Smarter Choices, Smarter Places: Delivering Targeted Local Interventions to Influence Active and Sustainable Transport Choices

Abstract

The Smarter Choices, Smarter Places (SCSP) Programme supports behaviour change initiatives to increase active and sustainable travel. It is administered by Paths for All on behalf of Transport Scotland. The Programme aims to make walking and cycling a mode of choice for short local journeys in our towns, cities and villages. It also encourages other forms of sustainable choices such as public transport use and car share. Together, the projects will help to cut Scotland’s carbon emissions and improve our air quality, reverse the trend towards sedentary lifestyles and tackle health inequalities. The Programme builds on the work and outcomes of a number of pilot projects and will contribute to achieving the outcomes, visions and aspirations of numerous Scottish Government policy priorities for health, climate and transport. Now in its second year, the Programme allocates funds to local authorities across Scotland on a population basis. £5 million has been made available to local authorities in 2015/16 and again in 2016/17, and awards must be match funded by at least 50%. Each authority develops packages of measures that are tailored to distinct communities or target audiences and these are implemented by the end of each financial year. Typical case studies will be presented at the conference including Velocity in Inverness, a cafe and bicycle workshop whose aim is to inspire more folk to cycle and lead a healthy, happy lifestyle. Velocity run highly successful Women's Cycle to Health and Men's Cycle to Health projects - led rides for those with low motivation or confidence, feelings of isolation, stress or anxiety or low mood. The conference session will also discuss the impact of the programme in areas which would otherwise not have received funding for active and sustainable travel.