Carmageddon

Minister’s task force steps up war on the motorist Cars ‘to be outlawed’ from swathes of towns and cities New road fees set to ‘disincentivise’ Scots drivers

CARS would be forced out of towns and cities under radical plans to boost cycling, walking and public transport.

A task force picked by Transport Minister Humza Yousaf has unveiled recommendations that will infuriate motorists.

It wants cars banned from parts of some roads in towns and cities to make space for bikes and buses.

Drivers should also be hit with ‘road user charges’ and a ‘workplace parking levy’ which – on top of soaring fuel prices, road tax, and the SNP’s own city centre diesel ban – would make running a car even more expensive.

The report claimed its recommendations would lead to decisions that were ‘unpopular – but right’.

The task force wants ‘behaviour change programmes’ to be introduced to persuade people who refuse to leave their car at home.

Those who do still insist on driving will see millions of pounds diverted from roads budgets to improving cycle paths, and bus and train services.

The four-person task force – a council chief, two senior transport officials and an urban planner – warned that Scotland’s ‘car is king’ culture must end.

It cited a council which had decided to ‘put people first and make cars feel like guests’, as a model for other local authorities.

The report, to be considered by Scottish Ministers, said its proposals need to be backed by a multimillion-pound increase in funding.

In 2017/18, 1.9 per cent, or £40 million, of the transport budget, was devoted to ‘active travel’ – walking, cycling or public transport. Campaigners want to see that increased fivefold, which will inevitably mean less funding for infrastructure, such as fixing Scotland’s pothole-scarred roads.

In terms of measures aimed at punishing drivers, it recommended ‘a policy of reducing urban traffic and transferring carriageway space to active travel should be considered, including workplace parking levy, road user charging and encouraging more car-sharing’.

It added: ‘Many travel-related policies create incentives for the use of cars through low-cost or free parking, subsidised travel and business mileage.

‘The introduction of road pricing and workplace parking levies should be considered to emphasise the cost of car use as opposed to the use of public or active travel.’

The report, published by Transport Scotland, will be welcomed by environmentalists, but will raise concerns among school-run parents and workers who have no alternative but to drive.

Scottish Conservatives transport spokesman Jamie Greene said: ‘There’s nothing wrong with encouraging active lifestyles and cleaner air in cities.

‘But Humza Yousaf needs to remember his primary job is to keep Scotland moving. Many of these proposals would do the precise opposite.’

Neil Greig, director of policy at the Institute of Advanced Motorists, said: ‘Public transport is not attractive to many people and walking or cycling does not work if you live in the suburbs, or have to get across the city.’

Welcoming the report, Mr Yousaf said: ‘We will have wider discussions with internal and external stakeholders in order to decide which recommendations to take forward and who will lead and support the implementation of these.’

Transport Scotland insisted there would be no return to tolls, such as those abolished by the SNP on the Forth and Tay bridges.

A spokesman said its aim was to ‘deliver new, innovative and popular infrastructure which supports and encourages walking and cycling’.

‘Public transport is not attractive to many people’