Scotland will join European leaders in developing innovative transport initiatives to encourage more Scots out of their cars.

Announcing the award of funding to seven successful towns and cities, Transport and Climate Change Minister Stewart Stevenson said the Sustainable Travel Demonstration Communities project would showcase a range of transport initiatives that would be good for people's pockets, their health, their communities and the planet.

Initiatives will include proposals for the first self service bike rental schemes anywhere in the UK as well as more targeted transport advice to commuters.

Bike rental schemes, based on successful models in Paris, Barcelona and Stockholm will allow people in Dumfries and Dundee to pick up a bike at a rail or bus station, use it for free for half an hour, and then pay a rental fee at an hourly rate thereafter. Once finished, the bike could then be deposited at any one of a number of other interchanges across towns and cities.

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Stewart Stevenson said: "With more cars on our roads, increasing levels of congestion and rising emissions, it is time for us all to look at our travel behaviour.

"We need to look at new ways of persuading people out of their cars and onto more sustainable forms of travel such as trains, buses, walking and cycling.

"The proposals from local authorities and regional transport partnerships have been impressive and the seven communities selected now have the chance to improve travel options for thousands of residents.

"Initiatives like the bike rental schemes, the development of park and choose sites, more pedestrian-only areas, and free trial bus and train tickets will help us to meet our ambitious climate change target - to reduce Scottish emissions by 80% by 2050.

"These proposals will help to promote healthier travel choices too, providing more opportunities for cycling and walking, allowing more people to enjoy the benefits of increased physical activity."

Barrhead, Kirkwall, Dumfries, Dundee, Kirkintilloch/Lenzie, Larbert/Stenhousemuir and Glasgow East End will now use £15m of funding to develop a wide range of initiatives such as personalised travel planning, the building of more pedestrianised zones, free trial bus and rail passes and the development of better walking and cycling routes to encourage their residents to use greener forms of travel.

COSLA's Vice President Councillor Corrie McChord said: "COSLA is happy to be involved in this project. It helps both councils and the Scottish Government to meet a number of aspirations we share with the Scottish people. We have far too many short journeys being undertaken, nearly three in five car journeys are for trips of less than three miles."

(GK/JM)