Wheelin’ And Walkin’ The Welsh Way
If we shouted ‘WALES!’ at you, you’d probably immediately think of Tom Jones playing rugby in a field of sheep overshadowed by a looming dragon and a lady flogging daffodils.
But very soon, Wales will forever be known as the first country to make it compulsory for local authorities to provide safe and integrated cycle and walk paths.
In an effort to boost green travel throughout the country, Welsh councils are now obliged to identify, plan and implement safe routes for Walking The Walk and Pedaling The Pedals under the Active Travel Bill.
According to Carl Sargeant, Welsh Minister for Local Government, the bill is “aimed at tackling some of the major barriers that are preventing more people from walking and cycling”. Given the massive shift in attitudes towards smoking in the last few decades, Sargeant doesn’t see why we can’t see attitudes change when it comes to taking the car too.
Undoubtedly, safety is a major concern if you decide to walk or pedal around your daily life, so bills like the Active Travel Bill are crucial if we, as a nation, are going to Axe The Auto Altogether.
So llongyfarchion to Wales for taking the initiative and here’s to other countries doing the same very, very soon.
