Car dependence in rural Scotland: transport policy, devolution and the impact of the fuel duty escalator

This paper examines dependence on the car in rural Scotland, assesses the i mpact of the fuel duty escalator on rural communities and discusses the rol e of the new Scottish Executive in shaping future rural transport policy. Q uestionnaires, interviews and travel diaries were used in five areas and re vealed that households in rural Scotland enjoy high levels of car ownership , and that the car is used for over three-quarters of all journeys. Isolati on and income levels are the most significant predictors of car use. Those living in 'removed' areas - i.e. locations distant from main roads and/or b us routes - are more likely to own vehicles and make a higher proportion of their journeys by car. Affluent households enjoy higher levels of car owne rship, and make more journeys over greater distances by this mode than thos e on low-incomes. Less affluent households are also more likely to have dis posed of a vehicle without replacing it, suggesting a more fluctuating depe ndence on the car. Although those living in rural Scotland appear to count on the car, a distinction is made between those who have no alternative (st ructurally dependent) and those who have alternatives but rely on their veh icles. It is difficult to predict the exact impact of the fuel duty escalat or, but it is argued that the majority of households will cope with increas es in the cost of motoring, while a significant minority of low income hous eholds in isolated areas will struggle to absorb the extra cost. The study highlights the need for the Scottish legislature to secure additional fundi ng in order to sustain rural communities in the face of the rising fuel cos ts and suggests that an appropriate policy response might be to support iso lated shops and services, i.e. subsidising alternatives to the journey as w ell as alternatives to the car. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights r eserved.