Proposed Use of Highways by Cyclists and Pedestrians Legislative Competence Order

Kirsty Williams

Pre-ballot Information: Outline Proposed Legislative Competence Order

Outline of proposed Order

Field 10 (highways and transport) of Part 1 of Schedule 5 to the Government of Wales Act 2006 is to be amended as follows:

After Field 10: highways and transport insert “provisions relating to highways and other paths for the sole or shared use of cyclists and pedestrians or to facilitate the use of highways by cyclists and pedestrians”.

Pre-ballot Information: Explanatory Memorandum

Policy Objectives of the Proposed Order

There is a legal framework for developing Trunk Roads and for a Public Rights of Way network. We wish to see a legal framework for walking and cycling paths which imposes a duty on the Assembly Government to develop and maintain a network of traffic free shared use paths for walkers, cyclists and the disabled across Wales.

Background

Pollution from cars account for 13% of Britain’s total carbon emissions. The figure is growing, and growing faster in Wales than in the rest of the UK. Meanwhile levels of obesity are rising. On current trends over half of all children will be clinically overweight by 2050.

In order to meet the Assembly Government’s goals of increased levels of physical activity and a 3% annual reduction of carbon emissions in devolved areas, it is essential to reduce traffic levels and increase the number of walking and cycling journeys.

Research in the English Sustainable Travel Demonstration Towns shows that cycling provides a viable alternative to 31% of all car trips within Towns - a greater potential than for walking (15%) and public transport (21%). In-depth research shows that a further 30% of car trips are susceptible to change if there was a more positive cycling culture.

There are over 1,000 miles of National Cycle Network (NCN) in Wales and during 2006 there was an increase of 31 million journeys on the NCN in Wales.The development of high quality shared use paths is, however, sporadic. Design standards are inconsistent and often do not encourage use. Maintenance is patchy and the sustainable transport charity Sustrans is forced to maintain many paths from their own charitable reserves.

A legal duty to develop and maintain a network of off-road paths would encourage a more uniform approach and would help meet the Assembly Government’s Climbing Higher target (target 11) of putting 95% of people in Wales within a ten-minute walk of a footpath or cycle-path.

Support Received

Sustrans Cymru

BMA Cymru

Age Concern Cymru

Play Wales

NUT Cymru

NAHT Cymru

Groundwork Wales

WWF Cymru

Friends of the Earth Cymru