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Opinion

Why we need to keep the wheels moving on active travel investment in Wales

25 Nov 2024 3 minute read
Cyclists and walkers on Swansea Promenade (Credit: Sustrans Cymru)

Gwenda Owen

With the Welsh budget coming up, and the UK Government’s recent modest funding boost, there’s a real opportunity for Wales to reinvest in walking, cycling and wheeling. This isn’t just about improving transport; it’s about shaping a future where people in Wales can live healthier, more connected, and more sustainable lives.

We all have experiences or awareness of NHS waiting times and delays, but walking and cycling offers another way to reduce strain on the health services we rely on.

Scotland has shown that investing in walking and cycling can save around £600 million annually in healthcare costs. Beyond those benefits, this kind of investment can help revitalise our struggling high streets. Shoppers who travel by bike or by foot spend up to six times more in local shops than those who travel by car.

Beyond the savings it can bring, better access to walking and cycling stands to make our communities safer and more pedestrianised, especially for children. 22% of parents say they would walk their children to school more often if roads were safer.

This isn’t just about convenience—it’s about protecting and making it easy for children to get their 60 minutes of physical activity a day, which we know has a positive effect on their health and wellbeing. Safer routes also reduce traffic congestion at school pick up and drop off, making the air our children breathe safer at the start and end of the school day.

In Wales, we all know that getting from one place to another can be tricky depending on where you live. For most bus and train journeys, the trip starts with walking or cycling. Imagine how easy getting around would be if we had a truly integrated transport system.

With walking and cycling routes to bus and train stations and high-quality cycle storage at interchanges, you could also significantly reduce the amount of congestion and pollution on the roads, while also encouraging more people to use more public transport. That seamless connection between active travel and public transport has the power to create a more efficient and accessible network for everyone.

But all this must start with how we get more people walking or cycling.

We know that many people are hesitant to walk or cycle due to concerns about safety, especially in areas with heavy traffic. Simple improvements, such as better crossings, dedicated bike lanes, and traffic-calming measures, can go a long way toward making roads safer. The introduction of 20mph speed limits has already shown signs of improving safety, and continuing to prioritise road safety will help ensure that everyone can feel secure while walking or cycling, regardless of age or ability.

Family riding their e-bikes and bicycles through a park in Aberystwyth. (Credit: Sustrans Cymru / SBW Advertising)

Just a few months ago, Ffion Jones’ five-year-old daughter, Nanw Wyn Jones’ was hit by a car crossing the road. Ffion believed the 20mph speed limit saved her daughter’s life and that’s not the only story. Last year, a driver in Pembrokeshire said the pilot 20mph zone meant he did not hit a 12-year-old boy after he failed to spot him running across a road.

Ultimately, the case for investing in walking, cycling, and wheeling goes beyond transportation—it’s about creating healthier, more sustainable communities where everyone can move around safely and easily.

Gwenda Owen was writing on behalf of Cycling UK, Living Streets Cymru and Sustrans Cymru


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Brychan
Brychan
2 days ago

Why is the ‘Active Travel’ budget being thrown at new housing estates in Cardiff which should be funded by S106 agreements by the developers instead of being invested in cycle paths in the rest of Wales. Most notable is the Tywi valley investment from Abergwili to Ffairfach whose funding was pulled by the Welsh Government until Westminster stepped in to fund it.

Stephen Cunnah
Stephen Cunnah
2 days ago
Reply to  Brychan

It is not true that active travel funding is “being thrown at new housing estates in Cardiff”, and Cardiff does have S106 funding agreements and planning conditions to connect new developments with walking and cycling routes. ATF is shared all across Wales. If you look at last year’s funded schemes, Cardiff received £9.30 per person, whereas Carmarthenshire, where Abergwili and Ffairfach are situated, received £12.71 per person (https://www.gov.wales/schemes-funded-2023-2024-html). Funding for active travel is a small proportion of transport funding and is still only really delivering a tiny amount of schemes in all counties in Wales. If there is going to… Read more »

Last edited 2 days ago by Stephen Cunnah
Brychan
Brychan
1 day ago
Reply to  Stephen Cunnah

You miss the point Stephen. Active Travel budget should not be used to subsidise developers be-it Plasdwr executive homes or new tramlink to the Bae. As you are a Labour councillor in Cardiff with a day job employed as policy manager for Sustrans may I recommend a good cycle ride for you. Depart one of you many properties in Canton, cross the Taf to Cathays and have a word with the Sec of State to hand over Rhondda tunnel from Highways England. Then cycle down the Bae and have a word with the First Minister to release the Llangefni to… Read more »

rj700
rj700
1 day ago

Ever notice most people in favour of Active Travel have some sort of tie to Sustrans? Vested interest much? If Cardiff wants active travel then go for it but for the rest of us stop spaffing the cash away on something not widely wanted or needed.

Bert
Bert
1 day ago
Reply to  rj700

Ever notice most people in favour of ending animal cruelty have some sort of tie to the RSPCA?

rj700
rj700
1 day ago
Reply to  Bert

Now I wouldn’t have equated cyclists to animals personally. But hey ho.

Bert
Bert
1 day ago
Reply to  rj700

It’s absurd to suggest it’s corrupt when people interested in active travel get involved in a charity that promotes active travel. Aren’t you embarrassed?

Brychan
Brychan
1 day ago
Reply to  rj700

Both the RSPCA and now Sustrans were taken over by ‘ishoo politics’. The former was reorganised to get back on-purpose from vegan extremists a few years ago. The same need now be done with the latter, which is currently being used as an udder by trendy lefties.

Ap Kenneth
Ap Kenneth
2 hours ago

Provision of better links is later dependent on maintenance. A decent cycleway or path can become degraded quickly because of brambles or overgrown hedges. Even when cut they are often not cut back far enough and so the hedge slowly creeps out over the path.

jimmy
jimmy
1 hour ago
Reply to  Ap Kenneth

That’s a very good point. The more tracks and paths that are built, the greater the maintenance demands and costs…that is if any maintenance ever gets done. In my experience, much is just left abandoned. Not even any sweeping and where hedges are cut, the debris is just left to cause multiple punctures. Urban parking on cycleways is another issue…. usually ignored, even though it is an offence.

A Evans
A Evans
1 hour ago

Why are the very expensive “cycle lanes” around me absolutely empty? And will remain so throughout the winter months! PS. Nelson & Ystrad Mynach!

jimmy
jimmy
5 minutes ago
Reply to  A Evans

Because the Active Travel plan for cycling is fundamentally flawed. While commuting for work, school, shops etc makes absolute sense for urban areas, in the extra-urban and rural setting it will never attract large numbers and certainly not during the winter cold, rain, snow and wind. I commuted by bike in all weathers, in a rural setting for a good number of years (by choice) and while it was enjoyable on a fresh summer morning with the sun just rising, it was often hellish in the winter. Health, fitness and a degree of insanity are essential if you wish to… Read more »

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