5. Debate on the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee Report: Post Legislative Scrutiny of the Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:27 pm on 19 September 2018.

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Photo of Ken Skates Ken Skates Labour 4:27, 19 September 2018

Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I'm also looking forward to greeting the cyclists to the Senedd when they visit shortly. I'm looking forward to meeting with a delegation of them. I do hope that they arrive safely and do as Geraint Thomas and many others urge, which is to wear a helmet. Talking about safety, though, the reality is that, as David Melding said, it's incredibly safe to cycle and to walk, and yet we are bombarded on a daily basis with images and messages that encourage us to feel unsafe in our daily lives, because many people want to exploit a feeling of insecurity. It's the reason why SUVs have become such a popular means of transport—because we're encouraged, by advertisers, to believe that unless you're elevated above others, your children are at risk or you're at risk. The reality is that we are more safe today cycling or walking than I think we ever have been, and the reality is, contrary to what we're constantly being told, which is that we all lead incredibly busy lives, that many of us can find that extra bit of time to cycle or to walk to work or to school, or to the services that we—[Interruption.] Yes, absolutely.