National Rural and Islands Mobility Plan (RIMP)
About the RIMP Project
Scotland currently lacks a national, integrated plan that addresses the unique transport needs of its rural and island communities. The Rural and Islands Mobility Plan (RIMP) Project aims to change that.
Running from April 2024 to April 2025, the RIMP Project is developing a comprehensive framework that lays the groundwork for a Scotland-wide rural and island transport plan – one that aligns with the Scottish Government’s commitment to publish a Rural Delivery Plan in 2026.
Our vision is for rural and island communities to have access to safe, inclusive, sustainable, and connected transport – supporting everyday lives, economic activity, and social inclusion.
This work is made possible thanks to funding from the Paths for All Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme.
Why It Matters
Rural and island communities often face persistent challenges such as limited public transport options, poor connectivity, high transport costs, and reduced access to essential services. While national strategies may address some of these issues in isolation, there has never been a dedicated plan to tackle them as a whole.
The RIMP Project responds to this gap – by learning from existing policies, listening to communities, and building a framework rooted in lived experience and evidence-based best practice.
Project Milestones
Stage 1: April – June 2024
A comprehensive review of Scottish transport policies and strategies across national, regional, local, and community levels.
📄 Read the Stage 1 Scottish Draft Report
🎥 Watch SRITC Virtual Cafe: BYOC on the RIMP Project
Stage 2: August – November 2024
An international literature review exploring how rural and island transport is planned globally. This stage draws lessons from countries and regions facing similar challenges, offering ideas for innovation.
📄 Read the Stage 2 International Draft Report
Stage 3: November 2024 – February 2025
Field study trips and stakeholder workshops to validate findings from earlier stages, ensuring local context is central.
Stage 4: January – April 2025
Development of a final report and the RIMP framework for formal consultation and future policy development.
📄 Executive Summary (coming soon)
📄 One-Pager (coming soon)
📄 Read the Stage 4 Final Report (coming soon)
📚 Get to know the sources behind our reports:
Origins of the RIMP
The RIMP journey began in 2018, when our founder Jenny Milne learned about EU projects like SMARTA and MAMBA, which emphasized the value of integrated rural mobility strategies. At the time, Latvia was the only EU country with such a plan.
Motivated by these insights, SRITC hosted a national conversation in 2020 asking: “What would you like to see in a future rural mobility strategy?”
Since then, SRITC has conducted multiple workshops and reports – including a 2022 review of the Scottish Government’s National Transport Strategy 2 (NTS2) – that shaped six major asks of policymakers.
The Six “Big Asks” for Better Rural and Island Mobility
1. An Integrated Rural & Islands Mobility Plan (RIMP)
2. A Rural and Islands Transport Innovation Fund
3. A Rural & Islands Transport Leadership Group
4. A Rural & Islands Transport Procurement Framework
5. A Sustainable Rural Transport STEM Challenge
6. A Rural & Islands Open Data Framework
We are now delivering on Ask 1 through the RIMP Project, guided by stakeholder engagement at events like the SRITC Gathering 2023 and Scottish Rural and Islands Parliament 2023.
Get Involved
We want to hear from you! The draft reports are currently out for consultation, and your feedback is vital.
📧 Share your thoughts with us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..