Transform Scotland

John Swinney hints at rescue package to save Alexander Dennis jobs JOHN Swinney has pledged to explore “any and all viable options” to save jobs at an imperilled Scottish bus manufacturer.

It is very welcome that the Scottish Government is now proactively intervening to secure the future of Scottish bus manufacturing capacity.

www.thenational.scot/news/2534445...

Building momentum for 2026: Our member network briefing in Stirling - Transform Scotland This week, over 50 of our members and supporters came together in Stirling for our latest Member Network Briefing – a packed afternoon of policy insights and discussion as we...

How do we make sustainable transport a 2026 election priority?

This week we brought 50+ members together in Stirling to share insights on influencing party manifestos.

Catch up on the event, slides & what’s next 👇

transform.scot/2025/07/25/b...

I finally get an outlet to write about this topic = thanks @transform.scot!

Here's one tax against large cars that went entirely under the radar - Transform Scotland Board member Rachael Revesz reports on a recent policy win for sustainable transport which has received very little attention. She outlines what the re-classification of pick-up trucks as cars means.....

📣 A positive story for sustainable transport.

Board member @rachaelrevesz.bsky.social outlines why the reclassification of pick up trucks matters for safer streets 👇

transform.scot/2025/07/21/h...

"This shows that the government can make progressive change without causing a huge fanfare."

Simple zebra crossings are an easy and low-cost means of giving pedestrians priority.

@sustrans.bsky.social latest report backs their wider use 👇

www.sustrans.org.uk/our-blog/new...

We now need UK Gov to give councils the power to make them commonplace.

Britons lacking good public transport more likely to feel lonely, UK study finds Research finds correlation between car dependency and loneliness, particularly in rural towns

"People who depend on cars to get around are more likely to feel lonely and disconnected than those who have access to good public transport, a UK study has found"

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Trends in school travel in Scotland 2015-2024

Very concerning that levels of travelling actively to school are below 2015 levels - a decade of no national progress despite individual schools seeing improvements.

% of children being driven to school going up last year should prompt reflection from gov on why & joined up action to tackle it.

The £20 car engine fine that has been dished out just once in over 3 years Only one motorist has been penalised in more than three years with this £20 fine.

@gillianamartin.bsky.social We'd like to raise the fines with engine idling, as we've done with pavement parking, as we've done with LEZs, and enforce the fines, so kids - and all of us - have cleaner air. £20 fine doesn't cover the cost, it won't change behaviour. www.scotsman.com/news/transpo...

Scotland missing out on millions in private jet taxes, charity says Oxfam Scotland says an Air Departure Tax, which has been delayed by ministers, could have raised £29m.

Why are we letting private jet users off the hook?

12,000+ private jets used our airports in 2024.

A fair tax could have raised £29m.

Scotland has the powers to tax these flights & stop our airports being a playground for the world’s wealthiest polluters 👇

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Mind the Gap report cover and recommendations: [1] Define transport poverty & collect the data that will allow it be alleviated [2] Tackle transport inequalities through participation and budgeting

Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop presents.

Panellists left to right: Heather Williams, Dr Margaret Douglas, David McGilp MSYP, Lyn Pornaro (online)

Meeting of the CPG in Parliament. Graham Simpson MSP chairs.

Transport poverty – lack of affordable, accessible, reliable, & safe transport – is a hidden crisis.

The #SustainableTransportCPG inquiry report Mind the Gap calls on Government to define and measure this phenomenon for a fairer Scotland.

Read more 👇

transform.scot/our-work/our...

This government wants to expand airports up and down the country. But who will this really benefit? Ultra-frequent flyers.

@alchap.bsky.social spoke at today's Environmental Audit Committee.

One of the biggest obstacles I face as a safe streets advocate is opening people’s eyes to the fact that their driving everywhere cheaply ensures that a great number of people can get nowhere

@sarahboyack.bsky.social @markruskell.bsky.social @swbg.bsky.social @officialsyp.bsky.social @descot.bsky.social @sustransscot.bsky.social

Mind the Gap report cover and spread.

Transport decisions directly determine where we live, where we work, who we connect with.

If we don’t build fairness into the system, we’re locking people out of opportunity by design.

Read the report 👇 (5/5)

transform.scot/2025/06/17/m...

[2] Tackle transport inequalities through participation and budgeting - Co-design - Equality budgeting - Health impact assessments

2️⃣ We need to embed fairness into how transport decisions are made by:

✏️ Co-designing transport with marginalised groups

💷 Implementing equality budgeting to ensure investment reflects real-world travel patterns

🚶‍♀️Measuring how transport plans affect wellbeing with health impact assessments (4/)

[1] Define transport poverty & collect the data that will allow it to be alleviated - Transport poverty definition - Disaggregated transport data

1️⃣ We need a clear, national definition of transport poverty.

Because if we don’t define the problem, we can’t tackle it.

And we need better data to understand travel habits according to income, gender, disability, age, and geography – so we can direct support to where it's needed most. (3/)

Transport poverty is harming health and limiting opportunities for many.

And women, disabled people, children and low-income groups are particularly affected.

To tackle inequality, the CPG makes two key recommendations 👇 (2/)

'Mind the Gap': New inquiry reports transport system excluding majority of Scots - Transform Scotland A new report published today (Tuesday 17 June) by the Cross Party Group on Sustainable Transport reveals that Scotland’s transport system is systematically excluding many Scots — especially women, dis...

📣 NEW REPORT

'Mind the Gap' from the #SustainableTransportCPG finds Scotland’s transport system is excluding majority of Scots 👇 (1/)

transform.scot/2025/06/17/m...

A new traffic reduction policy: Our response - Transform Scotland Transport Scotland has released a new policy statement after its 20% car traffic reduction target was called into question, Public affairs manager Laura Hyde-White said: We welcome the Government’s co...

🚨Scotland’s 20% traffic reduction target is back on track.

We welcome this renewed focus — less cars on our roads means better air quality, safer streets and a more efficient network.

Now we need action, not just words.

Our response: transform.scot/2025/06/13/a...

What role can transport play in tackling inequality in Scotland?

We discussed this and more with the #SustainableTransportCPG in parliament last night.

Look out for the Group's final report and recommendations for government next week...

📘 Find out about the CPG:

transform.scot/our-work/our...

It has been long known that Scottish bus manufacturing is at risk from unfair Chinese competition.

We said so a year ago.

Now it’s happening – and Holyrood is stuck in blame games.

Isn’t it time for cross-party action instead of political point-scoring?

📣 We're calling for all the Scottish parties to commit to tackling the rise of SUVs in our towns and cities in their #ScottishElection2026 manifestos.

@scottishlabour.bsky.social
@snp.org
@scottories.bsky.social
@scottishgreens.org

NEW: Analysis from @transenv.bsky.social on bonnet heights shows the alarming growth rate of bigger and heavier cars – more likely to kill or seriously injure pedestrians, especially children.

If we're serious about having healthy and safe places to live, we desperately put people first, not cars.

Register here: www.tickettailor.com/events/cross...

Mind the Gap Wed 11 June 18:00 - 19:30 Scottish parliament or online

📣 Join the #SustainableTransportCPG this Wednesday for its wrap-up event on its inquiry into transport inequalities in Scotland.

We'll hear from Cab Sec for Transport @fionahyslop.bsky.social and panellists:

@officialsyp.bsky.social
@swbg.bsky.social
@descot.bsky.social
& Public Health Scotland

Latest on low emission zones being effective ways to shift behaviours & cut pollution👇

Want to hear the latest rail updates for Scotland?

Join SAPT's conference tomorrow from 13:30 at Glasgow City Radisson Hotel.

More details 👇

transform.scot/2025/04/04/a...

This event is *free* and open to *all*.

🚂 Celebrate #Railway200
💬 Hear from an exciting lineup of speakers
👫 And more!

Last chance today to vote for our 'A Wee Walk Works Wonders' campaign for the People’s Choice Award at SCVO's Scottish Charity Awards👇

scvo.scot/scottish-cha...

A 'Just Transition' for transport? Our response to the Government's draft plan - Transform Scotland Transform has today (Monday 19 May) submitted its response to the Scottish Government’s Draft Just Transition Plan for Transport. We welcome the Draft Plan’s useful summary of inequalities in Scotland...

Today we've responded to the Scottish Government's Draft Just Transition Plan for Transport.

It diagnoses problems but lacks action.

Without clear steps, ‘just transition’ risks remaining just rhetoric.

Read our full response 👇

transform.scot/2025/05/19/a...

Don't forget – you can show your support for the project by voting for us in @scvo.scot's People’s Choice Award (before 20 May) 👇

scvo.scot/scottish-cha...