Sustrans Cymru has joined with Cycling UK and Living Streets Cymru to write to all 60 Members of the Senedd ahead of the 2025/26 Welsh Government budget, calling for active travel to remain a priority. In this open letter, we call on Welsh Government to ensure that active travel continues to play a major role in a healthier, greener, fairer, and more prosperous Wales.
Sustrans Cymru is joining with Cycling UK and Living Streets Cymru to call for action. Credit: Neil Beer.
Dear Members of the Senedd,
As discussions continue around the Welsh Government’s budget for 2025-26, we at Cycling UK Cymru, Living Streets Cymru and Sustrans Cymru are writing to you, to ask you to prioritise active travel in your considerations.
As the three leading active travel charities in Wales we call on the Welsh Government to ensure that walking, wheeling and cycling remain a priority in public investment.
Investment in active travel is critical to the Welsh Government achieving its public health, economic growth and low carbon goals.
With additional funding for Wales announced by the UK Government in October we believe the essential continued ring-fenced, targeted funding for active travel is now possible to support many key policy outcomes in Wales.
- By prioritising green infrastructure projects, Wales can support a sustainable transition to a resilient, low carbon economy. Investment in walkable high streets and town centres can boost local economies – shoppers on foot can spend six times more than those travelling by car.[1]
- At a time of significant pressure on the health service, walking, wheeling and cycling are key to a healthier Wales. Investment in active travel can prevent ill health and reduce the burden on the NHS, for example in Scotland, the number of deaths averted by walking to work was worth around £600 million a year.[2]
Here are our four key calls for a healthier, greener, fairer and more prosperous Wales:
1. Protect and Increase Active Travel Funding
We urge the Welsh Government to protect and, where possible, increase funding for active travel infrastructure and behaviour change programmes.
Every investment in walking and cycling creates multiple returns, from reducing NHS costs to stimulating local economies.
For example, every £1 invested in Living Streets’ walk to school programme delivers £5 in health, air quality, carbon and traffic reduction benefits.
Now is not the time for backward step in active travel investment - by securing core funding for active travel, Wales can support public health, reduce congestion and contribute to climate action.
2. Prioritise Safe Routes to Schools and Education
Safe routes to schools are crucial for children’s well-being and educational access – 22% of parents of children who do not currently walk to school said that safer roads would encourage them to walk to school more often[3].
We call for continued dedicated funding and behaviour change programmes to ensure that walking and cycling routes to schools are expanded and maintained.
This investment aligns with government education priorities, making active travel a feasible choice for parents, easing traffic congestion, and supporting children to get their recommended 60 minutes of physical activity every day.
3. Enhance Links to Public Transport
At a time when the Welsh Government is already significantly funding and seeking more UK Government investment for public transport, it is essential to remember that most bus and train journeys begin with a walk or cycle.
Active travel must connect seamlessly with public transport for a truly integrated transport network.
By funding walking and cycling access to train stations, bus stops, and transport interchanges, and ensuring sufficient high quality cycle storage at these locations, the Welsh Government can reduce car dependency and increase public transport usage.
4. Prioritise Road Safety for Walkers and Cyclists
Safety is a major barrier to walking and cycling, particularly for more vulnerable road users.
Investments in improvements such as better crossings, segregated cycle lanes and traffic-calming measures will encourage more people to walk or cycle.
Focusing on road safety and adopting a Vision Zero approach to casualties will complement and enhance the gains seen following the recent change to a 20mph default speed limit in residential areas.
Promised action on ending pavement parking is also critical to ensure our streets are safe for all, including vulnerable pedestrians.
We would welcome the opportunity to hear your thoughts on these calls or discuss our broader work in Wales.
We urge you to support these calls in the Senedd at this critical time for the future of walking, wheeling and cycling in Wales.
Yours sincerely,
Gwenda Owen, Cycling UK Cymru
Ruth Billingham, Living Streets Cymru
Stephen Cunnah, Sustrans Cymru
