Start of spokes article #Holyrood2026 : Travelling Backwards The Holyrood election on 7 May is critical to active travel and wider transport policies and budgets for the next 5 years. Is there a local project being planned that you’re looking forward to? – in Edinburgh, say Meadows to George Street, or Portobello to Musselburgh? When and if such projects will happen depends largely on the existence and size of the Scottish Government active travel budget. Sadly and shockingly, in view of the climate crisis, the cost of living crisis, and the need for healthier lifestyles to help the NHS crisis this year’s manifestos mark a massive deterioration in active travel policies as compared to the 2021 election – or even 2016. This article includes an analysis of the various party manifestos, and lots of other relevant info. We will add more as it becomes available.
![Table comparing AT investment promises in 2021 and 2026 manifestos. Sorry, tables don't come out well in ALT text!
Key to tables below++Very good and/or best+good=mixed, unclear, or less good than other parties-poor (or unrealistic)
- -very disappointing
NNot in manifesto [N is generally disappointing, but depends on the issue, so think!]
Page numbers shown are to pages of each party’s 2026 manifesto
2026 v 2021 comparison of AT Investment manifesto commitments
Sadly and shockingly, in view of the climate crisis, the cost of living crisis, and the need for healthier lifestyles to help the NHS crisis the 2026 manifestos mark a massive deterioration in active travel policies as compared to the 2021 election – or even 2016. Only the Greens, and to a lesser extent the Lib Dems, retain positive approaches.
Whilst this applies to many policies and promises, the astonishing contrast is seen clearly in this comparative table on the top issue, active travel investment
AT Investment
Conservative
Green
Labour
LibDem
Reform
SNP
2021 manifestos
[AT funding then was approx £116m, roughly 3.5% of total transport]
+
10% by 2026
++
£320m immediately [approx 10%] rising further
+
10% [unclear if soon or by 2026]
=
“aim” to double existing
[this would be approx 7%]
N/A
=
10% of “capital” bgt by 2026 [BUT this is less of the total transport bgt]
2026 manifestos
[AT funding is now approx £163m, roughly 3.9% of total transport]
- - p35; p75
cut the AT budget; end ring-fenced cash to councils
++ p26
at least 10%; multi-year funding
N
= p66
“Invest in active travel for the first and last mile”
- - p11
End ring-fenced cash to councils
= p64
£2.5m for bike repair; new fund for outdoor recreation paths](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2ood4k4wojq5jku2zl3myqco/bafkreibjehlqigqutbozlwiaphxrnvj32bcfcl3dbqbntksgl3jay2ptxi)
Table comparing AT investment promises in 2021 and 2026 manifestos. Sorry, tables don't come out well in ALT text! Key to tables below++Very good and/or best+good=mixed, unclear, or less good than other parties-poor (or unrealistic) - -very disappointing NNot in manifesto [N is generally disappointing, but depends on the issue, so think!] Page numbers shown are to pages of each party’s 2026 manifesto 2026 v 2021 comparison of AT Investment manifesto commitments Sadly and shockingly, in view of the climate crisis, the cost of living crisis, and the need for healthier lifestyles to help the NHS crisis the 2026 manifestos mark a massive deterioration in active travel policies as compared to the 2021 election – or even 2016. Only the Greens, and to a lesser extent the Lib Dems, retain positive approaches. Whilst this applies to many policies and promises, the astonishing contrast is seen clearly in this comparative table on the top issue, active travel investment AT Investment Conservative Green Labour LibDem Reform SNP 2021 manifestos [AT funding then was approx £116m, roughly 3.5% of total transport] + 10% by 2026 ++ £320m immediately [approx 10%] rising further + 10% [unclear if soon or by 2026] = “aim” to double existing [this would be approx 7%] N/A = 10% of “capital” bgt by 2026 [BUT this is less of the total transport bgt] 2026 manifestos [AT funding is now approx £163m, roughly 3.9% of total transport] - - p35; p75 cut the AT budget; end ring-fenced cash to councils ++ p26 at least 10%; multi-year funding N = p66 “Invest in active travel for the first and last mile” - - p11 End ring-fenced cash to councils = p64 £2.5m for bike repair; new fund for outdoor recreation paths
![Table of party manifesto comparisons (page 1)
2026 manifesto overall comparisons
Note that the manifestos include more transport policies/promises than are shown here, particularly on walk, bus and rail.
We hope this table includes most of the items directly relevant to cycling, as well as some relevant wider transport issues.
Also, note that if something is not in a manifesto, it doesn’t mean it won’t happen, though it is less likely to.
Issue Conservative Green Labour LibDem Reform SNP
AT Investment
[from above table]
- - ++ N = - - =
Extent of cycle/AT
routes/networks
ambition
- - p36
“End the
obsession with
cycle lanes”
Cycle lanes only
ok if not using
road or
pavement space
++ p26
“national blueprint
of walking, cycle
and wheeling
networks“; faster
Council AT project
delivery
N + p66
“Investing in
active travel for
the first and last
mile”
= p23
Rural Scotland:
“support
outdoor
recreation ...
cycling … with
accessible
paths”
= p64
outdoor
recreation
paths fund; no
Roseburn
tram; support
Powderhall AT
path [see note
3 below]
Is AT recognised
and supported as a
public health
measure
- p57
Only considers
leisure centres
& sport
+ p163
“space to walk, run,
play, wheel and
cycle is a right not a
privilege”
N ++ p33 & p61
“Supporting
wellbeing by
making it easier
for people to use
active travel”
N N
Neighbourhoods /
Car-free lifestyles
N + p118
“Support local living
and 20-minute nbd
approaches”
N + p52
New towns
“prioritising
features such as
rail links.. and
20-minute nbds”
N N
Disincentivise car
use/
Demand
management
- - p35
“End the war on
drivers”;
No targets; stop
any Workplace
Parking levies or
congestion
charging
++ p22
Seek road-user
taxation powers for
Scotland
++ p33
Levy on out-oftown
retail, to
support towns
+ p89
Business
rates
replaced by a
new levy
favouring
town centre
retail &
hospitality
= p73
“Moving all
forms of
transport away
from fossil fuels”
– But carrotsonly
approach
- - p21
“End the war
on the car“
N
20mph - p36
20mph only ok
where locals…](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2ood4k4wojq5jku2zl3myqco/bafkreic7sh5vtotgvkucrlfeiypqwuhkksdqosgnwxox657f4jwgfdluwy)
Table of party manifesto comparisons (page 1) 2026 manifesto overall comparisons Note that the manifestos include more transport policies/promises than are shown here, particularly on walk, bus and rail. We hope this table includes most of the items directly relevant to cycling, as well as some relevant wider transport issues. Also, note that if something is not in a manifesto, it doesn’t mean it won’t happen, though it is less likely to. Issue Conservative Green Labour LibDem Reform SNP AT Investment [from above table] - - ++ N = - - = Extent of cycle/AT routes/networks ambition - - p36 “End the obsession with cycle lanes” Cycle lanes only ok if not using road or pavement space ++ p26 “national blueprint of walking, cycle and wheeling networks“; faster Council AT project delivery N + p66 “Investing in active travel for the first and last mile” = p23 Rural Scotland: “support outdoor recreation ... cycling … with accessible paths” = p64 outdoor recreation paths fund; no Roseburn tram; support Powderhall AT path [see note 3 below] Is AT recognised and supported as a public health measure - p57 Only considers leisure centres & sport + p163 “space to walk, run, play, wheel and cycle is a right not a privilege” N ++ p33 & p61 “Supporting wellbeing by making it easier for people to use active travel” N N Neighbourhoods / Car-free lifestyles N + p118 “Support local living and 20-minute nbd approaches” N + p52 New towns “prioritising features such as rail links.. and 20-minute nbds” N N Disincentivise car use/ Demand management - - p35 “End the war on drivers”; No targets; stop any Workplace Parking levies or congestion charging ++ p22 Seek road-user taxation powers for Scotland ++ p33 Levy on out-oftown retail, to support towns + p89 Business rates replaced by a new levy favouring town centre retail & hospitality = p73 “Moving all forms of transport away from fossil fuels” – But carrotsonly approach - - p21 “End the war on the car“ N 20mph - p36 20mph only ok where locals…
![Table of party manifestos (page 2)
Potholes - - p33
Fund pothole
filling by cutting
(scrapping?) the
AT budget
N + (or - -) p49
£350m fund
[see note 1
below]
+ p64
“fair funding” for
councils; use of
new technology
+ p21
“Fix potholes”
+ p72
“up to £350m”
for potholes &
resurfacing
Air pollution
including Low
Emission Zones
- - p36
Halt more LEZs
and reduce
fines in existing
++ p118
expand LEZs, plus
stronger monitoring
N - - p21
Abolish LEZs
N
Transport
integration, with
respect to active
travel
= p38
Rail, bus & tram
integration; no
mention of
walk/ bike
+ p22, p26
Better AT links to
public transport; All
new rail, bus, tram
to carry bikes
N N N N
Road building - - p34
New law to fasttrack
trunk road
upgrades; dual
A9 by 2031;
many other
trunk projects
+ p22
Future-proof roads
like A83 vulnerable
to climate change;
no mention of
expansion
- - p49
Dual A9 by
2035, look
into dualling
A77 and A75,
& create
National
Roads Plan
- - p64
Dual A9 & A96;
- - p21
“plan to
upgrade major
trunk roads”
[see note 2
below]
- - p71
Dual A9 by
2035, also
parts of A96;
and consider
A75, A77
Air travel taxation
ADT= Air departure
tax
- - p39
oppose any new
taxes; reduce
long-haul tax
++ p34
frequent flyer levy;
private jet tax;
more..
N + p66
Higher tax for
private jet
passengers
N + p27
private jet tax;
including for
‘ghost’ flights
USP – unique
selling points (good
and bad!) picked
out by Spokes
- - p33
1. AT schemes
are “ideological
projects”
2. ban bikes in
all pedestrian
areas
+ p16, p156
Universal rail card;
£2 max bus fares
+ p122
Council powers to
enforce traffic
contraventions
+ p55
“Crush illegal
e-bikes,
using drones
to track &
trace
unlicensed
bikes”
+ p64
”Dangerous
Roads
Programme“
- - p21
“End the war
on the car“
+ p38
£2 bus fare
cap
[1] Labour £350m pothole fund. The manifesto does not say where the money would come from. In early campaign speeches
Anas Sarwar had said it would be from cutting Active Travel funding. On our estimate this would mean a 40% cut on curre…](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2ood4k4wojq5jku2zl3myqco/bafkreihtx3yx2su5oubnssv3v75xk6lov5cp57qt2pftf5o4wn2u7hf5qe)
Table of party manifestos (page 2) Potholes - - p33 Fund pothole filling by cutting (scrapping?) the AT budget N + (or - -) p49 £350m fund [see note 1 below] + p64 “fair funding” for councils; use of new technology + p21 “Fix potholes” + p72 “up to £350m” for potholes & resurfacing Air pollution including Low Emission Zones - - p36 Halt more LEZs and reduce fines in existing ++ p118 expand LEZs, plus stronger monitoring N - - p21 Abolish LEZs N Transport integration, with respect to active travel = p38 Rail, bus & tram integration; no mention of walk/ bike + p22, p26 Better AT links to public transport; All new rail, bus, tram to carry bikes N N N N Road building - - p34 New law to fasttrack trunk road upgrades; dual A9 by 2031; many other trunk projects + p22 Future-proof roads like A83 vulnerable to climate change; no mention of expansion - - p49 Dual A9 by 2035, look into dualling A77 and A75, & create National Roads Plan - - p64 Dual A9 & A96; - - p21 “plan to upgrade major trunk roads” [see note 2 below] - - p71 Dual A9 by 2035, also parts of A96; and consider A75, A77 Air travel taxation ADT= Air departure tax - - p39 oppose any new taxes; reduce long-haul tax ++ p34 frequent flyer levy; private jet tax; more.. N + p66 Higher tax for private jet passengers N + p27 private jet tax; including for ‘ghost’ flights USP – unique selling points (good and bad!) picked out by Spokes - - p33 1. AT schemes are “ideological projects” 2. ban bikes in all pedestrian areas + p16, p156 Universal rail card; £2 max bus fares + p122 Council powers to enforce traffic contraventions + p55 “Crush illegal e-bikes, using drones to track & trace unlicensed bikes” + p64 ”Dangerous Roads Programme“ - - p21 “End the war on the car“ + p38 £2 bus fare cap [1] Labour £350m pothole fund. The manifesto does not say where the money would come from. In early campaign speeches Anas Sarwar had said it would be from cutting Active Travel funding. On our estimate this would mean a 40% cut on curre…
#Holyrood2026 #SP26
Our #manifesto analysis
--> www.spokes.org.uk/2026/04/holy...
We looked at #activetravel, mainly 🚲, and some related transport/environment, but not at 🚌🚆
1 Greens, excellent
2 LibDem, positive in a fairly modest way
3= Labour & SNP, poor
5 Reform, bad
6 Conservative, terrible
