 The next item of business today is a member's business debate on motion number 13831, in the name of Jim Eadie, on the 20th anniversary of the national cycle week. This debate will be concluded without any questions being put, and I would be grateful if those members who wish to speak in the debate could please press the request to speak buttons as soon as possible. I would also ask guests leaving the gallery to do so quietly, please. I call on Jim Eadie to open the debate seven minutes, please. Thank you, Presiding Officer. I'm delighted to have the opportunity to lead a debate in order to celebrate and pay tribute to the national cycle network in Scotland on its 20th anniversary. I thank members from across the chamber who have signed the motion in my name. I also warmly welcome constituents who have joined us in the gallery today. The network has grown to be a magnificent asset, covering over 2,500 miles across Scotland, connecting local communities and making it easier for people to choose healthier, cleaner journeys every day. The network now comes within 500 metres of over 40 per cent of Scotland's population, and it is estimated that 120 million trips were made on the network last year alone. That brings benefits to the health and wellbeing of those people who are making those journeys, as well as to our environment and our wider economy. That shows that there is a clear demand for safe and attractive walking and cycling routes across the country. The national cycle network was created in 1995, after Sustrans received a grant from the newly launched national lottery. I am grateful to Dave DeFoe of Cycling Organisation Spokes for bringing to my attention that the network's history stretches further back. I hope that Dave will not mind me mentioning his own commitment to cycling, which stretches as far back as 1983, when Spokes successfully persuaded the then Scottish Office and Lothian Regional Council to commission John Grimshaw, the founder of Sustrans, to prepare reports on the potential of disused railways as well as other opportunities to create coherent cycle route networks in Scotland. 1983 also saw the opening of the first cycle route across the meadows in Edinburgh, finally enabling people to cycle toward the city centre without using major roads. Two years later, the Grimshaw Scotland report was published, forming the original concept and inspiration for the national cycle network in Scotland. Concluding my history lesson, Spokes leaflet 26 from autumn 1985 described that as the best news for many years for cyclists in Lothian and many parts of Scotland. The report also helped to inspire the development of the fantastic North Edinburgh network, which now provides completely traffic-free cycling from Roseburn in the West to Leith in the East. As co-conveners of the Scottish Parliament's cross-party group on cycling, Alison Johnson, Claudia Beamish and I have had the privilege to work with all the relevant organisations in moving cycling up the political agenda. I also acknowledge the contributions that have been made by Sarah Boyack and John Lamont in taking forward that work. The Cycling Action Plan for Scotland has the key aspiration of getting 10 per cent of all journeys in Scotland to be taken by bike by 2020. While that is ambitious, it is encouraging that Cycling Scotland's 2015 annual monitoring report has shown a 32 per cent increase in levels of cycling since 2003. Edinburgh and Inverness are leading the way, with around one in 10 journeys to work currently being taken by bike. However, there can be no doubt that significant further progress will have to be made if that is to become a reality. Keeping that in mind, cycling organisations are gearing up for the 2016 Scottish parliamentary elections. Earlier this year, I hosted a reception in Parliament to launch Scotland on the move, the actions needed to get more people walking and cycling. There are a number of calls to action that are supported by the active travel community, including Cycling Scotland, the Scottish Cycling Charity, Living Streets, Paths for All, Rambler Scotland, Sustrans and Transform Scotland. However, all those organisations agree on the need for guaranteed funding, investment in infrastructure and a variety of measures that make our roads safer for people to travel on by foot and by bike. While the network has received the support of successive Scottish Governments, local authorities and other partners, it is vital that we see sustained investment in active travel to ensure the momentum behind this demand for walking and cycling continues. Investing in cycling brings a variety of economic, health and environmental benefits. Sustrans, using the World Health Organization's health economic assessment tool, has estimated that in 2014 alone, £321 million was saved thanks to the health benefits of walking and cycling. Furthermore, the financial benefit of cycling tourism has been estimated at £230 million by Transform Scotland and Sustrans. In terms of the environment, tens of thousands of tonnes of carbon are potentially being saved as a result of the network. The potential CO2 savings of journeys has increased from over 64,000 tonnes in 2013 to over 75,000 tonnes in 2014. Turning to infrastructure, in order to deliver the best infrastructure for cycling, the single most important factor is long-term commitment from the Scottish Government and local authorities. In that regard, I welcome the Scottish Government's infrastructure investment plan, which reinforces the long-term commitment to support active travel. In July this year, my colleagues Alison Johnstone and Claudia Beamish met with the Minister for Transport and the Islands to request Scottish Government support for the creation of a competitive award for local authorities for an on-road segregated cycle lane project. An award of that nature, which would in effect become an award for exemplar projects, would serve to encourage local authorities to build on the existing cycling network, including on-road segregated cycle lanes such as those found throughout the Netherlands and in Copenhagen. That would be a major incentive in helping to change travel culture and behaviour within our cities and could lead to residents calling for local authorities to take more action to create real, safe cycling networks in our urban areas. It is important that we have good transport links to the network, particularly given the growth and cycle tourism that there has been in recent years. I was delighted that, earlier this month, the ScotRail Alliance announced that cycling access is being reinstated at Edinburgh Waverly station. A new cycle lane and associated infrastructure, including gated barriers at the foot of the ramp, road markings and new signage, will be located on the north ramp during this month. However, my appeal to the ScotRail Alliance is to work with organisations such as Spokes and Sustrans in the design of those plans to ensure that the needs of cyclists are properly listened to and acted upon. While the national cycling network offers cyclists a traffic-free environment to travel, cyclists still need to share the roads with motor vehicles. If we are to get more people cycling, we need to make our roads safer, less congested and healthier for the next generation. As I have said previously in this chamber, there are many who want to cycle but feel that the roads are not yet safe enough. The safer we make our roads, the more people will get out of their cars and on to their bikes. I am pleased that the Scottish Government is taking action to encourage this cultural shift on road safety. However, I would like to highlight Cyclelaw Scotland's road share campaign for presumed liability. I recognise that we do not yet have a consensus in support of this, either in this chamber or in wider society, although it is something that I and other members of the cross-party group support. However, we need to recognise that there is a strong correlation between European nations that operate presumed liability and higher levels of active travel and safer road use. We can all agree that further steps are necessary to build a culture of mutual respect on our roads. Cycling Scotland's work to increase practical cycle awareness for drivers of large vehicles through expanding its training sessions for lorry and bus drivers should also be welcomed. It is great to see a pilot scheme being rolled out in Edinburgh, which gives those drivers the opportunity to experience the issues that cyclists face on the roads. Looking to the future generation, every child in Scotland should have the opportunity to learn to ride a bike safely and confidently on our roads. The national cycling network is a clear illustration that walking and cycling is one of the best investments any Government can make, delivering massive benefits for the health of the nation, the environment and the economy. Members across the chamber, I am sure, will agree with me that we all have a big part to play in supporting the network. I look forward to working alongside colleagues and cycling groups in order to make sure that the benefits of the network continue to be delivered now and well into the future. I thank the members of the group for cycling for the national cycling network for the benefits of the network. Claudia Beamish is a popular debate. I would be grateful if members could keep to four minutes. Claudia Beamish will be followed by Fiona McLeod. I thank my colleague and co-convener of the cross-party group for cycling, Jim Eadie, for his motion in celebration of the national cycle network. I am pleased to continue to work with him and Alison Johnson in our quest for more active travel and more positive outcomes for people across Scotland. I am pleased to be in contact with the Minister on a number of issues. Twenty years old this year and the NCN has brought significant value to our Scottish economy, our health and our environment. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Sustrans Scotland, the communities across Scotland and the local authorities and other bodies who have worked in contributing to this far-reaching success. Last year, Sustrans estimate that the health benefits of walking and cycling on the network equated to £321 million, as Jim Eadie has already highlighted. I think that it is important to reinforce this. While our NHS is under such a train, it is clearly vital that we have preventative spend in relation to health and that our different departments should really break down the barriers between them and not be working in silos so that some issues can be addressed before people get to the stage of either obesity or heart issues and those sort of areas. I think that is very important. A near 3 per cent increase in everyday trips on the network commuting, shopping and the school run shows that where people are able, they will adapt to a more sustainable lifestyle. Within my region, South Lanarkshire Council has made considerable improvements to cycling provisions through their local transport strategy, and that goes through until 2023. In rural areas where car dependency often exists, extensions to the NCN can make a considerable impact. Let's remember that it's not everybody in rural areas who has access to or indeed can afford a car or chooses to have one. Journeys on the network potentially saved 75,760 tonnes of CO2 in 2014. The work done will make everyday cycling and walking safer and much more attractive. It would be fantastic to see more children able to cycle or walk to school and recently completed routes through the centre of Lesmahego village in my region make this a reality here. I commend the council for its work dedicated to increasing safety, creating cycle parking facilities and better cycle lanes on busier roads. Of course, the magnificence of Scotland's geography means that the NCN does not only cater for purposeful journeys. The ever-growing network, along with mobile technology developments, means that cycling holidays and day trips can be planned with certainty and become an option for less experienced cyclists and walkers as well. The opportunity for tourism in this sector must be harnessed, and after the tour of Britain sped past the Parliament last week, I want to highlight cycling events. In my region last year, the tour of the Borders bought an estimated 500,000 to the Scottish Borders. To generate this kind of strong economic benefit across Scotland, we must ensure that funding is balanced to support smaller events as well. The opening of the Borders railway is a fantastic opportunity for tourism, and we should seize the chance to integrate the rail line with the network where possible. It is excellent to see a number of stations on the line that are well connected with the network. However, catching the train to Tweed Bank when there aren't sometimes going to be enough spaces for cycles is a real issue, which I raised with the previous transport minister Keith Brown when he was in that position nearly two years ago, and which I still think needs to be addressed. Can the minister have another look at the issue? Designated space on public transport can be limiting for planning cycle trips if people don't have the confidence that they will be able to get on, especially if they have to pry a book and not be able to be spontaneous. I'm sorry, my facet is all alone. The NCN provides us access to parts of Scotland that otherwise wouldn't often be visited. Its growth must be supported to continue the invaluable benefits and active travel more broadly. I congratulate the whole of Scotland who has worked hard on this issue. I thank Fiona McLeod, who is followed by Alison Johnstone. I thank Jimmy Dane for bringing this debate to Parliament. I also say to the chamber with no disrespect that I have to leave as soon as I make my speech, because I'm hosting an event this lunchtime for youth volunteers from my constituency, some of whom have done their volunteering by cycling to do old folks' messages for them. I'm glad that I'm able to contribute. I especially wanted to talk about the two routes of the national cycle network that go through my constituency of Strathkelvin and Bearsden. Route 754, which goes along the Forth and Clyde canal from Bowling to Edinburgh, takes in Westerton, Bishop Riggs, Kirkntillach and Twecker, and it often talks about the canal as being a thread that runs through my constituency. Of course, the cycle network that is part of that is also a very clear thread going through my constituency. For myself personally, I think that it's very important that we also remember, and it's been mentioned by both the previous speakers, that the cycle network is great for cycling, but it also allows us to get out on our feet and do walking, which is good for our health. For me, the two parts of the national cycle network that go through my constituency are well walked by me and my dog, Rona, the Dalmatian. The other route that goes through my constituency is route 755, which goes from Drummond to Glen Boyge. Part of that is using the Old Strathkelvin railway path, and it goes through Lenoxtown and Milton of Campsy. One of the great things about the national cycle network is the way—Straithkelvin railway path shows that—that we can use that to join two other networks. In 2004, when John Muir Way, the long-distance route, was opened up, it includes using part of the Strathkelvin railway path, so it can now go from Helensborough on one coast all the way through to Dunbar on the east coast. That Strathkelvin railway path has always been utilised by the Thomas Muir heritage trail, which is very local to my area, and if I may take the time to give an advert, it's the 250th anniversary of the birth of Thomas Muir, the father of Scottish democracy. On 23 September, I am holding a reception in the Garden Lobby, and on 3 October, there will be a march and rally outside Parliament. In the few minutes that are left to me, I want to pick up on some of the comments that Jameedy made and Claudia Beamish was talking about the increase in some areas where 10 per cent of commutes are now done by cycling because of the advantage of having the national cycle network. I am sure that I have brought that to the attention of Parliament before, but I will not miss the opportunity. In Bishop Riggs primary schools, through the work of Edg's cycle co-op, we now have regularly 20 per cent of our primary school children cycling to school, so when you have that impetus, when you have that being able to use part of the national cycle network, look what we can do and look where we could be taking it in future. One thing that I could leave with the minister, and I will read the official report later, is that one of the things that Bishop Riggs would like to do to increase that 20 per cent even further is perhaps looking at designating Bishop Riggs as a 20-mile-per-hour area. It is about making it safe and obviously safe for cyclists and walkers. My understanding through working with Edg's cycle co-op is that the regulations about how we decide what a 20-mile-per-hour area can be very complicated in order to implement. I thank Jim Eadie for bringing this and for allowing me to highlight some of the beautiful parts of my constituency. I thank Jim Eadie for giving us the opportunity to debate this afternoon. I thank Jim and my co-convener, another co-convener and cross-party group on cycling, for the efforts that we have made so far in making sure that this important issue gets the attention that it deserves. I too would like to congratulate all those who have been involved in improving and extending our national cycle network, such trans volunteers, those who are connected with other organisations and local authorities. Their work really is making a difference. I have seen improvements in Edinburgh and across my constituency, but it is clear that there are still so many opportunities that we can and should harness. Every single time we dig up a road, let us look to see if we can make an improvement for people who walk and people who cycle. Let us have a rolling programme targeted at dangerous or just plain annoying junctions where they do not prioritise walking and cycling. Off-road and separated cycle lanes are vital to help people to feel safe and to be safe. I am looking at a specific example here in Edinburgh, the first phase of the investment, linking Edinburgh's meadows to the Innocent Path cycleway, is under way. It is already making a difference. It is incredible to think that this national cycle network used to involve cycling through a little narrow corridor full of wheelie bins and bin bags where you would come to some railings and have to dismount, and that has been transformed by investment. You can now stay on your bike and get safely across the road. It all started in March and it is still not finished, but I have no doubt that that will really encourage people to cycle and to feel that their children are safe doing so too. I look forward to work on the western side of the meadows too, which unfortunately will not begin until next year. A lot of us in this chamber campaigned about the utterly ridiculous situation at Waverly station where cyclists were banned from entering the station. I am pleased to note that that too is on track to being changed. We need this cultural change where we do not have to campaign against such really wrong-headed thinking and decisions because it has been a frustrating waste of time and we want to connect up different forms of transport and use our energy more positively. The walk improvements are in the pipeline too, although they have been a long time coming for residents living and commuting there. I believe that identifying gaps and improvements in our cycle and walkways is best done by people who use the routes. Walking and cycling is exactly the sort of investment that investment in these could best be decided by participatory budgeting. What would happen if you handed the whole walking and cycling budget over to a participatory budgeting exercise? I think that we would start to see exactly the sort of improvements that people want in their neighbourhoods. We should be ambitious here. Scotland's network is over 4,000 kilometres long, Denmark has a similar population to Scotland but over 11,000 kilometres and this network is across half the land area of Scotland. There will be differences between the networks but I am just making the point that we should keep our heads up when we are planning our cycling infrastructure. The national planning framework 3 includes the national cycling and walking network as a nationally significant development. That is a really positive move, because it was first time that the NPF recognised distributed developments, ones that happen in lots of different places across the country, rather than just a big piece of kit in one place. Those sort of network developments benefit people across the country and they should be considered nationally important. The central Scotland green network, the national digital fibre network and the electricity transmission network are other examples of that. While it is great that the walking and cycling network is there in the national planning framework as policy, it is vital that walking and cycling improvements are pushed forward with funding attached. The Government made clear funding commitments to roads for cars and lorries, so let us see that clear funding commitment for walkers and cyclists too. I will finish now, Presiding Officer, but I would be very grateful if the minister could confirm that a commitment to walking and cycling will play a much more significant part in the new infrastructure investment plan. Mr McGregor, I note that you have withdrawn your request to speak. Can you confirm that you no longer wish to contribute? Actually, you did, but however will carry on. Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I congratulate Jim Eadie on securing this debate and his very good opening speech. As we have already heard, the national cycle network is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. The network was founded in 1995 with a view to provide a national network of safe, attractive and high-quality cycle routes. Today, the NCN covers 14,000 miles of connected cycle paths and roads of which 2,500 miles are here in Scotland, and 40 per cent of the Scottish population lives in half a mile of the network. Cycling promoted and made more accessible by the NCN is extremely important for Scotland and the health of our nation. It is estimated that, in Scotland, if a year, 2,500 deaths can be attributed to low levels of activity, and the national cycle network, by providing safe places to get around by bike, encourages people to take an active journey to work or school. Travelling by bike or on foot does not only improve the health of those who do so but helps the health of the economy. People travelling on foot or by bike spend almost a third more in shops than those who travel by car, and by lowering congestion in towns and cities, destinations can become more attractive to visitors and inward investment. Promoting active travel in the workplace can also help to create a healthier and therefore more productive workplace. As part of the 20th anniversary celebrations of the network, Britain's favourite long-distance route and route of less than 30 miles were selected from a list of nominations. The Edinburgh 2 Newcastle route, which passes through Coburn's Path and Eyemouth in my constituency, was nominated for the long-distance category. Despite none of the Scottish entries winning, they show how fortunate we are here that what brilliant opportunities there are for cycling on path is in some of the most stunning scenery in all of Britain. As a keen cyclist myself, I know that the much more enjoyable and much more accessible, if it was properly signposted and where possible, off-road cycling routes were made more accessible too. In 2014, the national cycle network hosted over 120 million trips on foot or by bike, of which thousands of trips were taken across the Scottish borders. The borders, as well as having numerous cycle routes as part of the national network, has also been host to some exciting cycling events. The Tesco Bank tour of the borders took place in August and stages 3 and 4 of the Aviva Tour of Britain travelled through the borders last week. The tour covered many miles in the borders arriving at Newcastleton and finishing stage 3 at Floors Castle in Kelso. Stage 4 passed through Berwickshire, having travelled through some of the most beautiful scenery in Scotland. Those two major events contributed to the local economy. Indeed, it transformed Scotland, estimating that the value of cycle tourism is up to £239 million each year in Scotland. Many people do, despite the national cycle network, feel unsafe on the roads. Research carried out by Sustrans found that 56 per cent of people felt that cycling on roads in built-up areas was not safe and that fewer than 20 per cent regularly did that. Some people have complained that the national cycle network is in places purely at signposted and not fit for purpose with narrow lanes and poor surfaces. That is something that the network, local authorities and the Scottish Government should look at. Although 234 miles of traffic-free and on-road national cycle network routes were built or upgraded between 2013 and 2014, continued improvement of the national cycle network is needed to ensure that all cycle routes are suitable and safe for cyclists. Hopefully, the national cycle network will continue to grow and improve giving us in Scotland safer and increased enjoyment from cycling. I hope that this Parliament will continue to promote cycling across Scotland. First of all, can I too congratulate Jim Eadie on securing this debate for us this afternoon? It is wonderful to celebrate 20 years of our national cycle network. 120 million journeys are an incredible achievement on foot and bike. As others have mentioned, our national cycle routes are an economic asset to the country for the tourists that come to visit our routes, but also for the rest of us for days out, for short trips. It is a massive tourism benefit and I think that it is absolutely crucial that we record that today. I think that the statistics that we have had from Sus Trans and from Transform Scotland are good that they are on the record in this chamber. I also want to highlight the health benefits and say that I do believe that there is a big social justice benefit to be gained from promoting walking and cycling. It is the most affordable form of transport and I think that our ambition in Scotland should be that everybody has access to high-quality routes very close to their home and that they can access our national network easily. Both the local routes but also access to greater distances. I think that access issue is a key point. Within communities, the incremental change that Alison Johnstone recorded was better, safer routes for walking and cycling. The issue of the rural connections that Claudia Beamish highlighted. If you look at the map of Scotland, we have had a progressive increase in dedicated routes, in better signposting and in more continuous routes. That is one of the key points to celebrate in the national network. If I can pick up one point that Jim Eadie made, it was about getting the design right. The national network is fantastic but we need to get all the connecting points right too. I agree with Jim Eadie's points about Waverly. It is important that people who use those routes are informing the design of the routes. Waverly access is a classic example of that. I mentioned in passing the need to make sure that we cater for both walkers and cyclists. I think that some of the design that we are seeing on our roads and pavements is less than optimal. I can think of issues that are challenges in my constituency, in urban areas, where we have new designations for both walkers and cyclists and we need to make sure that both have enough space. I think that it is wrong to take space from pedestrians to cyclists when the pavement is a very narrow pavement. We need to make sure, as several colleagues have mentioned, that we continue to increase the level of investment in both walking and cycling. That particularly means dedicated routes that are segregated routes. It also means better on-road routes. That really picks up the point that John Lamont made about safer access for all. That is crucial. A brief comment on signage is that there are many people who are not aware of our cycle network and the national infrastructure that has been put in place. Journey planning is crucial. We need a more integrated approach to ensure that public transport enables you to access the national cycle network, whether it is buses or trains. For walkers, buses is an easy option. For cyclists, we now have more and more local bike higher options. Again, that feeds into the economic benefit, but I think that more can still be done. I welcome the new plans that Abel will have for the integration of cycling on the train network, but let's take this opportunity to do the 20th anniversary. Let's use this as a big promotional opportunity. I know from my own experience taking trips to North Berwick, Stirling, Falkirk, Fife. The national cycle network is a liberating experience because it is a high-quality experience. We need to have that across the whole country. I am very much looking forward to the new borders railway network. I know that there are capacity issues that Claudia Beamish has mentioned and that they need to be addressed. I can tell you from talking to spokes members in Edinburgh that it is a huge ambition of many of them. To be able to get down to the borders, a lot of them are going to cycle all the way back up. Some of the less fit members will be getting the train down, cycling around the borders and then coming back up, but it is enabling everyone that access. It is an environmental justice issue, it is a social justice issue and, crucially, it is a massive health and economic benefit for the country. Let's look forward to the next 20 years and hope that there will be an equal celebration, because we will have so many more routes then. Thank you, Presiding Officer. Many thanks to our last open debate speaker, Malcolm Chisholm. I congratulate Jim Eadie on bringing in this motion and, of course, Sustrans and all their great work as we celebrate 20 years of the national cycling network. Of course, as speakers have reminded us, it is for people walking as well as cycling. In fact, Sustrans tell us that of 121 million trips a year, about 58 million of them are on foot. As many speakers have said, this is hugely beneficial for our health. In the first instance, and it strikes me how many of the public health community are now saying, if you're going to do one thing more than anything else for your health, it's more physical activity. The climate change objectives have also been highlighted in the figures from Sustrans on CO2 reductions because of the network have been highlighted. There's reduced congestion, it creates more people-friendly cities in many cases and, of course, has many economic benefits as well. I think that it contributes to a number of key outcomes in the national policy framework, and I hope, therefore, that the Government will continue to fund and hopefully increase the funding. As Jim Eadie pointed out, there are roughly 2,500 miles of the national cycle network in Scotland. Many of those routes are on local railway lines, old lines, canal footpaths or forest trails. Of course, Jim Eadie highlighted the great North Edinburgh network, which is substantially a large part of which is in my constituency. I've certainly been very pleased to use the network extensively in recent times, particularly cycling with my young grandchildren. One of the benefits of the network is that young children can be encouraged to cycle on the network. Clearly, they can't cycle at a young age on the roads. I'm pleased that my five-year-old grandson, who has just started school, goes along the network to school every day, either walking or on his bicycle. I think that there is an issue about etiquette on the network because it sometimes worries me with walkers and cyclists together that some cyclists perhaps are not quite as considerate as they should be when they are passing groups of pedestrians, particularly when young children are involved. I think that there is an issue there, but clearly it is an incredibly positive development. I'm most aware of that in cities because there are major concerns about people cycling in such a congested city as Edinburgh. Given that, to the great credit of Edinburgh that one in 10 journeys to work are already by bike in Edinburgh and, hopefully, that will improve as we get the completion, for example, of cycling developments on Leith Watt, which have been delayed but will, I'm sure, be a great improvement when they are completed. As part of the 2015-20th anniversary celebrations, there was a national cycle network week at the end of June. I observed that there were a lot of community events connected with that week. I think that that is something that Sustrans highlights as well, because I know that the Sustrans site offers inspiration for walking and cycling, where you can research cycle routes according to your interests and abilities. Roots for families, art trails, routes for nature lovers, urban adventures and challenge routes for those who want to push themselves physically while making the most of stunning scenery. It reminds us of all the social advantages of the cycling network, as well as the health advantages, climate change advantages and, of course, the economic ones, which are referred to at the beginning. A Transformed Scotland report estimates that mountain biking and ledger cycle tourism combined contribute between £236 million and £358 million per year to the Scottish economy, with a cumulative gross value added of £129 million. The arguments in favour of cycling and walking and the network are overwhelming, and I urge the Scottish Government to look to support active travel and the further development of the network in order to further the many positive policy objectives. Many thanks. I now invite Derek Mackay to respond to the debate. Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. I also congratulate Jim Eadie in securing this debate, the celebration of the national cycle network. It is the anniversary of 20 years. What has become quite a consensual debate about active travel generally, the celebration of walking and cycling, but I do not want to miss out on that other category of people-runners who also use the national cycle network. I am not the only person with an interest in running some, as I manage it more than I do, but I was caught running last night by the chairman and chief executive of Sustrans as evidence to the fact that, after the dynamic airf event celebrating the 20th anniversary of the national cycle network, that living and active lifestyle is important. In terms of the growth of the route, we would all welcome the 2,500 miles in the extensions of course to the national cycle network. As Alison Johnstone referred to, the protection and promotion within the national planning framework and Scottish planning policy that I was able to do is the appropriate minister then that safeguards many routes, but yes is the aspiration to join the dots to make the connections as well rather than come to a sudden haul or a stop or a difficult point. I would have to challenge all members back to ensure that you equally challenge local authorities, because many of the interventions are local. I will be convening a summit with local authorities and other stakeholders, such as health boards later this year, so that all our policy interventions and funding decisions are calibrated towards supporting active travel and lifestyles. I very much welcome that initiative by the minister, because I think that that point about getting good quality infrastructure across the country is absolutely crucial. In particular, local authorities make sure that they have the knowledge and it is testing it with people who are going to use those routes. It is absolutely crucial. I appreciate the point and the reason that I am convening the summit is to impress upon local authorities their responsibility as well in the interventions that the Government can make, too. For example, the perception that 20 mile per hour zones are too difficult to do while I commend Edinburgh City Council for the work in taking that forward. I have republished guidance to try and make it easier and I am sure that Fiona McLeod will appreciate that answer and that new guidance when she checks the official report. Back to the national cycling network, 120 million trips every year are taken on the network. That seems like a phenomenally high figure to be commended. As is the work of the staff and the volunteers at Sustrans and elsewhere who have made such a difference to the network. Last January—indeed, this January—I held my first ministerial-led transport debate on active travel. I would want to do the same again next year, so we can have a full debate on policy and funding around active travel. However, I made a commitment to build upon the record high spend on active travel in the last financial year and to exceed that financial year. I will say that again to put it on the record. I also put on the record my agreement in principle to the cross-party work around a further exemplar project, as described by Giamedi. I have explained the circumstances that could allow that to happen, but I again confirm to Parliament that I am entirely in support of an exemplar project. The Leif Walk exemplar project is a good example of how we achieve critical mass in making the connections where people actually want to go. For the reasons that we have all given around healthier and greener lifestyles, it is about infrastructure and behaviour change. In terms of behaviour change, there is an issue around the cultural shift in road safety. I am not convinced by presumed liability, but I am absolutely convinced that there is an issue about how we share the road and the carriageway and the footway infrastructure of our country. In terms of behaviour change, we have much more to do in terms of infrastructure. Of course, funding will have to be sustained to allow the extension and improvements to make the right kind of connections between local government and the funding interventions that we make. It is one of the few remaining ring-fenced funds in this country from Scottish Government to local authorities around safer streets. However, there are a range of funding opportunities to support that local and national extension, many of which I want to promote through the summit and our on-going work. We all enjoyed the dynamic earth event last night, celebrating with other volunteers the 20th anniversary of the national cycle network, but I also particularly look forward to a further extension in terms of route 7 to 8, an emerging route that will go through the Highlands, right through the Great Glen. I am looking forward to its completion. In all policy areas, I have put cycling on the agenda only a few weeks ago. I met with other ministerial colleagues and their teams around aligning their policy to support that active travel agenda. That included environment ministers and health ministers, which I think that members would surely welcome as well. That policy positioning is at the very top of Scottish Government. More practically, with some of the other interventions around how we conduct our business, many members have welcomed Abelio ScotRail's new approach to cycling. Yes, unlocking potential on existing stations, promoting the bike hire schemes that they are doing and looking at capacity to get the balance right. That will include Bordersrail and other trains in terms of refurbished stock, a new stock looking forward to those new trains as well. Embedding the town centre first principle also to show how accessible transport and active travel can work together to support all communities, particularly town centres as well. In all that, a celebration of active travel is much more to do, but above that is today's cross-party confidence and celebration and support for the national cycle network, which has transformed formerly unused routes and railway tracks and paths into something that feels far more positive and vibrant. In celebrating that positivity, hopefully we can get even more people walking, running and cycling to enjoy healthier lifestyles of our environment and our beautiful country. That concludes Jim Eadie's debate on the 20th anniversary of the national cycle network in Scotland. I now suspend this meeting until 2.30 pm.