Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013
The Active Travel (Wales) Act aims to make it easier for people to walk and cycle in Wales, specifically to promote walking and cycling as viable modes of transport for everyday journeys such as to the shops, work or college.
It places a legal duty upon local authorities in Wales to map, plan for and promote active travel journeys.
As part of the act, we are required to produce an 'Active Travel network Map' (ATNM).
The ATNM is a network planning tool which enables a local authority to develop and maintain a strategic plan of all walking and cycling routes. The map is split between the 'existing' network of walking and cycling routes which meet the Welsh Government's design standards, and a network of potential 'future' routes which we aspire to improve to enable more people to walk and cycle in and around Swansea.
Each year, we are able to apply for grant from the Welsh Government's 'Active Travel fund' to improve or create walking and cycling links.
Current projects Current projects
All potential future routes are aspirational and require further work to assess suitability and develop appropriate designs in line with Welsh Government design guidance. Any routes taken forward for development would be subject to further engagement with stakeholders.
Swansea's ATNM was developed over the course of 2021 through two intensive 12-week rounds of public and stakeholder consultation. Feedback gathered helped identify issues with the existing network and identify potential future routes to improve active travel links between communities.
The draft ATNM was then submitted to and approved by the Welsh Government in 2022. It will be reviewed and updated periodically as part of requirements of the act.
To ensure consistency across Wales, the ATNMs of all local authorities were created and published using the Welsh Government's mapping system, 'Data Map Wales'.
Active Travel Network Maps (DataMapWales) Active Travel Network Maps (DataMapWales)
Downloadable version of the ATNM: Swansea Active Travel Network Map (approved 2022) (PDF) [18MB]
We also prepare annual reports which are submitted to the Welsh Government to monitor the costs and use of Active Travel within the City and County of Swansea. These reports can also be found in the downloads section below.