(Title Image: Cardiff Council)
The Senedd’s cross-party group for the Active Travel Act recently published their manifesto ahead of the 2021 Senedd election (link).
The group – made up of MSs from Labour, Conservatives and Plaid Cymru – state that up to 30% of commuting could be made by active travel and that all parties could commit to delivering upon the commitments of the Active Travel Act 2013.
The “manifesto” calls for, amongst other things:
- Restrictions on cars within 400metres of schools.
- Supporting a default 20mph speed limit.
- Improving cyclist and pedestrian priority at junctions.
- Incentives to buy or hire e-bikes.
- The Welsh Government should set meaningful targets for active travel.
- 10% of the transport budget should be dedicated to active travel.
While the Covid-19 pandemic may have resulted in temporary localised boosts to active travel – and the Welsh Government has committed significant sums of money towards new projects in recent years – the medium-term trend has resulted in a decline in the proportion of adults in Wales regularly walking or cycling.