The Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013 was a significant milestone for both transport and public health policy in Wales. Its primary focus was to encourage more people to engage in active travel such as walking and cycling, including when travelling to school. 10 years on we ask:

• Has the legislation fulfilled its goals?
• What are schools doing to promote active travel? 
• How can this be supported through design?

Active travel and schools 

There has been growth in active travel to school since the Act's inception. According to the School Health Research Network (SHRN) Data Dashboard, the percentage of secondary aged children across Wales who either walk, cycle or scoot to school increased from 33.8 per cent in 2017 to 35 per cent in 2021. This relatively modest national increase of 1.2 per cent hides some significant local success. For example, active travel to school within the Isle of Anglesey has increased by 6.5 per cent, and Powys and Cardiff have increased their rates by 5.6 per cent and 5.3 per cent respectively. 

Initiatives taken by schools can have a real impact on the uptake of active travel, indeed schools across Wales are encouraged to produce Active Travel Plans, which are practical action plans to encourage and facilitate active travel by pupils. This includes promoting walking, cycling and scooting to school. Initiatives such as 'walking buses' and 'cycle trains', where a group of children walk or cycle to school together, supervised by one or more adults, are ways of ensuring children's safety while fostering activity. 

Another example of an initiative is Cardiff Council's School Streets Scheme. This involves closing roads around school entrances during peak drop-off and pick-up times during term time, helping children to get to school safely and in an active way. 

The success of practical initiatives relies on supporting infrastructure. The Act places a duty on local authorities and the Welsh Government to improve active travel infrastructure. Despite this, infrastructure continues to be a barrier to increasing active travel rates with many areas still lacking safe and secure routes to facilitate walking or cycling to school. 

Influence on school design

In addition to infrastructure, a well-designed school site can support active travel to schools. The principles of the Act should be reflected in the design of new schools and school expansions, with facilities such as cycle and scooter storage, as well as easy and safe drop-off points with widened pavements to avoid obstructing pedestrian routes. 

Impact on development masterplans 

The principles of the Act can be reflected in masterplans for new housing developments, taking the opportunity for active travel facilities to form part of the design of the urban environment with active travel links to key services and facilities. This includes walking and cycling infrastructure to schools. 

The 10-year anniversary of the Act provides a great opportunity to think about the benefits it can provide and there is much more to come as Wales moves forward with this pioneering legislation.

From school-run initiatives to influencing the design of schools to shaping new development plans, the Active Travel Act could have a profound impact on the Welsh landscape and establish it as a global benchmark for active travel. Most importantly, it sets a positive course for our next generation, who will reap the health, environmental and social benefits of a more active and sustainable lifestyle. 

Further information

Contact Kate Moodey and Nick Bennett