New data released by the Welsh government shows that the country is not on target for its Walking & Cycling Action Plan for Wales 2009-2013, which was designed to encourage people to live more active lifestyles.
There are a number of Welsh communities, particularly those where the mining industry was once the main source of employment, where obesity and illness levels are some of the highest in the UK. The Walking & Cycling Action Plan was designed in part to reverse the effects of the sedentary lifestyles being led by people in these areas of high unemployment.
In 2008, the Welsh Health Survey showed that 62% of men and 53% of women were overweight or obese. For 45 to 64-year-olds, the figures were 72% and 62% respectively. The Walking & Cycling Action Plan was intended to get people walking and cycling for fun as well as a means of getting from A to B. The plan set a target of trebling the number of children cycling to school, as well as trebling the number of people cycling to work.
The latest data suggests that only 1-2% of under-16s regularly cycle to and from school, which means there has been no real improvement since 2008. The number of people cycling to work has risen from 1.4% in 2007 to a current figure of 1.6%, which is a negligible improvement. Although the number of men getting on their bikes has risen from 1.9% to 2.7%, the figure for women has fallen from 0.7% to 0.3%.
The plan also aimed to double the number of people cycling for fun. Although there are no current figures available, the data shows that in 2008/09, 8% of people were cycling recreationally, up from 5% in 2004/05.
The Welsh government has said that it is currently focusing on the National Transport Plan, and that it will re-appraise the Walking & Cycling Action Plan in due course. It also said that the "suitability of the data sources" used to compile the latest statistics will be re-examined. The government is also working on legislation to get more cycle paths built, and compel local authorities to maintain them properly.
There are a number of Welsh communities, particularly those where the mining industry was once the main source of employment, where obesity and illness levels are some of the highest in the UK. The Walking & Cycling Action Plan was designed in part to reverse the effects of the sedentary lifestyles being led by people in these areas of high unemployment.
In 2008, the Welsh Health Survey showed that 62% of men and 53% of women were overweight or obese. For 45 to 64-year-olds, the figures were 72% and 62% respectively. The Walking & Cycling Action Plan was intended to get people walking and cycling for fun as well as a means of getting from A to B. The plan set a target of trebling the number of children cycling to school, as well as trebling the number of people cycling to work.
The latest data suggests that only 1-2% of under-16s regularly cycle to and from school, which means there has been no real improvement since 2008. The number of people cycling to work has risen from 1.4% in 2007 to a current figure of 1.6%, which is a negligible improvement. Although the number of men getting on their bikes has risen from 1.9% to 2.7%, the figure for women has fallen from 0.7% to 0.3%.
The plan also aimed to double the number of people cycling for fun. Although there are no current figures available, the data shows that in 2008/09, 8% of people were cycling recreationally, up from 5% in 2004/05.
The Welsh government has said that it is currently focusing on the National Transport Plan, and that it will re-appraise the Walking & Cycling Action Plan in due course. It also said that the "suitability of the data sources" used to compile the latest statistics will be re-examined. The government is also working on legislation to get more cycle paths built, and compel local authorities to maintain them properly.
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