Welsh Government Walking, Wheeling and Cycling report 2024- 25

I believe that everyone - regardless of age, ability or location – should have access to safe, reliable and inclusive transport. That includes walking, wheeling and cycling, especially for households in Wales that don't have access to a car. For many, the ability to walk, wheel or cycle isn't a lifestyle choice - it's essential. Alongside public transport, walking, wheeling and cycling supports people get to work or school, see friends and family, pop to the shops and access essential public services.

My priorities for walking, wheeling and cycling are:

• ensuring safe and inclusive access to public transport, especially for those without cars.
• promoting walking, wheeling, and cycling to young people, supporting healthy access to education.
• making the most of safer speed limits, reducing the need for expensive new infrastructure.
• working with Corporate Joint Committees, and local authorities to deliver joined-up networks that reflect community needs and priorities.

These priorities align with Travel for All, our approach to make it easier for more people to use our transport network. I have been clear that accessibility is a matter of human rights, discrimination, and a health and safety issue. That is why social justice and inclusion are key to the decisions the Welsh Government makes and continues to inform our actions.

Our 2024-25 Walking, Wheeling and Cycling report, which I'm publishing today, shows how we're working with local councils, the third sector, and communities to improve routes and make journeys easier. It also includes the latest official data on how people are using active travel across Wales.

A summary of progress against the actions in the 2024 Active Travel Delivery Plan is included in the Annex of this report.

Travel for all

Through our Active Travel Fund, 30 schemes have delivered new and improved dropped kerbs and tactile paving, making a tangible difference across Wales. Five schemes focused on removing or modifying physical barriers on the walking, wheeling and cycling network.

These often overlooked details are vital to disabled people, families with pushchairs, and many older people.

In Bangor, we have supported the next phase of the Ffordd Penrhos route, linking the hospital to the wider network. New zebra crossings, tactile paving and safer junctions were added to make everyday journeys easier and safer.

We're also making sure rural and underserved communities aren't left behind. On Anglesey, access to Ysgol Gynradd Llanfairpwll has improved through the Safe Routes in Communities grant.

Connecting communities

Through the Active Travel Fund and Safe Routes in Communities grant, we are supporting local councils to create safer, more accessible infrastructure that links homes, schools, workplaces and public transport.

While funding is provided by Welsh Government, the design and delivery of schemes are led by local authorities, ensuring they are tailored to local needs.

We're also making it easier to combine walking, wheeling and cycling with longer journeys. Improvements at train stations are making it easier for people to access platforms independently and cycle parking is now available at 60% of Transport for Wales stations. These changes help people travel more sustainably and confidently.

Supporting children and young people

We're helping children build healthy habits through funding programmes like WOW Walk to School. These initiatives encourage families to walk, wheel or cycle to school, and help reduce car dependency.

We're investing in teaching children about road safety. Across Wales, over 15,000 children received pedestrian training and more than 16,000 took part in cycle training.

Local improvements are making a big impact too. In Carmarthenshire, the route to Trimsaran Primary was upgraded with safer crossings, traffic calming and better footways.

Families at schools across Cardiff are now enjoying a healthier, safer school run thanks to the introduction of a School Street - a road outside the school that's closed to most traffic during drop-off and pick-up times. The Lawrenny Avenue School Street, funded through the Safe Routes in Communities grant, is helping reduce congestion and pollution for both primary and secondary pupils, and schools across Cardiff are now adopting the same approach.

By combining infrastructure upgrades with behaviour change programmes, we're helping children travel safely and confidently while supporting wider goals in education, health and climate action.

These are just some of the many actions we are taking to ensure walking, wheeling and cycling is more accessible, safer and welcoming for all. I'm proud of the schemes we've already delivered across Wales, but there's more to do and this is reflected in my allocation of nearly £50 million to local authorities to deliver more schemes in 2025-26.

From 2026-27 onwards our new Regional Transport Fund will be the key mechanism for making our ambitions for walking, wheeling and cycling a reality and I am encouraged by the prominence that is given to those modes in the Regional Transport Plans. I am committed to building a transport system that connects people and places across Wales - safely, sustainably, and for the benefit of all.

The full report can be found here. https://www.gov.wales/walking-wheeling-and-cycling- annual-report-2024-2025