Is Wales Finally Ready to Become an Active Travel Nation?
At The Cycle Cure Company, we believe that every journey should be safe, accessible, and—most importantly—active. But according to a major new report from the Senedd’s Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee, Wales still has a long hill to climb before walking, wheeling, and cycling become the "default" choice for everyone.
The "Painfully Slow" Reality
While we’ve seen some great new paths popping up, the Committee’s report highlights a sobering reality: at the current rate of progress, it could take until 2073 to finish the planned network of routes across Wales. For many of us, that’s just not fast enough. The report points out that while the Active Travel Fund has invested millions, it often lacks the "revenue" funding needed to actually encourage people to use the new paths or to help local councils hire the experts needed to design them properly.
Lessons from Slovenia: "Tactical Urbanism"
Interestingly, the Committee travelled to Slovenia to see how they do it. In cities like Ljubljana, they used "tactical urbanism"—low-cost, temporary changes to streets—to let residents "test-drive" new layouts before making them permanent. This approach helped win over the "silent majority" and turned controversial road changes into beloved community squares. Not sure why Slovenia was chosen as the pace setter in active travel when a quick ferry journey to the Netherlands would reveal Europe’s or indeed the World’s best case study in active travel for cycling and walking.
What Needs to Change?
The Committee isn't just pointing out problems; they’ve laid out a roadmap for the Welsh Government:
Prioritise People, Not Just Pavements: We need a national behaviour change program. It’s not enough to build a path; we need to show everyone why using it is better for their health and their community.
Inclusive Design is Non-Negotiable: For too long, "active travel" has overlooked those with visual impairments or mobility issues. The report calls for a "robust approach" to meeting the needs of vulnerable travellers from day one of the design process.
Connect the Gaps: Instead of just building "chunks" of paths, there must be a focus on filling the small gaps that prevent people from completing a full journey from door to door.
The Cycle Cure Perspective
We are particularly excited about the "Demonstrator Town" pilot in Newtown. If successful, this model—combining top-tier infrastructure with community-led behaviour change—could be rolled out to every region in Wales.
Active travel shouldn't be a "nice to have"—it's a cornerstone of a healthier, more sustainable Wales. We’ll be watching closely to see if the government takes these recommendations to heart.
What do you think? Are the cycle routes in your area connected enough to get you to work or school?
