Scotland will take forward the recommendations and actions from within
this report and incorporate them into its business plan for this and future years. Cycling
Scotland will develop actions in the following key areas:
Develop a Cycling Action Plan for Scotland;
Engage decision-makers at all levels;
Improve knowledge-sharing and skills development;
Develop improved local and national monitoring; and
Improve consistency of cycle promotion.
