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Walking & Cycling (aka "Active Travel")
Is this devolved to Wales?
Devolved
The necessary powers are not reserved to the UK Parliament in Schedule 7A of the Government of Wales Act 2006.
Shared Powers
Walking & cycling infrastructure and related policies (such as speed limits) are devolved. The Highway Code (rules for cyclists, pedestrians and other similar road users), and laws around traffic offences are the responsibility of the UK Parliament.
Not Devolved
The powers over this are reserved to the UK Parliament in Schedule 7A of the Government of Wales Act 2006 (Specific Section/Number/Clause).
Successive Welsh governments have sought to promote walking and cycling to the general population under the broader umbrella of “active travel”. This covers almost all non-motorised transport, meaning certain other classes of road users – wheelchairs, scooters, skateboards, prams/pushchairs etc – fall under the definition of “active travel”.
The Senedd passed the Active Travel Act 2013. The Act places a duty on local councils to maintain a map of current and future local walking & cycling networks to better plan investment and funding bids. Funding for new active travel infrastructure is awarded to councils annually via the Regional Transport Grant programme.
On November 10th 2026, the Deputy Minister for Transport announced the Welsh Government’s updated design and planning guidance for active travel. The guidance was consulted on during the previous Senedd term.
Active travel was given a high priority in the previous Welsh Government’s transport strategy (“Llwybr Newydd”). Making roads safer for pedestrians, cyclists and vulnerable road users was one of the factors behind the introduction of a 20 mph speed limit in urban areas in Wales.
Where practical to do so, active travel is supported because it promotes exercise, reduces air pollution and can help reduce traffic congestion (i.e. cutting the number of vehicles on the “school run”). It’s also the most environmentally friendly transport option, particularly for making short journeys of a mile or less.
Critics of the Welsh Government’s focus on active travel point to discontinuous and low-quality routes delivered by councils; a preference by some cyclists to ride on the main carriageway over segregated walking/cycling paths; the typical Welsh climate and topography making walking and cycling impractical; and/or opposition to investment in facilities for pedestrians and cyclists over vehicles.
The proportion of people regularly walking or cycling in Wales has remained fairly static for several years1 despite the Active Travel Act and investment in new infrastructure.
In the latest National Survey of Wales results (2024-25)2:
- 52% of people walked at least once a week, and 62% did so at least once a month.
- 7% of people cycled at least once a week, and 10% of people did so at least monthly.
- Men were more likely than women to walk (66% vs 59%) or cycle (14% vs 7%) at least monthly.
- 50% of primary school children and 33% of secondary school children undertook active travel to go to school.
Charts (if needed)
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Costs & Economic Impact
Active Travel Capital Spending-
19.57 per person (equivalent)
Who has raised this at the Senedd?
Mark Hooper MS
Deputy Minister for Transport
Nick Carter MS
Backbencher
Sarah Rees MS
Backbencher
Jason O'Connell MS
Shadow Economy Minister
Claire Johnson-Wood MS
Backbencher
Gareth Beer MS
Backbencher
Vikki Howells MS
Senedd Commissioner
Janet Finch-Saunders MS
Backbencher
Paul Rock MS
Backbencher
Mark Hooper MS
Deputy Minister for Transport
Nick Carter MS
Backbencher
Sarah Rees MS
Backbencher
Jason O'Connell MS
Shadow Economy Minister
Claire Johnson-Wood MS
Backbencher
Gareth Beer MS
Backbencher
Vikki Howells MS
Senedd Commissioner
Janet Finch-Saunders MS
Backbencher
Paul Rock MS
Backbencher
What are the party positions on this?
- Supports new guidance, with reservations
- Opposed
- Neutral/No Opinion
Plaid Cymru’s backbenchers welcomed the updated guidance, but did have some reservations over the amount of money spent by previous governments on active travel, as well as bus stop design.
- Supports
- Sceptical of active travel policies
- Neutral/No Opinion
Reform UK MSs were somewhat opposed to policies that promote or prioritise active travel over cars, particularly in rural areas. They have also questioned the value for money of existing investments in active travel.
- Supports new guidance
- Opposed
- Neutral/No Opinion
Labour MSs have broadly welcomed the updated guidance as it would benefit vulnerable road users.
- Supports new guidance, with reservations
- Opposed
- Neutral/No Opinion
The Conservative support the updated guidance in spirit, but still have reservations over the usefulness of active travel in rural areas and the amount of capital funding spent on cycling over pedestrians.
- Supports new guidance
- Opposed
- Neutral/No Opinion
Green MSs welcomed the updated guidance, but still had concerns about the amount of street furniture which may be unsafe for cyclists and certain pedestrians.
- Supports
- Opposed
- Neutral/No Opinion
Jane Dodds hasn’t said anything on this specifically.
Who is responsible?
Mark Hooper MS
Deputy Minister for Transport
What have ministers said?
What's being done about this?
Plaid Cymru’s 2026 Senedd manifesto and the Welsh Government’s Programme for Government both support measures to increase walking and cycling. The manifesto suggested that investment in new walking and cycling infrastructure is better measured by the quality of networks rather than the amount of money invested.
The updated guidance under the Active Travel Act 2013 makes four key changes:
- A preference for keeping cyclists separate from pedestrians and other users instead of defaulting to shared-use paths (if possible to do so).
- Improvements to bus stop design guidance where pedestrians and people with sensory or mobility issues need to cross a cycle path.
- Improved tools so designers/planners of active travel schemes can explain why they’ve chosen particular features.
- Stronger “placemaking” guidelines so active travel schemes fit better with the surrounding community and streets.
The Senedd’s powers to make laws on walking & cycling are limited. The major Welsh law of note is the Active Travel Act 2013, mentioned earlier. There are no plans to repeal or amend it.
Indirectly, the regulations passed to introduce a default 20 mph speed limit in built-up areas relate to cyclists and pedestrians.
It’s an ongoing issue.
What have the Senedd's Committees said?
Nothing has been discussed yet.
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Relevant Votes
Nothing to see yet.
Further Reading
- Senedd Research Service (9th November 2023). “The Active Travel Act: 10 years on“
- Welsh Government (10th March 2026). “National Survey for Wales (2024-25) – Active Travel“
Related Issues
