More than £68 million is being invested in new walking, wheeling and cycling infrastructure across Scotland during 2026 and 2027.

The Scottish Government funding will support local authorities, regional transport partnerships and national park authorities to design and construct active travel routes in communities across the country.

The investment forms part of a wider £226 million commitment to active and sustainable travel during the current financial year.

The aim is to make walking, wheeling and cycling practical choices for more of the shorter journeys people make every day.

Evidence from previously completed projects shows that when communities are provided with safe and good quality routes, more people choose active ways to travel.

The infrastructure investment will therefore concentrate on creating routes that make those journeys safer and easier rather than simply encouraging people to change how they travel.

Separate programmes will support access to active travel, including skills and storage, alongside the physical infrastructure being funded.

Economy, Tourism and Transport Secretary Stephen Flynn confirmed the £68 million allocation ahead of the formal opening of the Avenues Plus project at Cowcaddens Road and Dobbie’s Loan in Glasgow.

Mr Flynn said:

“I’m pleased to confirm that more than £68 million has now been allocated to active travel infrastructure design and construction projects across Scotland.

“Active travel remains one of the best solutions for our most complex problems.

“Whether it’s helping people save money, improving health or protecting our climate, walking, wheeling and cycling is transformational for both people and planet.

“We are investing £226 million in active and sustainable travel in 2026-27, and the evidence from previously funded projects gives us confidence that this investment creating safer and easier routes will lead to more people choosing to walk, wheel and cycle for everyday journeys.”

The funding comes as councils and transport bodies continue developing networks intended to connect homes with schools, workplaces, shops, public transport and other everyday destinations.

For rural areas, the practical challenges can be very different from those faced in Scotland’s towns and cities, where distances are shorter and existing transport networks are generally more extensive.

Investment decisions will therefore matter as authorities determine which projects can genuinely make walking, wheeling or cycling a realistic alternative for everyday journeys in the communities they serve.

The Scottish Government’s ambition is ultimately straightforward.

If people are going to leave the car at home for shorter journeys, they need routes that make doing so safe, convenient and practical.

More than £68 million is now being put behind building them.