In 2024, Transport Scotland introduced a new model known as the People and Place Programme to encourage more people in Scotland to walk, cycle or use other active modes of transportation.

Each of Scotland’s seven Regional Transport Partnerships now receive direct funding to administer to local organisations and projects that promote active travel.

Previously Transport Scotland allocated funding to a range of organisations as ‘active travel delivery partners’. This change aims to distribute funding more fairly, better align projects with goals, and reduce duplicate efforts.

For 2024/25, Nestrans receiving funding from Transport Scotland of £1,737,667 in support of active travel interventions in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.

Officers created a framework and matrix to evaluate different proposals objectively and select the best value ones within budget constraints. Transport Scotland stressed the importance of aligning priorities with regional strategies, focusing on the following themes:

• Active Schools
• Active Workplaces
• Accessibility
• Capacity Building

After analysing all projects, the Nestrans Board approved the People and Place Programme for 2024/25, and you can find out more about some of the projects we are supporting below:

Empowering children, parents and teachers to travel actively.

Increasing affordable access to bikes for children and young people

Working with schools, colleges and university to support cycle parking and storage

Providing cycle parking & storage in business parks and major employment sites