Tomos Owens discusses why the new Welsh Government must prioritise active travel.
We rarely get earthquakes beyond a moderate wobble in Wales, and whilst I am neither a seismologist nor meteorologist, I can reveal that a big one may be coming. The day to make sure your prized Max Boyce framed-photo is safely tucked away is, of course, Thursday 7 May, Senedd 2026 Election Day.
To say a ‘shake-up’ is possible is an understatement. After a century of dominance, current polling suggests Welsh Labour are likely to suffer significant losses and the next Welsh Government could, for the first time, be led by a party other than Labour.
With this in mind, Cycling UK Cymru have been preparing not only for the election, but for the new, expanded Senedd in whatever composition it takes.
Last week we launched our 2026 Senedd election manifesto, Make Cycling the Easy Choice, setting out our vision for a healthier, better-connected Wales. A Wales where children can cycle safely to school, where high streets thrive with people, and where everyone can safely walk, wheel, or cycle for everyday journeys.
Recent polling commissioned by Cycling UK found that three quarters of young people in Wales want safer street design to support cycling and walking.
We are, however, under no illusions. The next Government will face tight fiscal constraints and high public expectations. During its Spring Conference, Plaid Cymru signalled that if they form part of the next government there would be no dramatic expansion of spending – a reality likely shared across all parties.
Wales has, in many respects, been world leading. The Active Travel Act placed a legal duty on ministers and local authorities to improve walking and cycling routes. Llwybr Newydd embedded a sustainable transport hierarchy with walking and cycling at the top. But legislation does not build networks, and aspiration alone does not deliver modal shift.
Recent scrutiny has been sobering. Audit Wales concluded that despite increased investment, the Welsh Government remains “a long way from achieving the step change in active travel intended through the Act”. The Public Accounts Committee raised similar concerns about delivery, data and funding certainty. The Government’s own review acknowledged that behaviour change has not yet matched ambition.
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Yet public appetite for change is clear, particularly among younger generations. Recent polling commissioned by Cycling UK found that three quarters of young people in Wales want safer street design to support cycling and walking.
Plans to move transport funding into broader regional settlements without guarantees for active travel are deeply concerning and risk undermining progress further. That is why we are calling for sustained, ring-fenced, multi-year funding, reaching 10% of the transport budget, covering both capital and revenue. Revenue spending without infrastructure leaves people nowhere safe to ride. We need both.
The value-for-money case is compelling. Active travel delivers, on average, £5.62 for every £1 invested. At a time when public finances are stretched, few interventions offer such consistent economic, health and environmental returns.
If we are serious about fairness and participation then we should ensure that infrastructure and road design reflects the needs of those who currently feel excluded.
Safer roads must be central. Fear of traffic remains the biggest barrier to cycling, particularly for women. Men in Wales are still significantly more likely to cycle than women. If we are serious about fairness and participation then we should ensure that infrastructure and road design reflects the needs of those who currently feel excluded. That includes appropriate speed limits, safer junctions, and better public awareness of the 2022 Highway Code changes, alongside a clear path towards Vision Zero, ending deaths and serious injuries on Welsh roads.
Health will inevitably dominate the next Senedd term. Embedding movement into daily journeys is one of the most accessible and cost-effective public health interventions available. A clear delivery plan to get more people active in green and blue spaces, alongside a full review of the rights of way network, would support both health and inclusion. Access to nature should not be a luxury.
Connectivity matters too. A fair transport system does not force people into one mode – it offers real choice. That means better integration between active travel and public transport; including secure cycle parking at stations and cycle spaces on trains and buses. It means measurable targets for increasing journeys made by walking, wheeling, cycling and public transport – backed by transparent reporting.
This transparency is key. If the next Government wants to build public confidence, it must demonstrate impact. Clear public reporting on health outcomes, emissions reductions, congestion relief, and value for money is essential. As Peter Drucker is purported to have said, “What gets measured gets managed.” I would add to that: What gets published builds trust.
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On 15 April Cycling UK Cymru, Walk Wheel Cycle Trust Cymru, and Living Streets Cymru are hosting an online hustings, chaired by Will Hayward, bringing together candidates from across parties to discuss how walking, wheeling and cycling fit into Wales’ future transport and public health agenda.
The political landscape may shift dramatically on 7 May. Governments may change. Ministerial titles may change. What should not change is the commitment to making cycling the easy, safe and obvious choice for everyday journeys in Wales.
Earthquakes reshape landscapes. They can also create new foundations.
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