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New guidance for walking and cycling routes from the Welsh Government has just closed for public consultation.
The new guidance sits alongside the ‘world leading’ Active Travel Bill which comes into force in Wales this year.
The landmark Active Travel Bill makes it a legal requirement for local authorities to plan and deliver routes that link up hospitals, schools and shopping areas with traffic-free routes and cycle lanes.
The New Welsh Government’s design guidance for walking and cycling routes has just closed for public consultation, sitting alongside the Active Travel Bill. The new guidance has been backed by Living Streets and Sustrans Cymru.
National Director of Sustrans Cymru Jane Lorimer said: “Many people would like to cycle for shorter everyday journeys, but for too long simply painting a small section at the edge of the road a different colour has passed as providing for cyclists. This new design guidance clearly signals the dawning of a new approach where high quality and continuous routes, separated from traffic, will start to become the norm.
“The Active Travel Act is a world first, and the design guidance matches the Welsh Government’s ambition to make Wales a cycling nation.”
Living Streets Public Affairs and Policy Manager Kevin Golding-Williams added: “It’s great that Welsh Government brought experts on board to help them with this design guidance and that the document reflects that expertise.
“Pedestrians are too often inconvenienced by poor crossings, surfaces or guard rails that block the most direct routes. Walking should be a simple and easy way to get around town – following this design guidance will help to ensure that is the case.”
