Challenge 7.4: How can technology unlock the power of the bike, stimulating demand for cycling infrastructure and support South of Scotland communities?

Key information for applicants

Please note: you must apply for this Challenge via Public Contracts Scotland

Launch date
Tuesday 31 May 2022

Questions may be submitted until
16:00, Tuesday 21 June 2022

Closing date
Midday, Tuesday 28 June 2022

Exploration Stage interviews
Wednesday 27 July 2022

Exploration Stage
15 August to 2 September 2022

Accelerator interviews
Wednesday 07 September 2022

Accelerator Stage
3 October 2021 to 27 January 2023

Maximum contract value
£800,000

What does this mean?

Q&A session

A live Q&A session was be held with the Challenge Sponsor team on Tuesday 7 June 2022 at 15:00. A recording of the session can be viewed here:

Why does this Challenge need to be solved?

The Scottish Government has a strong policy focus on developing sustainable Active Travel alternatives to traditional forms of carbonised transport. With the ambitious target of Scotland being a net zero carbon emitter by 2045 just two decades away, the public sector has a key role to play in facilitating a just transition to net zero, for business, local communities and tourists alike.  Active travel also matches policy objectives across many areas from health and wellbeing to building stronger communities.

Some of our closest European neighbours are significantly ahead in meeting such challenges through active travel solutions. Both Denmark and the Netherlands have celebrated national bike lane networks and the highest level of bike ownership per capita, with each Dutch person owning an average of 1.3 bikes. A great example of connectivity to more rural cycling networks is Limburg in Belgium where ‘fietsknooppuntennetwerk’ (cycling node network) helps cyclists to ride routes through Flanders. All they need to do is follow the signs from one numbered node to the next. Each node is signposted with a rectangular blue sign: cyclists can put together their route on a map or the internet and note down the node numbers to take on the trip.

Owing to technological advancements in the bike industry, the popularity of E-bikes continues to grow globally with many countries now selling more e-bikes by value than traditional bikes. Utilising their extensive national bike lane network, Dutch people can now cycle further, take a heavier load, carry children to nursery, school or the shops, all ensuring E-bikes are the highest value segment of total sales in many European countries. E-bikes remove a barrier to entry for active travel for almost all riders from adaptive e-bikes to standard city e-bikes, age and abilities are catered for, yet in the UK the uptake and usage levels lag behind.

With the opportunities for mobility that e-bikes can offer, many other countries are investing in cycling superhighways like Denmark, Netherlands, Germany and Belgium. Some of these are being trialled or already allow Speed Pedelecs (restricted to 45kph rather than 24kph and classified as mopeds) for example to carry riders faster to their destination on designated routes across rural areas. As bicycle technology continues to develop, the Net Zero infrastructure dedicated to bikes becomes more important than ever in providing an alternative to carbon-based transport. South of Scotland is representative of the other rural areas in our country, and we are off the pace when it comes to forward investment plans to unlock the power of the bikes as the preferred method of transport for everyday journeys.

With ambitious net zero targets on the horizon, record-high fuel prices and many major public health challenges, Scotland needs to continue to focus on scaling up the planning and delivery of bike lanes. The evidence from many countries in Europe with similar climates and challenges to Scotland shows Bike Lanes can improve public health, nurture local economies, de-congest town centres and most importantly, help Scotland reach Net Zero in 2045.

The South of Scotland is a rural area and as such faces unique challenges to deliver on both net zero and active travel. The distances and terrain reduce returns on investment in bike lanes when compared to urban areas. This is both through the cost to deliver infrastructure but also the terrain and distances involved reducing the appetite to ride for necessity rather than purely leisure. However, a solution for both urban and rural is required to meet the net zero targets.

The overriding ambition of this challenge is to:

• Deliver a nodal based network of connected cycle paths across the south that are effectively utilised by residents, businesses, visitors and commuters. On a cost effective and timely basis.

To deliver this ambition requires the following challenges to be overcome:

Planning Approval Challenges – Speeding up and increasing the approval of cycle paths.

• Local stakeholders not buying into cycle paths as the solution – could digital visualisation technology be used to showcase the end result and demonstrate positive impacts?

• Can technology be used to showcase case studies of success more effectively

Delivery of Infrastructure Challenges – Delivering innovative cycle path solutions.

• Identify more cost-effective ways to deliver rural cycle paths – do rural build standards need adapting? Can novel construction be used in the materials or design and actively link to waste products generated by South of Scotland industries to support circular economy ambitions?

This challenge addresses two issues that are interdependent and causing significant delays to infrastructure rural investment in cycle path networks and ultimately stopping progress being made on our regional and national aims and objectives including the pressing need to deliver against our net zero commitments.

The rural landscape in Scotland requires a different approach to urban planning policy. We have regional nuances linked to land access, materials which are used in cycle path trail construction in less urban and more natural landscapes and a network of trunk, A & B grade roads which intersect with landowners and forest estates.  Often, longer stretches of cycle path are required to link nodes and ‘places’.

At present we are held to techniques and standards which have been created to ensure the safe construction of a national cycle path network within an urban environment and this is causing significant delays linked to the deliverability of new paths that do not demonstrate “value for money” and will always miss the “affordability” measurement in outline businesses cases.

How will we know the Challenge has been solved?

We will know this challenge has been solved when:

• Planning Success - Communities and local councils have the data and platforms required to propose and approve new cycle path infrastructure projects with greater ease.

  Infrastructure Success -Local councils and delivery partners use new technology to deliver more miles of rural cycle path at a lower cost. With infrastructure to encourage more ebike usage.

• Utilisation Success – New paths are well used an accepted modes of transport to work, school, nursery or shopping. Paths used for leisure but also notably to replace car journeys while the uptake of e-bikes reflects a real shift in how people undertake journeys especially those longer than 1 mile.

As a result the following SMART objectives will arise:

• The number of paths approved increases

• Adoption of new novel construction techniques to allow for a different approach to path building

• The percentage of trips made by bikes increases

• Each rural population centre across the South of Scotland is connected by suitable cycle infrastructure to onward travel hubs, catchment schools, commercial centres and lifestyle pursuits.

• E-bikes represent over 50% of bike purchases, demonstrating a solution replaces cars in the SoS

• Survey responses demonstrate that South of Scotland now believe active travel as the solution of choice for the majority of last mile or 10-minute car journeys.

Who are the end users of the solution likely to be?

The beneficiaries will be those working to improve the cycle path network and uptake in cycling, therefore:

• Local councils

• Sustrans

• SOSE

• Communities – groups/residents/path builders

The end user will be Residents and visitors.

• Residents will change behaviour to use paths for daily activities like shopping or childcare drop offs and for leisure or fitness.

• Commuters use the network for work behaviours

• Visitors use the network to enjoy cycling for leisure and to visit key attractions

Has the Challenge Sponsor attempted to solve this problem before?

No — there is innovation in the creation of cycling infrastructure across the world but at present it is prohibitive to the region due to costs because of the rural nature of our region and the current building standards. This is one of the first problems SOSE has identified to solve within their inaugural CivTech Challenge partnership as a sponsor.

Are there any interdependencies or blockers?

No blockers are present within the scope of the challenge, however, regulatory specifications for path construction would require some elements of reworking and reclassification to allow for the products developed within the challenge to be widely implemented and have the desired outcome of increasing the scale of investment in our South of Scotland cycle path networks. Any supplier should be aware of the development of a cycling strategy which SOSE is involved with. It is important that any solution is aligned to the objectives of this document. It is also important to recognise that the challenge is essentially trying to solve two issues which are critically interlinked between visualisation and construction particularly with landowners. It could be beneficial to have two “pilot communities” which offer a live testing environment within the scope of this challenge.

Will a solution need to integrate with existing systems/ equipment?

• Sensor and mapping technology to gather data and inform innovative planning approaches.

• Live counter network to deliver real time data on success

Any technologies or features the Challenge Sponsor wishes to explore or avoid?

Avoid: Digital visualisation technology that requires a segregated user experience such as VR. In order to gain community linked support, we must be able to articulate “how it would look” to larger groups of citizens and gain consensus support for both the concept, the proposed routes and the final user experience. This is harder to do as a single user experience disconnected from the other users in the room.

What is the commercial opportunity beyond a CivTech contract?

• Cycle Path & Bike Lanes infrastructure contracts across South of Scotland and potentially other rural parts of Scotland

• Licensing of digital technology to local authority planning teams across Scotland and wider UK network

• Sales of bikes and accessories to support the growth

• E-bike and standard bike servicing offered in each population centre across the South of Scotland.

• Increase in transient bike related footfall across all of our visitor economy assets (accommodation, hotels, café, visitor attractions, retail) which link along popular visitor cycling routes. Increase in footfall would come from both residents of the region aswell as visitors.

• Creation of bookable products which connect existing attractions offer opportunities to expand and diversify into new target segments by leveraging bike path connectivity

• Enhances the area’s reputation as a centre of cycling excellence and supports the Mountain Bike Innovation Centre plans for a cycling industry cluster for the region

Who are the stakeholders?

Currently engaged:

• Sustrans

• Scottish Borders Council 

• Dumfries and Galloway Council 

• CENSIS

Would like to engage the following to ensure a partnership approach which will scale up the ambition and our ability to promote the technology innovation outcomes from the challenge:

• Cycling Scotland 

• Scottish Cycling

• SWESTRANS and SESTRANS (noting Local Authority lead on these groups)

• Transport Scotland

• Members of the Cycling Strategy

• Scottish Futures Trust

Who’s in the Challenge Sponsor team?

• Graeme Johnston – Borders Council 

• TBC - Dumfries and Galloway Council 

• Carlos Soto – Sustrans/ Dumfries and Galloway Council 

• Sustrans is able to offer further technical support 

• Censis

What is the policy background to the Challenge?

This Challenge supports no less than 9 national policies which are outlined in annex A of the Active Travel Framework – we have included details of the currently active strategies. Some are in review/refresh stage.

The Active Travel Framework brings together the key policy approaches to improving the uptake of walking and cycling in Scotland for travel. It has been produced collaboratively by Transport Scotland and key delivery partners, with input from Regional Transport Partnerships (RTPs) and local authorities. Drawing on the long-term shared vision and strategic objectives for active travel developed and set out in partnership in 2014, at its heart is an ambition that by 2030, Scotland’s communities are shaped around people and place, enabling walking and cycling to be the most popular mode of travel for short, everyday journeys.

Transport Scotland's Cycling Action Plan for Scotland (CAPS). 

CAPS outlines how the Scottish Government, local authorities and all key partners will respond to the needs of stakeholders and how they will achieve their active travel commitments. The first Cycling Action Plan for Scotland (CAPS) was published in 2010 and then refreshed in 2013 and 2017. The vision set by CAPS is for “10% of everyday journeys to be made by bike, by 2020”

The Climate Change Plan

The Climate Change Plan sets out the Scottish Government’s proposals and policies for meeting its climate change targets. It sets out how Scotland can deliver its target of 66% emissions reductions, relative to the baseline, for the period 2018–2032.

The Scottish Government’s National Performance Framework (NPF)

Sets out a range of national level outcomes which will contribute to its overall vision and purpose. Many of these are relevant to travel and the walking and cycling agenda. As such, the work undertaken through the Active Travel Framework is expected to feed into the following National Outcomes.

• We live in communities that are inclusive, empowered, resilient and safe.

• We value, enjoy, protect and enhance our environment.

• We are healthy and active

The National Walking Strategy

Let’s Get Scotland Walking - the National Walking Strategy sets out a vision where everyone benefits from walking as part of their everyday journeys, and everyone has access to welcoming and safe environments to walk in. The strategy’s action plan has the backing of a wide range of partners - from local authorities to third sector organisations and is being delivered by these partner organisations, facilitated by Paths for All.

The National Transport Strategy

The National Transport Strategy (NTS2), was published in 2020 by Transport Scotland. It promotes walking, cycling, public transport and bike, car and ride sharing in preference to single occupancy car use.

There are four priorities:

• reducing inequalities

• taking climate action

• helping deliver inclusive economic growth

• improving our health and wellbeing

NatureScot national initiative around ‘re-charge in nature’ capitalizing around wider opportunities associated with charging.

Additional Supporting Context

In March 2022, an evidence paper was published by Public Health and Sustainable Transport Partnership Group (hosted by Public Health Scotland) to test the hypothesis that the reallocation of road space away from motor traffic to active travel infrastructure can contribute to improved health.

Research shows that 24% of children currently travel to school by car. Many of these journeys could be made by cycling and would establish healthy behaviours when they are young and would continue into later life.

The published paper found that “Reallocating space to provide active travel infrastructure can increase walking, wheeling and cycling, increasing physical activity and informal social connections” and “that road space reallocation can contribute to multiple positive outcomes, support the Sustainable Travel Hierarchy, and help create better quality of place for local communities. However, other actions are needed to maximise these benefits, ensure impacts are equitable and support alternative modes of travel” Importantly the paper also found that “Although businesses are often concerned about loss of customers through reduction in parking, research suggests the opposite: that reallocation of road space can increase trade through increased footfall from pedestrians and cyclists”

A Net Zero Target and the South of Scotland’s Ambition 

Scotland’s world-leading climate change legislation sets a target date for net zero emissions of all greenhouse gases by 2045 which still requires a large reduction (56% as of 20191) in greenhouse gas emissions through a Just Transition to a net zero economy.2  3 

A just transition is one that considers the impact on individuals and communities, and is fair for all, leaving no one behind. It is also a transition to net zero that makes the most of the opportunities that will present themselves, for example ensuring changes are transitioned in (rather than out) of key sectors and industries. 

South of Scotland – Regional Economic Strategy and Delivery Plan

The South of Scotland Regional Economic Strategy sets out our region’s bold and compelling vision for the South of Scotland – to be Green, Fair and Flourishing by 2031; with South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) looking to lead and facilitate the region’s Just Transition to Net Zero.