NEARLY £40 million has been allocated to Scottish councils for pop-up walking and cycling schemes.

The Spaces for People initiative was set up to allow for wider pavements and new cycle lanes to be installed during the pandemic.

The Scottish Government fund has now closed, with a total of £38.97m allocated to local authorities.

It includes £7.5m for Glasgow council, £5m for Edinburgh and £2.46m for Dundee.

READ MORE: Scots' cycle use increases five-fold under lockdown

Transport Secretary Michael Matheson said attention was now turning to permanent active travel infrastructure.

Permanent schemes will now be 70% funded by the Scottish Government through the Sustrans group's Places for Everyone initiative.

Matheson said: "To support our green recovery and keep people walking, wheeling and cycling, we've reduced the amount that local authorities need to contribute towards permanent infrastructure across Scotland.

"The Places for Everyone initiative is already producing some very innovative and ambitious projects - but we recognise that costs can be prohibitive for some councils and especially in the context of Covid-19.

"Many local authorities are keen to learn lessons from the temporary infrastructure delivered through the nearly £39 million we have provided.

"With this improved funding offer for permanent schemes, councils will be able to match their insight with their ambition and deliver high-quality infrastructure to help us build an active nation and encourage healthier and more sustainable travel."

As well as encouraging active travel, the new infrastructure is designed to allow for pedestrians to be physically distant when using pavements.