Senedd Cymru | Welsh Parliament
Y Pwyllgor Cyllid | Finance Committee
Cyllideb Ddrafft Llywodraeth Cymru 2026-27 | Welsh Government Draft Budget 2026-27
Ymateb gan Cycling UK, | Evidence from Cycling UK,
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The inclusion funding for active travel in the 2025 –26 budget following last year's budget negotiations was a positive move. Sustained, dedicated funding for active travel in recent years has enabled local authorities to continue development of active travel networks.
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According to the 2021 Census, 19.4% of households have no access to a car or van. For those in materially deprived households 30% of people have no access to a car https://www.gov.wales/poverty-and-deprivation-national-survey-wales-april-2021-march-2022-html. However, the cost of owning and running a car for those in poorer households who are forced to own and rely on a car puts significant pressure on household finances.
The Welsh Government must put in place measures to ensure people are not forced to rely on a car due to lack of affordable alternatives. Government must aim to address transport poverty and lack of sustainable and active transport options – especially for those in rural areas.
Cycling is a low-cost form of transportation potentially available to many, especially for short journeys. However, the Welsh Government must make cycling an easier, realistic option for everyone by investing more in cycling projects in the Budget – both capital and revenue. Capital funding is needed to connect communities with bus and cycling networks to reduce the cost of transport and relieve pressure on household budgets.
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Cycling UK wants to see the Welsh Government do more to tackle the climate emergency and meet its own commitments for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by investing in a more sustainable transport system. Domestic transport accounts for 17% of all climate emissions in Wales and has only reduced by 12% since 1990 https://statswales.gov.wales/Catalogue/Environment-and-Countryside/Greenhouse-Gas/emissionsofgreenhousegases-by-year
Wales needs to do much more to decarbonise transport. In 2024/25 the Welsh Government allocated £65m for active travel in the budget. This works out to be approximately 3.5% of the total transport budget and represents £21 spent per capita. Cycling UK wants to see the Welsh Government spend 10% of the transport budget on cycling, walking and wheeling (active travel).
Stride and Ride https://www.ippr.org/articles/stride-and-ride , a report by IPPR calculated the amount of money needed to create world class active travel infrastructure. Whilst the data used was based on England, the recommendations hold true across the UK. IPPR recommended allocating 10% of transport budgets to active travel, or £50 per head. In Wales, these figures are approximately the same and average £150m per year.
Providing this level of funding, and consistently maintaining it would be transformatory for the people of Wales as it would allow local authorities to scale up delivery and make places better for people. Providing the security of multi-year funding settlements would also enable councils to create much needed physical space for cycling and walking, and projects which support people to cycle. This would enable more people to cycle and to cycle more, making more journeys by bike, and thus fulfilling the government’s goal. In addition, it would help those people realise the benefits of cycling, as explained above.
Importantly, investment in active travel is excellent value for money and better than many other transport investments. The UK Government estimates that for every £1 spent on cycling and walking schemes in the UK, £5.62 worth of benefits are achieved on average https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/371096/claiming_the_health_dividend.pdf. Officially those BCR ratios are ‘very high,’ i.e. above 4:1. In contrast, BCR for the major road are just 2.3:1 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/286611/hs2-economic-case.pdf. Furthermore, because cycle lanes can be built quickly, government can realise the return on that investment more swiftly.
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In the transport sector, the major fiscal measures with the ability to raise funds are reserved to Westminster and funds flow to the Treasury, e.g. Fuel Duty and Vehicle Excise Duty. However, there is a potential to raise funds from transport in Wales, through policies such as, Clean Air Zones, Workplace Parking Levies, levies from congestion zones, and parking charges and fees. Some may need legislation to proceed but others can go ahead now and be supported by the Budget.
In addition to raising money, policies can be designed to disincentivise specific travel behaviours and choices. New revenue generation must be undertaken in a fair and progressive manner that makes polluters pay and penalises most those who choose to drive when other transport options are readily available. Such revenue generation should be consistent with just transition principles.
Hypothecation of finances raised through the above measures makes these measure more acceptable to the public, especially at the local level. The Campaign for Better Transport (CfBT) study in 2022 and work by Green Alliance found that people are more favourable towards road pricing if it is used to make public transport cheaper and the income reinvested to improve public transport and connectivity.
https://bettertransport.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Pay-as-you-drive-Report-Sept-2022.pdf
https://green-alliance.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/A_greener_tax_system.pdf
The Committee would like to focus on a number of other specific areas in the scrutiny of the Budget. Do you have any specific comments on any of the areas identified below?
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As outlined in answer to question 12, cycling is a low-cost form of transport. The Welsh Government must implement policies which proactively support those on low incomes to be able to access affordable transport, including cycling. This includes providing the safe cycling infrastructure and quieter streets, so people feel there is a safe space for them to cycle for journeys. Community-based projects are also needed to provide cycle training or to provide access to bikes and bike maintenance.
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The Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) identifies transport as a significant barrier to women's employment, particularly in rural and post-industrial areas of Wales, due to limitations on accessing jobs, education, and training. Women make half as many trips by bike as men, and are more likely to be put off cycling by a fear of busy traffic or hostile behaviour from drivers. It is therefore vital to ensure the Budget is used to invest in sustainable and active transport options, especially by creating a network of safe cycle routes which women feel comfortable using. https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/our-work/equality-and-human-rights-monitor/equality-and-human-rights-monitor-2023-executive-summary#:~:text=Disparities%20in%20living%20standards%20and%20poverty&text=Our%20analyses%20have%20highlighted%20the,across%20all%20protected%20characteristic%20groups.
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Cycling is excellent for people’s health, and the evidence is well documented. Healthier people are happier, more productive and rely less on expensive healthcare services. People who are physically active take 27% fewer sick days than their colleagues. https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/economic-benefits-of-walking-and-cycling
Another perspective is to consider the cost of not investing in preventative spending, which can be severe. Maintaining a transport system which forces most people to rely on cars will mean continued high greenhouse gas, in addition to more congestion, air pollution, and physical inactivity. All of these have significant costs – even if they are indirect or hidden.
Investment in high quality cycling infrastructure is key to boosting the number of people cycling. As already stated above Cycling UK is calling for at least 10% of the transport budget, approximately £150m per year to be spent on active travel. This investment is preventative spending as it enables people to be physically active and healthier.
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The Welsh Government has not adequately invested in cycling infrastructure and more widely in infrastructure for sustainable transport. Cycling UK recommends an urgent uplift in funding for active travel to at least 10% of the total transport budget. This is needed if Wales is to provide high quality, world-class networks of cycling infrastructure which can increase the proportion of people cycling for journeys and help to deliver a modal shift in Wales.
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Children can cycle whereas none but a very few over 17s can drive. Children and young people are limited in their travel freedom and independence and therefore the services and activities they can access and are forced to rely on adults to drive them. Only a small percentage young adults hold a full licence (statistic in Wales not readily available but in England 27% of people aged 17-20 hold a full driving licence) so access to education, training and employment by sustainable and active travel is essential for this demographic. Safer streets, neighbourhoods and cycle routes would give children the freedom to cycle and travel to where they need to go, including school and college. The Welsh Government must have the needs of children and young people in mind when setting the budget.
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We believe that Welsh Government prioritising spending on active and public transport would better deliver against the goals of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015