National Assembly for Wales
Ref: LCO-051
Proposed Walking and Cycling Paths Legislative Competence Order
Mick Bates
Pre-ballot Information: Outline Proposed Legislative Competence Order
Outline of proposed Order
The proposed Order would make provision for a legal framework relating to the development and maintenance of traffic free routes across Wales which take into account the needs of all users.
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 routes across Wales for all users such as walkers, cyclists and people with disabilities. Note: in this regards, traffic free means free of motorised vehicles.
Background
Pollution from cars accounts 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 target of reducing carbon emissions by 3% per year and their 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
A petition calling upon the National Assembly for Wales to seek powers to place a duty on the Assembly Government to develop and maintain a network of traffic free shared use paths for walkers, cyclists and disabled people across Wales, as set out in the proposed Legislative Competence Order, was presented to the National Assembly for Wales on 17 October 2007.
