Wales reveals "ground-breaking" plans requiring councils to provide safe walking & cycling routes
 

QUOTE:
Sustrans has welcomed what it describes as "ground-breaking" plans by the
Welsh Assembly Government to make it a legal requirement for local
authorities to provide cycling and walking routes, with the proposals,
contained in the Active Travel (Wales) Bill announced in a White Paper
yesterday, described as the first of their kind in the world.

The bill will require local authorities in the principality to devise and
deliver safe, traffic-free routes, including cycle paths, that link schools,
hospitals and shopping areas, and comes after a five-year campaign from
Sustrans Cymru.

The proposals have cross-party support and are also backed by organisations
such as the British Medical Association, Royal Mail and BT, as well as the
Children's Commissioner for Wales.

Malcolm Shepherd, chief executive of the sustainable transport charity,
said: "This is a ground-breaking move by the Welsh government that will help
people get around more safely, cheaply and healthily.

"People all over the UK want to cycle and walk more for every day journeys
but are held back by safety concerns.

"Walking and cycling are the answers to the UK's rocketing fuel bill and
expanding waistline but getting around actively must be made safer and
easier across the country."

Responses are invited to the issues addressed in the White Paper, a copy of
which can be downloaded at the end of this article, with the Welsh
Government canvassing views on whether local authorities should be required
to:
?identify and map the network of routes within their areas that are safe
and appropriate for walking and cycling
?identify and map the enhancements that would be required to create a fully
integrated network for walking and cycling and develop a prioritised list of
schemes to deliver the network
?deliver an enhanced network subject to budget availability and following
due process
?consider the potential for enhancing walking and cycling provision in the
development of new road schemes.

The proposals were formally launched yesterday at the Senedd building in
Cardiff Bay by Welsh Transport Minister Carl Sargeant, who said: "The White
Paper for the Active Travel Bill sets out an ambitious and radical plan to
dramatically increase the numbers of people walking and cycling in Wales.

"I see this Bill as a landmark step in further developing a truly
sustainable transport network in Wales and reflects the Welsh Government's
commitment to green transport," he continued.

"In addition to the obvious health benefits of walking and cycling this Bill
will have a positive impact on improving safety for both cyclists and
pedestrians, reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and reduce congestion
within our towns and cities.

"We want to make walking and cycling the most natural and normal way of
making short everyday journeys. I would urge people to have their say and
get involved in this consultation," Mr Sargeant added.

http://road.cc/content/news/57947-wa...e-safe-walking

--
Simon Mason

Numb-nuts Mason changes the subject again.
 

On 10/05/2012 17:22, Simon Mason wrote:
QUOTE:
Sustrans has welcomed what it describes as "ground-breaking" plans by
the Welsh Assembly Government to make it a legal requirement for local
authorities to provide cycling and walking routes, with the proposals,
contained in the Active Travel (Wales) Bill announced in a White Paper
yesterday, described as the first of their kind in the world.

The bill will require local authorities in the principality to devise
and deliver safe, traffic-free routes, including cycle paths, that link
schools, hospitals and shopping areas, and comes after a five-year
campaign from Sustrans Cymru.

The proposals have cross-party support and are also backed by
organisations such as the British Medical Association, Royal Mail and
BT, as well as the Children's Commissioner for Wales.

Malcolm Shepherd, chief executive of the sustainable transport charity,
said: "This is a ground-breaking move by the Welsh government that will
help people get around more safely, cheaply and healthily.

"People all over the UK want to cycle and walk more for every day
journeys but are held back by safety concerns.

"Walking and cycling are the answers to the UK's rocketing fuel bill and
expanding waistline but getting around actively must be made safer and
easier across the country."

Responses are invited to the issues addressed in the White Paper, a copy
of which can be downloaded at the end of this article, with the Welsh
Government canvassing views on whether local authorities should be
required to:
?identify and map the network of routes within their areas that are safe
and appropriate for walking and cycling
?identify and map the enhancements that would be required to create a
fully integrated network for walking and cycling and develop a
prioritised list of schemes to deliver the network
?deliver an enhanced network subject to budget availability and
following due process
?consider the potential for enhancing walking and cycling provision in
the development of new road schemes.

The proposals were formally launched yesterday at the Senedd building in
Cardiff Bay by Welsh Transport Minister Carl Sargeant, who said: "The
White Paper for the Active Travel Bill sets out an ambitious and radical
plan to dramatically increase the numbers of people walking and cycling
in Wales.

"I see this Bill as a landmark step in further developing a truly
sustainable transport network in Wales and reflects the Welsh
Government's commitment to green transport," he continued.

"In addition to the obvious health benefits of walking and cycling this
Bill will have a positive impact on improving safety for both cyclists
and pedestrians, reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and reduce
congestion within our towns and cities.

"We want to make walking and cycling the most natural and normal way of
making short everyday journeys. I would urge people to have their say
and get involved in this consultation," Mr Sargeant added.

http://road.cc/content/news/57947-wa...e-safe-walking


--
Simon Mason


--
Dave - Cyclists VOR. "Many people barely recognise the bicycle as a
legitimate mode of transport; it is either a toy for children or a
vehicle fit only for the poor and/or strange," Dave Horton - Lancaster
University

Wales reveals "ground-breaking" plans requiring councils to providesafe walking & cycling routes
 

On 10/05/2012 17:22, Simon Mason wrote:

QUOTE:
Sustrans has welcomed what it describes as "ground-breaking" plans by the
Welsh Assembly Government to make it a legal requirement for local
authorities to provide cycling and walking routes, with the proposals,
contained in the Active Travel (Wales) Bill announced in a White Paper
yesterday, described as the first of their kind in the world.

What absolute nonsense.

Every highway authority already provides cycling routes. They're known as
carriageways.

Every highway authority already provides walking routes. They're known as
footways (and sometimes footpaths).

Many cyclists can't tell the difference between them.

Wales reveals "ground-breaking" plans requiring councils toprovide safe walking & cycling routes
 

On May 10, 5:22*pm, "Simon Mason"
wrote:
QUOTE:
Sustrans has welcomed what it describes as "ground-breaking" plans by the
Welsh Assembly Government to make it a legal requirement for local
authorities to provide cycling and walking routes, with the proposals,
contained in the Active Travel (Wales) Bill announced in a White Paper
yesterday, described as the first of their kind in the world.

The bill will require local authorities in the principality to devise and
deliver safe, traffic-free routes, including cycle paths, that link schools,
hospitals and shopping areas, and comes after a five-year campaign from
Sustrans Cymru.

The proposals have cross-party support and are also backed by organisations
such as the British Medical Association, Royal Mail and BT, as well as the
Children's Commissioner for Wales.

Malcolm Shepherd, chief executive of the sustainable transport charity,
said: "This is a ground-breaking move by the Welsh government that will help
people get around more safely, cheaply and healthily.

"People all over the UK want to cycle and walk more for every day journeys
but are held back by safety concerns.

"Walking and cycling are the answers to the UK's rocketing fuel bill and
expanding waistline but getting around actively must be made safer and
easier across the country."

Well said that man - the penny is finally starting to drop thanks to
the stellar work done by Sustrans.
And it is backed by the BMA as well and not a mention of plastic hats
either.

--
Simon Mason

Wales reveals "ground-breaking" plans requiring councils to provide safe walking & cycling routes
 

On Thu, 10 May 2012 17:22:51 +0100, "Simon Mason"
wrote:

"The White
Paper for the Active Travel Bill sets out an ambitious and radical plan to
dramatically increase the numbers of people walking and cycling in Wales.

They are going to flatten all the hills are they?

Wales reveals "ground-breaking" plans requiring councils toprovide safe walking & cycling routes
 

On May 15, 10:48*am, Peter Parry wrote:
On Thu, 10 May 2012 17:22:51 +0100, "Simon Mason"

wrote:
"The White
Paper for the Active Travel Bill sets out an ambitious and radical plan to
dramatically increase the numbers of people walking and cycling in Wales..

They are going to flatten all the hills are they?

Well - they managed to do that when the Victorians built the railways.
There is now a cycle route across the Pennines that makes use of the
old Sheffield - Wath - Manchester railway line once used by Tommy
Class 76 locos.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manches...ectric_railway

As you can imagine - the hilly parts have been evened out.

--
Simon Mason

Wales reveals "ground-breaking" plans requiring councils to provide safe walking & cycling routes
 

On Thu, 10 May 2012 21:39:13 -0700 (PDT), Simon Mason
wrote:

On May 10, 5:22*pm, "Simon Mason"
wrote:
QUOTE:
Sustrans has welcomed what it describes as "ground-breaking" plans by the
Welsh Assembly Government to make it a legal requirement for local
authorities to provide cycling and walking routes, with the proposals,
contained in the Active Travel (Wales) Bill announced in a White Paper
yesterday, described as the first of their kind in the world.

The bill will require local authorities in the principality to devise and
deliver safe, traffic-free routes, including cycle paths, that link schools,
hospitals and shopping areas, and comes after a five-year campaign from
Sustrans Cymru.

The proposals have cross-party support and are also backed by organisations
such as the British Medical Association, Royal Mail and BT, as well as the
Children's Commissioner for Wales.

Malcolm Shepherd, chief executive of the sustainable transport charity,
said: "This is a ground-breaking move by the Welsh government that will help
people get around more safely, cheaply and healthily.

"People all over the UK want to cycle and walk more for every day journeys
but are held back by safety concerns.

"Walking and cycling are the answers to the UK's rocketing fuel bill and
expanding waistline but getting around actively must be made safer and
easier across the country."

Well said that man - the penny is finally starting to drop thanks to
the stellar work done by Sustrans.
And it is backed by the BMA as well and not a mention of plastic hats
either.



I understand that they may be compulsory on such sections.

Wales reveals "ground-breaking" plans requiring councils toprovide safe walking & cycling routes
 

On May 15, 10:48*am, Peter Parry wrote:
On Thu, 10 May 2012 17:22:51 +0100, "Simon Mason"

wrote:
"The White
Paper for the Active Travel Bill sets out an ambitious and radical plan to
dramatically increase the numbers of people walking and cycling in Wales..

They are going to flatten all the hills are they?

They could always use the material to construct that huge artificial
mountain that the Dutch want to build in Flevoland.
Remember that?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ournalist.html

--
Simon Mason