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Posted: Thu 19th Sep 2024
Despite a substantial increase in funding, the Welsh Government’s efforts to promote active travel—walking and cycling for everyday journeys—have yet to deliver the transformative impact envisioned under the Active Travel (Wales) Act of 2013.
A new report by the Auditor General highlights stagnant participation rates and a lack of robust evidence to track the effectiveness of this policy.
In 2024-25, the Welsh Government allocated £65 million to active travel initiatives, with the Active Travel Fund serving as the largest component.
The Fund, launched in 2018, provides financial support to local authorities for developing infrastructure like cycling lanes and pedestrian walkways.
Over five years, total expenditure reached £218 million, rising from £20 million in 2018-19 to £46 million in 2023-24.
However, these financial investments have not translated into a marked increase in walking or cycling for everyday travel.
According to the latest figures, 51% of people in Wales walked at least once a week for active travel purposes in 2022-23, down from 60% in 2019-20. Cycling rates have remained largely static, with just 6% of respondents cycling regularly.
These figures suggest that the Welsh Government has yet to achieve the step-change in active travel behaviour it hoped for.
The report identifies several areas where the current approach falls short.
Target-setting is one key issue, with some local authorities struggling to integrate active travel into wider policies.
Additionally, the construction of physical infrastructure has not been matched by adequate efforts to promote awareness and behaviour change.
Without these softer interventions, such as public information campaigns, infrastructure improvements alone may not be enough to shift travel habits.
Auditor General Adrian Crompton commented on the findings, saying: “The Welsh Government needs to reflect on why, in over a decade, the Active Travel (Wales) Act and the arrangements to support delivery have not yet had the desired impact. Without better supporting evidence, the risk is that doing more of the same, including in how funding is prioritised, may simply produce the same results.”
Mr Crompton also stressed the importance of stronger monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to assess value for money and track progress more accurately.
Current reporting requirements under the Active Travel Act are inconsistently met, and a Welsh Government review of the Act is long overdue.
The report follows earlier criticisms from the Senedd’s Cross-Party Group on the Active Travel Act in 2022, as well as the Welsh Government’s Active Travel Board.
It calls for the government to deliver on its new delivery plan, which includes the development of a more rigorous monitoring and evaluation framework.
The wider benefits of active travel are well-documented, from improved health and well-being to reduced car use and pollution.
But achieving these outcomes in Wales will require more than just investment in infrastructure. Enhanced leadership, local capacity building, and prioritised funding are crucial steps in making the Active Travel Act a success.
As Transport for Wales continues to oversee the administration of the Active Travel Fund, Welsh ministers remain under pressure to demonstrate clearer results, with national active travel rates still well below expectations.
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