The Welsh Assembly has outlined an action plan to make cycling and walking public transport investment priorities.
The assembly revealed it would be working alongside local authorities and other partners to implement the action points outlined in the plan.
Launching the plan at the Wales Millennium Centre, deputy first minister, Ieuan Wyn Jones, said: ‘More walking and biking in Wales is a win-win situation on all fronts. It will ease congestion, lower emissions, and address growing obesity levels.’
Environment minister, Jane Davidson, added: ‘We want to enhance and link up cycle routes on an all-Wales basis, and support communities to make a difference.’
Davidson said the aim was to encourage people to change the way they travelled to work and picked up their children from school, as Wales currently lagged behind the UK averages in both these areas.
The assembly will ensure local authorities provide and maintain high-quality routes and facilities for cyclists. The provision of safe, traffic-free walking routes to schools and workplaces will be boosted under the Safe Routes in Communities programme.
The introduction of a national standard for cycle training was also announced, alongside plans to train more than 100 new cycling instructors by 2010/11. Recently, Quentin Grimley, coastal access projects officer for the Countryside Council for Wales, told Surveyor plans for the all-Wales coastal path were on track to be completed in time for the 2012 Olympic Games.
Davidson revealed that provision for bikes would also be included in appropriate places along this route.
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