MS, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales:
Today marks the publication of new guidance designed
to support local authorities in Wales to promote active travel as
a key tool for reducing or limiting air pollution and improving
public health. This guidance is the product of close
collaboration with stakeholders in Wales, to ensure it reflects
real world needs and provides practical guidance for delivery.
Promoting active travel not only plays a vital part in creating
healthier, more connected communities, it can also contribute to
achieving our environmental goals. By encouraging more people to
walk, wheel and cycle, we can move closer to achieving our air
quality targets and to adhering to the World Health
Organisation's global air quality guidelines. Cleaner air and
healthier environments are fundamental to our vision for a more
sustainable Wales.
The guidance offers a wide range of insights and recommendations,
shaped by consideration of the needs of schools, local councils,
and community organisations throughout the development process.
It sets out clear, practical tools to help local authorities meet
their statutory duties under the Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013
as amended by the Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes)
(Wales) Act 2024. Under this legislation, Welsh Ministers and
local authorities have a duty to promote active travel as a means
of reducing or limiting air pollution. This guidance clarifies
what is expected of local authorities and highlights how active
travel can be embedded across all areas of their work and in the
everyday decisions that shape local places and services.
To support this, the guidance is complemented by Transport for
Wales' Promotional Toolkit, which provides detailed resources,
case studies and topic specific advice. Together, these resources
offer a comprehensive package of support for local authorities,
enabling them to champion active travel in their communities.
The benefits of active travel are wide‑ranging. It improves air
quality, supports better physical and mental health, contributes
to climate goals and strengthens social justice by offering
affordable, accessible travel options for all. By making it
easier for people from diverse backgrounds to commute, reach
essential services and participate fully in community life,
active travel helps create fairer, more inclusive places.
The guidance also sets out practical ways to promote both
existing and new active travel routes. This includes improving
wayfinding, visitor information, maps and signage, enhancing
links with public transport, promoting cycle storage and bike
hire, and supporting active travel to schools and workplaces. It
highlights incentives to walk, wheel and cycle, and outlines the
resources and funding available to help local authorities deliver
meaningful change.
Overall, this guidance represents a significant step forward in
our collective effort to create a cleaner, healthier and more
environmentally responsible Wales. By supporting local
authorities to embed active travel across their work, we are
laying the foundations for long‑term improvements in air quality
and quality of life for communities across the nation.
