Colin Howden
@transform-director.bsky.social
Director of sustainable transport alliance Transform Scotland.
transform.scot @transformscot.bsky.social
transform.scot @transformscot.bsky.social
Following widespread speculation that the Chancellor will announce plans for a pay-per-mile charge for electric vehicle use in tomorrow's UK Budget, here's the article initially written for @transform.scot's 'Ideas for Investment' report.
www.linkedin.com/pulse/new-im...
www.linkedin.com/pulse/new-im...
A new impetus behind road pricing?
The reform of transport taxation to place the ‘polluter pays principle’ at its core has for decades now been the cherished ambition of sustainable transport advocates. Road pricing has long been held ...
www.linkedin.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Following widespread speculation that the Chancellor will announce plans for a pay-per-mile charge for electric vehicle use in tomorrow's UK Budget, here's the article initially written for @transform.scot's 'Ideas for Investment' report.
www.linkedin.com/pulse/new-im...
www.linkedin.com/pulse/new-im...
Reposted by Colin Howden
Today we’re proud to launch Why Fly? – a new website which asks #WhyFly when rail beats air on comfort, carbon, and value to Scotland?
Explore our 20 year-long campaign: whyfly.scot
Trains emit up to 90% less CO₂ than flights, provide more comfort, and contribute more to Scotland’s economy.
Explore our 20 year-long campaign: whyfly.scot
Trains emit up to 90% less CO₂ than flights, provide more comfort, and contribute more to Scotland’s economy.
August 27, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Today we’re proud to launch Why Fly? – a new website which asks #WhyFly when rail beats air on comfort, carbon, and value to Scotland?
Explore our 20 year-long campaign: whyfly.scot
Trains emit up to 90% less CO₂ than flights, provide more comfort, and contribute more to Scotland’s economy.
Explore our 20 year-long campaign: whyfly.scot
Trains emit up to 90% less CO₂ than flights, provide more comfort, and contribute more to Scotland’s economy.
Reposted by Colin Howden
🚍 NEW REPORT: Public backs bus priority—now it’s time for action
Today, we launch ‘Life in the Bus Lane’, revealing strong public support for bus priority measures—even from non-bus users 👇
transform.scot/our-work/our...
🧵 Read on for key findings & what needs to change
[1/5]
Today, we launch ‘Life in the Bus Lane’, revealing strong public support for bus priority measures—even from non-bus users 👇
transform.scot/our-work/our...
🧵 Read on for key findings & what needs to change
[1/5]
April 2, 2025 at 10:24 AM
🚍 NEW REPORT: Public backs bus priority—now it’s time for action
Today, we launch ‘Life in the Bus Lane’, revealing strong public support for bus priority measures—even from non-bus users 👇
transform.scot/our-work/our...
🧵 Read on for key findings & what needs to change
[1/5]
Today, we launch ‘Life in the Bus Lane’, revealing strong public support for bus priority measures—even from non-bus users 👇
transform.scot/our-work/our...
🧵 Read on for key findings & what needs to change
[1/5]
Yes, spot on. Let's see the £10m *only* spent on delivering bus priority. Five years of buggering about and, as far as I can see, precisely no new bus lanes on the roads.
Today's award for utter billhooks goes to ScotGov comms:
'the new scheme will focus “on delivering bus priority & supporting infrastructure measures to tackle the negative impact of congestion.”
£10m across Scotland? For that you'll get a few studies, to add to £28m already spent on er...studies.
'the new scheme will focus “on delivering bus priority & supporting infrastructure measures to tackle the negative impact of congestion.”
£10m across Scotland? For that you'll get a few studies, to add to £28m already spent on er...studies.
Bus Partnership Fund reported as having been "concluded" by
Transport Scotland according to Route One magazine.
So concluded only c. £473m short of the £500m originally committed.
We wait to see how the replacement £10m Bus Infrastructure Fund will work.
www.route-one.net/news/bus-inf...
Transport Scotland according to Route One magazine.
So concluded only c. £473m short of the £500m originally committed.
We wait to see how the replacement £10m Bus Infrastructure Fund will work.
www.route-one.net/news/bus-inf...
December 6, 2024 at 8:38 PM
Yes, spot on. Let's see the £10m *only* spent on delivering bus priority. Five years of buggering about and, as far as I can see, precisely no new bus lanes on the roads.
Bus Partnership Fund reported as having been "concluded" by
Transport Scotland according to Route One magazine.
So concluded only c. £473m short of the £500m originally committed.
We wait to see how the replacement £10m Bus Infrastructure Fund will work.
www.route-one.net/news/bus-inf...
Transport Scotland according to Route One magazine.
So concluded only c. £473m short of the £500m originally committed.
We wait to see how the replacement £10m Bus Infrastructure Fund will work.
www.route-one.net/news/bus-inf...
Bus Infrastructure Fund in Scotland to handle spend on priority
The Bus Partnership Fund in Scotland – currently subject to a heavily-criticised 'pause' – will be replaced by a Bus Infrastructure Fund.
www.route-one.net
December 6, 2024 at 3:35 PM
Bus Partnership Fund reported as having been "concluded" by
Transport Scotland according to Route One magazine.
So concluded only c. £473m short of the £500m originally committed.
We wait to see how the replacement £10m Bus Infrastructure Fund will work.
www.route-one.net/news/bus-inf...
Transport Scotland according to Route One magazine.
So concluded only c. £473m short of the £500m originally committed.
We wait to see how the replacement £10m Bus Infrastructure Fund will work.
www.route-one.net/news/bus-inf...
So the £500m Bus Partnership Fund has indeed been cancelled, not "paused", as Transport Scotland claimed earlier this year.
But it has been replaced by a £10m 'Bus Infrastructure Fund'.
www.gov.scot/binaries/con...
Unclear whether this new fund comes at the expense of active travel investment.
But it has been replaced by a £10m 'Bus Infrastructure Fund'.
www.gov.scot/binaries/con...
Unclear whether this new fund comes at the expense of active travel investment.
Our response to #ScottishBudget:
transform.scot/2024/12/04/d...
“It’s deeply disappointing that no funds were found for reinstating the Bus Partnership Fund. Installing #BusPriority on the roads is a cheap & quick way to incentivise people to switch from cars to public transport."
transform.scot/2024/12/04/d...
“It’s deeply disappointing that no funds were found for reinstating the Bus Partnership Fund. Installing #BusPriority on the roads is a cheap & quick way to incentivise people to switch from cars to public transport."
December 4, 2024 at 6:26 PM
So the £500m Bus Partnership Fund has indeed been cancelled, not "paused", as Transport Scotland claimed earlier this year.
But it has been replaced by a £10m 'Bus Infrastructure Fund'.
www.gov.scot/binaries/con...
Unclear whether this new fund comes at the expense of active travel investment.
But it has been replaced by a £10m 'Bus Infrastructure Fund'.
www.gov.scot/binaries/con...
Unclear whether this new fund comes at the expense of active travel investment.
Just having a look at the transport aspects of the #ScottishBudget document now.
As ever, the thing is difficult to scrutinise because of the general opacity of the information presented.
As ever, the thing is difficult to scrutinise because of the general opacity of the information presented.
December 4, 2024 at 3:56 PM
Just having a look at the transport aspects of the #ScottishBudget document now.
As ever, the thing is difficult to scrutinise because of the general opacity of the information presented.
As ever, the thing is difficult to scrutinise because of the general opacity of the information presented.
Reposted by Colin Howden
Wednesday's #ScotBudget needs to deliver for #SustainableTransport:
🚌 Reinstate investment in bus priority
🚶♀️ Invest in the healthiest modes of transport
🚃 Get rail electrification plans back on track
💷 Develop new revenue sources
Our priorities: transform.scot/2024/12/03/t...
🚌 Reinstate investment in bus priority
🚶♀️ Invest in the healthiest modes of transport
🚃 Get rail electrification plans back on track
💷 Develop new revenue sources
Our priorities: transform.scot/2024/12/03/t...
transform's priorities for the scottish budget - Transform Scotland
Wednesday 4 December sees the Scottish Government’s finance secretary set out the draft Scottish Budget for 2025/26. We set out here four areas where we need to see the Scottish...
transform.scot
December 3, 2024 at 3:16 PM
Wednesday's #ScotBudget needs to deliver for #SustainableTransport:
🚌 Reinstate investment in bus priority
🚶♀️ Invest in the healthiest modes of transport
🚃 Get rail electrification plans back on track
💷 Develop new revenue sources
Our priorities: transform.scot/2024/12/03/t...
🚌 Reinstate investment in bus priority
🚶♀️ Invest in the healthiest modes of transport
🚃 Get rail electrification plans back on track
💷 Develop new revenue sources
Our priorities: transform.scot/2024/12/03/t...
The @transformscot.bsky.social 'Ideas for Investment' report contains my article on how in Iceland action is being taken now to implement road pricing for EVs.
transform.scot/2024/11/27/f...
It's now almost 4 years since Scot Gov committed to road traffic reduction. We're long overdue for action.
transform.scot/2024/11/27/f...
It's now almost 4 years since Scot Gov committed to road traffic reduction. We're long overdue for action.
November 27, 2024 at 3:23 PM
The @transformscot.bsky.social 'Ideas for Investment' report contains my article on how in Iceland action is being taken now to implement road pricing for EVs.
transform.scot/2024/11/27/f...
It's now almost 4 years since Scot Gov committed to road traffic reduction. We're long overdue for action.
transform.scot/2024/11/27/f...
It's now almost 4 years since Scot Gov committed to road traffic reduction. We're long overdue for action.
Hello Bluesky!
I'd encourage you all to have a look at the new @transformscot.bsky.social report published today. Lots of opportunity to put in place the investment needed to deliver sustainable transport in Scotland.
I'd encourage you all to have a look at the new @transformscot.bsky.social report published today. Lots of opportunity to put in place the investment needed to deliver sustainable transport in Scotland.
NEW: How to generate funds for Scotland's transport.
Our #IdeasForInvestment reports highlights a suite of innovative financial instruments and tax reforms which would raise revenue and stimulate investment in sustainable transport.
Our #IdeasForInvestment reports highlights a suite of innovative financial instruments and tax reforms which would raise revenue and stimulate investment in sustainable transport.
November 27, 2024 at 3:20 PM
Hello Bluesky!
I'd encourage you all to have a look at the new @transformscot.bsky.social report published today. Lots of opportunity to put in place the investment needed to deliver sustainable transport in Scotland.
I'd encourage you all to have a look at the new @transformscot.bsky.social report published today. Lots of opportunity to put in place the investment needed to deliver sustainable transport in Scotland.