12-05-2025
Parents of woman killed in Glasgow back safer cycling manifesto
Emma Burke Newman was killed when she was hit by a lorry on Broomielaw in the morning of January 27, 2023.
Lorry driver Paul Mowat pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving following the crash and was sentenced to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and banned from driving for 12 months
Rose Marie Burke and John Newman, Emma's parents, have given their support to a Joint Active Travel Manifesto for next years Scottish Parliament elections.
(Image: Supplied)
The manifesto, by more than 40 health, environmental and road safety organisations urges all political parties to enable more people to walk, wheel or cycle.
It calls for action on five areas of investment, long-term commitment, infrastructure, active and public transport and safety.
Ms Burke and Mr Newman, said: 'In the name of Emma and all our children killed on the road, let's do all we can to avoid needless death, trauma, suffering, and costs to society."
The call is for parties to commit to long-term investment to transform local high streets and communities, committing at least 10% of the transport budget to active travel funding.
The manifesto wants multi-year budgets to accelerate delivery of national strategies on walking/wheeling and cycling, offer better value for money.
It calls for action to 'Transform our communities, enabling anyone, especially younger people – to travel more safely on foot, by wheeling or by bike. Including through well maintained, accessible networks of walking or cycling routes and reorganised street space, creating better, greener local places.'
Policies must: 'Integrate walking and cycling infrastructure with public transport in rural areas especially, to provide alternatives to the car.'
And it wants to: 'Reduce road danger by reducing traffic speeds in our communities, by taking dangerous drivers off the road and by creating more accessible streets for all.'
The manifesto is supported by Devi Sridhar, Professor and Chair of Global Public Health at the University of Edinburgh.
(Image: Scottish Government)
She said: 'A move towards active travel isn't about banning cars, but rather increasing options and freedoms for people to choose how they want to go to school, work or city centre, whether it's walking, cycling or public transport.
'Getting people moving in their daily life should be a high priority for governments given that sedentary behaviour is a major risk factor for chronic disease such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, stroke and dementia.
'Exercise also contributes at a cellular level to better mental health.
'Scotland has made positive steps in the right direction, but we still have a long way to go to catch up with major European cities who have built active travel into urban design'.
