Community cycling and walking initiatives warn that a 60% reduction in revenue funding will force service cuts and reduced staff hours
The Scottish drive to encourage more people to walk, cycle and use wheeled mobility for short journeys is facing a major shortfall after a large reduction in central funding. Local organisations that organise training, maintain adapted bikes and run school or workplace schemes say they are already limiting activity because of a drop in revenue funding.
The move comes despite official recognition that active travel supports healthier communities, reduces pollution and eases congestion.
Campaigners and project managers point to specific changes in the government’s support stream: the resource allocation for the People and Place programme has been reduced sharply, even as the programme’s capital element remains in place.
That mismatch is creating a gap between infrastructure investment and the everyday staffing and running costs that deliver outcomes on the ground.
What the funding change means
Regional partners had expected both capital and resource elements to underpin walking and cycling projects, but the recent announcement confirmed a cut to the resource pot from £7.9 million to £3.2 million for the 2026-27 People and Place allocations, which were noted as confirmed on April 9.
The capital element of the programme is being held at £15.5m, but the revenue reduction—effectively a 60% decrease year on year—affects staff salaries, outreach work and other recurring costs that cannot be covered by one-off capital spending.
Impact on community delivery
Smaller charities and local social enterprises warn that reduced resource funding will force them to trim programmes, shorten opening hours and reduce the number of participants they can support. One Glasgow-based operator that runs adapted cycling sessions for older adults and people with disabilities reported that demand exceeds capacity, yet cuts to revenue mean turning away participants and scaling back outreach. These providers stress that hiring and retaining trained staff is especially difficult when core funding is uncertain.
Case study: inclusive cycling initiatives
Groups that provide adapted trikes and specialist equipment say that the work they do—helping care home residents or disabled users regain confidence on a bike—relies on consistent staffing and sessional funding rather than lump-sum capital grants. The absence of stable revenue support makes long-term planning and partnership building with schools and care providers unpredictable, reducing the number of opportunities available to local people.
Walking campaigns and local schools
Organisations focused on pedestrian programmes also warn that fewer schools will receive support to build walking-friendly routes or run active travel lessons. Advocates argue that as the cost of living and fuel prices rise, making walking and wheeling easier should be a priority, yet the fall in revenue pushes many initiatives out of reach for schools and neighbourhoods that need them most.
Official explanation and wider budget context
Transport Scotland acknowledged that active travel brings public health and environmental benefits but explained the reduction as part of a broader response to pressures on the Scottish Government’s resource budget. In official terms, the transport portfolio has been asked to help deliver a balanced budget; as a result, the resource funding element of the People and Place programme was cut while the capital sum was preserved. The agency pointed to allocations made by the previous administration for the 2026-27 cycle.
How campaigners interpret the decision
Advocates and charity leaders interpret the change less as a financial reallocation and more as a policy reversal: sustained work to normalise walking and cycling depends as much on people and programmes as on infrastructure. They warn that reduced funding not only limits current services but risks eroding networks and expertise built up over recent years, making it harder to restart or expand activity when funding returns.
Finally, national cycling campaigners estimate that total Scottish Government spending on active travel represents roughly 4% of the transport budget—about £163m a year according to one organisation—and warn that cuts to the revenue side of delivery undermine the practical benefits of that investment. Community providers hope for a swift review or alternative support routes so that staff and local users are not left without essential services.
