Image Credit: Eric Veiga, Unsplash
A new report from Audit Scotland has found that the country is “unlikely” to meet its 2030 target of reducing car kilometres driven by 20 per cent.
The independent public body’s report attributes this to a “lack of leadership” where national and local spending on reducing car use is “complex”, “fragmented” and lacking in transparency.
UK national charity for shared transport Collaborative Mobility UK (CoMoUK) isn’t surprised by these findings, highlighting that Scotland hasn’t developed an established plan to back up its ambitious target.
“The Scottish Government published a draft route map on reducing private car use back in 2022, but the final version has never appeared, despite being due last autumn,” CoMoUK Chief Executive Richard Dilks told Zag Daily.
Audit Scotland’s report finds that car traffic has increased to near pre-pandemic levels since 2020, with a reduction in public transport use and no significant change in how much people walk and cycle.
The independent body calls for clearer direction from the Scottish Government to guide councils, particularly rural councils, which each face unique obstacles in reducing car use such as limited public transport options.
CoMoUK is calling for the expansion of shared transport.
“Shared transport can contribute to its key target of cutting car kilometres driven in a number of ways, so encouraging an expansion of the sector is an obvious place to start,” Richard said.
“Our most recent research on car clubs in Scotland, for example, showed how these schemes have helped to remove thousands of private vehicles from the roads, with the average member also cutting their total distance driven by 156 miles per year.
“On bike-sharing, the story is similar. Our research has shown how these schemes replaced 5.2 million car miles between September 2022 and September 2023 alone.”
Richard believes Scotland is also lagging behind parts of the UK by failing to introduce shared e-scooter trials.
In an interview with Zag, Scotland’s Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop explained that the speed in which the UK e-scooter trials were developed didn’t give Scotland the chance to develop guidance for its own local authorities to take part.
Last summer, Ms Hyslop said that e-scooters will “inevitably” be legalised in the country.
“We need a national effort behind shared transport if we are to transform how people travel in and around Scotland and rethink the role of the car,” said Richard.
A Transport Scotland Spokesperson commented: “We welcome Audit Scotland’s Sustainable Transport Report published today and we will consider its recommendations, working collaboratively with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, regional transport and local authority partners – as car reduction is a joint commitment.”
As part of the 2025-26 budget, Scotland is investing £263 million in sustainable travel, low carbon and climate positive activities to encourage the switch to zero emission vehicles and active travel.
“We recognise that Scotland has still got some way to go to transition from private vehicles and towards more sustainable public transport – and cross party support at all levels of government is key.”
