6. 6. Statement: Update on Active Travel

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:16 pm on 20 September 2016.

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Photo of Rebecca Evans Rebecca Evans Labour 5:16, 20 September 2016

Thank you for those points. I’m very keen to ensure that we give local authorities the kind of support that they need, and the guidance that they need. So, it is disappointing to hear the example where perhaps the design guidance has not been followed to give an optimum cycle path, especially when having a new cycle path is a great thing, so let’s try and make it the best possible quality and standard that we can.

The target audience, you’re absolutely right, as I said in my statement, is not only the current users and the current people who make active travel journeys, but also potential active travel journeys as well. I’ve said the low figures of active travel present us with a real challenge, but also a real opportunity. So I really want to see local authorities engaging well beyond the usual suspects to people who perhaps would not normally consider this. In my answer to the last question I talked about reaching out to some of the groups who have been more difficult to engage in this agenda in the past.

I just wanted to assure you that I have written to all local authorities in Wales outlining to them the seriousness and the importance the Welsh Government attaches to active travel and the successful implementation of this Act, so I’ll be working very closely with them, and if there is support that they feel that they need, I would hope that they would be able to raise that with me.