Lee Craigie is Scotland’s active travel ambassador

Lee Craigie: It will take a coordinated, collective effort to achieve a whole systems change in favour of active travel

Lee Craigie: It will take a coordinated, collective effort to achieve a whole systems change in favour of active travel

The Scottish Government’s active nation commissioner Lee Craigie has agreed to continue to be champion cycling and walking for the  next 15 months, focusing on public engagement, access to bikes and providing an independent perspective on progress. 

Lee Craigie said: “In my final report as active nation commissioner, I emphasised the unique opportunity ahead of us to build back our communities and our economy in ways that benefit everyone and our planet. 

“I’m excited to have been tasked with helping change the way we talk about active travel, and with exploring the ways we all might work together to make it possible for more people. 

“It will take a coordinated, collective effort to achieve a whole systems change in favour of active travel, but the potential rewards for us as individuals, for society, and for the planet, make this change absolutely essential.” 

The Scottish Government has underlined its commitment to encouraging active travel by: 

• Doubling the funding for the National Cycle Network in 2022 to a total of £10.6m 
• Investing over £52m to the Places for Everyone active travel infrastructure Programme, which will provide greater guidance and support for Safe to School initiatives when it re-opens to local authorities on 25 July 
• Providing a further £900,000 in funding for community groups and public sector organisations to deliver e-bike schemes – delivered through Energy Saving Trust’s grant fund.