00:00The Welsh Government wants people to cycle where possible. It's good for people's health,
00:07it cuts down on emissions, and can be a much cheaper alternative to driving. The problem,
00:12it seems at the moment, is that people simply aren't as interested in changing to cycling
00:17or walking as previously hoped. Journeys by car currently make up roughly two thirds of
00:22all journeys taking place in Wales, which is a much lower number than has been targeted
00:26for a long time by the Welsh Government. Targets have been set at making 45% of all journeys
00:32by bike, foot or public transport by 2040, but the number should have increased by more
00:37if that target was to be met. It could be easy to say that it's only been a few years
00:42and not enough time has gone by to see real changes, but those targets were set way back
00:47in 2013 and have been part of Government legislation ever since. The Active Travel Act was heralded
00:54as pioneering legislation by cycling organisations when it was first put into place, and had
00:59a number of important factors that were supposed to get people cycling and walking more often.
01:05It puts an emphasis on local authorities taking responsibility for maintaining and improving
01:10cycle lanes and footpaths, and was supposed to be the big stepping stone on seeing meaningful
01:15change in people's travel habits. A recent independent report from the Active Travel
01:20Board though, has found that there has been no significant improvements in over a decade,
01:25but said more local initiatives have shown positive signs. One of those local initiatives
01:30is here in Newport at the 24-hour Cycle Hub behind me, where people can store their bikes
01:34for £1.50 a day, and has encouraged more people to cycle into town. This though is
01:39clearly not enough to overhaul people's behaviour. Another recommendation from the
01:43Active Travel Board call on a more targeted approach and focus on just a few towns in
01:48local areas to test, and uses a blueprint for additional cycling and walking infrastructure.
01:54It also says that the highly controversial 20mph speed limit changes have seen a positive
01:59impact, seemingly putting people off driving through areas with lower speed limits. While
02:06this wasn't the first priority of the 20mph change, it can certainly be seen as a welcome
02:11by-product of the plan. Figures show that Wales is now spending £19 per head on active
02:17travel around the country, compared to just £12 in England. So, funding clearly doesn't
02:23seem to be the problem, and the report says that what the Welsh Government is doing can
02:28be seen as an example of good practice, but the problems seem to lie with people simply
02:33not wanting to change their transport habits, despite opportunities. Whether any additional
02:39plans could help people cycle, or if costs and speed limits or extra cycle lanes or any
02:45other infrastructure will see any impact, the future remains to be seen. But with no
02:49significant changes in the last decade, and targets quickly approaching, changes need
02:54to be seen soon, if they're going to come at all.
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