Steer active travel in Wales back on course, report urges
A Senedd Cross Party Group is to launch a major new report highlighting how Wales is missing out on the opportunities to be gained from getting more people walking and cycling.
Wales led the world when it passed the Active Travel Act in 2013 but, the report says, it has failed to follow through on that achievement. Consequently, rather than seeing the massive increase the Act promised, walking and cycling rates have been static.
The report has been produced by the Cross-Party Group on the Active Travel Act after a six-month review of the operation of the Active Travel Act conducted by an expert panel appointed by the Group.
Chair of the Group, Huw Irranca-Davies MS will say: “Increasing active travel offers enormous benefits to Wales and the people of Wales. It strengthens our economy by reducing congestion and improving the health of the workforce. It helps our environment by reducing carbon emissions and other harmful pollutants. It makes Wales healthier by encouraging physical activity and improving air quality and road safety. In fact, it contributes to all seven of Wales’ national well-being goals.
“We have seen some major improvements in recent years with significant investments in active travel by the Welsh Government. But our report found that Wales will not get full value for money from these investments unless we make some radical changes to the way we organise active travel.”
The report makes fifty-one detailed recommendations for positive action, including:
- Greater recognition of the pivotal role played by local authorities in delivering active travel and backing this up with support and training.
- A series of measures to make active travel more accessible to disabled people, many of whom do not have the option of using a car.
- A major behaviour change campaign to persuade people to try a healthier greener mode for getting about and a culture change campaign to make people more aware of the impact the way we travel has on our health, our climate and our environment.
- A national delivery plan setting out the responsibilities of Welsh Government, Transport for Wales and local authorities in delivering active travel and putting in place ambitious but achievable local and national targets for increases in walking and cycling.
- A restructured active travel board to scrutinise progress and make public any areas where change is not happening quickly enough.
- A cross departmental approach to active travel with a greater focus on active travel to school.
- Making use of forthcoming legislations such as the Clean Air Bill to tighten the wording of Active Travel Act
“All of our recommendations are readily achievable if we can make the step change to seeing active travel as an important mode of transport not just a ‘nice to have’. If we get this right, we can make major progress in tackling our climate emergency, our air quality crisis and many important health issues. We need to take urgent action now.” Huw added.
The launch takes place at Pedal Power Inclusive Cycling Centre, Pontcanna, Cardiff at 10.00am on Tuesday, June 28th.
