Transport Scotland has unveiled its action plan to deliver cheaper and greener travel options across the country over the next two years.
The Scottish Government published its second delivery plan for Scotland's National Transport Strategy which focussed on four areas - reducing inequalities, tackling climate action, helping to deliver inclusive economic growth, and improving health and wellbeing.
Reducing car kilometres by 20 per cent by 2030 is a big priority for the government, and to do so it is urging people to participate in more active travel while investing in electric vehicles in order to reduce the reliance on petrol and diesel.
Steps to be taken in 2022 and 2023 will involve "incentivising people and businesses to access new and used electric vehicles and delivering a publicly available charging network across the country".
The government also wants to decarbonise buses in Scotland.
The plan states: "We continue to embed sustainable travel behaviours and progress with decarbonising our bus fleets and working with partners to ensure that the majority of our buses are zero emission from 2024."
Jenny Gilruth, Transport Minister, recognised the challenges during the cost-of-living crisis and said the government would look to provide more affordable transport.
The government has issued around 70 actions in its plan in order to address the areas they want to improve.
They include the introduction of the Community Bus Fund, decarbonising trains and buses, improving and adding more rail stations and encouraging more people to cycle and walk.
Plans to engage on the location of an active freeway network and assess medium and long-term solutions to risks of landslips at the A83 Rest and Be Thankful also feature in the delivery plan, with a preferred route option for the latter expected to be announced next year.
Gilruth said: "Two years since the publication of our National Transport Strategy and our first delivery plan, we continue to make progress in delivering our priorities.
“Across the country young people can now access free public transport via the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme and we are supporting individuals and business in making healthier and more sustainable travel choices.
"We are tackling head-on the role of transport within the climate emergency whilst recognising the vital role transport continues to play within our day-to-day lives – ensuring we are able to access education, work, training and social activities.
“With many households and businesses facing significant increases to the cost of living, we recognise that transport expenditure poses another - often unavoidable – expense. Our aim is to ensure access to affordable, accessible and sustainable transport across the country.
“We know that the challenges ahead are significant, and that reducing private car use and transitioning to more walking, wheeling or cycling for day-to-day journeys will pose greater challenges for some.
"However, our actions aim to seize on the opportunities offered as we journey to net-zero and support the necessary changes to provide for safer, healthier and more enjoyable streets, businesses, neighbourhoods and journeys."
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