A CHARITY in Wales that supports walking as a mode of transport wants to see more action from the Welsh Government for rolling out the Active Travel Act.
The charity, Living Streets Cymru, gave evidence in January to a committee to raise concerns over a lack of investment and direction for the Welsh Active Travel Act. Wales is the first country to pass this legislation, but Living Streets Cymru say that more must be done to become leaders in this area.
For more than 85 years Living Streets Cymru have been a beacon for walking; in their early days their campaigning led to the UK’s first zebra crossings and speed limits.
Now their campaigns and local projects help deliver real change, and have provided ground-breaking initiatives such as the world’s biggest ‘Walk to School’ campaign which encourages millions of people to walk.
This week, a report was released by the Welsh Government that answered questions from parties concerned. Questions included those on active travel leadership, the need to fund promotion as well as infrastructure, active travel being a smart investment for the Welsh Government to make, targets for children walking to school and the fact that active travel promotion needs to be expanded across schools, into workplaces and communities.
Rachel Maycock, Living Streets Cymru Manager says: “I was pleased about the level of interest from Assembly Members at the recent Business and Enterprise Committee but I think today’s report merely highlights how much work needs to be done.
“We want to see Wales realise its active travel ambitions and give communities the benefits walking can bring. These include less congestion and pollution, a better sense of community cohesion and of course the important physical and mental health benefits for individuals who walk and take part in active travel as part of their everyday lives.
“We are dealing with a decline in the walk to school and more and more people driving instead of walking short distances. Low physical activity levels among children and adults costs NHS Wales £650 million a year.”
Living Streets Cymru’s vision is to create a walking nation that is free from pollution and confested roads, in hopes of reducing the risk of illness and social isolation, and making walking the natural choice.
Living Street Cymru told the Herald: “We believe that a walking nation means progress for everyone.
Our ambition is to get people of all generations to enjoy the benefits that this simple act brings and to ensure all our streets are fit for walking.”
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