Active travel

Active Travel means walking or cycling for everyday short-distance journeys. It covers trips to school, shops, work, services and transport hubs. Also, it can include the use of electric wheelchairs or mobility scooters.

It does not include journeys purely for recreation, or social reasons.

Routes

The below routes are great for Active Travel. They are shown in ‘Existing Route Maps’ (ERMs), which detail the current Active Travel routes approved by the Welsh Government.

The ERMs do not show every walking or cycle route in an area, but only the existing routes which we deemed suitable for Active Travel.

View the Overview Map to see all areas and routes covered by the ERM settlement maps:

The proposed active travel route along a section of Cowbridge Road, as part of the Waterton to Bridgend active travel scheme, was approved by Cabinet on the 22 June 2021.

The scheme represents permanent active travel facilities, including improved crossing facilities, widening of footways to become shared walk/cycle routes and a reduction of the speed limit along Cowbridge Road.

Future Route Proposals

We have also detailed plans for a network of Active Travel routes and facilities over the next 15 years. These are found in our Integrated Network Maps (INMs).

The proposals aim to:

  • enhance access to key services and facilities including town centres, transport hubs, as well as employment and retail areas
  • develop access to education facilities such as schools and colleges
  • improve and expand the existing strategic network in Bridgend County Borough

Delivery of the INM’s proposals depend on funding. Also, the INM’s proposals are indicative, and may change as schemes develop.

Annual reports

We must produce annual reports detailing:

  • actions from the previous financial year to promote Active Travel
  • the costs of new or improved Active Travel routes and facilities
  • the usage levels of Active Travel routes

Our legal responsibilities

In September 2014, the Welsh Government introduced the Active Travel (Wales) Act.

This measure legally requires Welsh local authorities to map and plan suitable routes for Active Travel within certain areas, as designated by the Welsh Government - Designated areas in Bridgend County Borough.

The Act’s first stage required us to produce Existing Routes Maps. After a 16-week public consultation, we submitted our draft ERM maps in January 2016. The Welsh Government approved them on 12 August 2016.

The maps’ routes have been assessed against the Welsh Government’s standards. Although most routes met the guidance and are suitable for Active Travel, some narrowly failed. However we still consider the latter important for Active Travel. 

Read our Existing Routes Map Statement for an explanation of why these routes are appropriate.

For the Act’s second phase, we produced Integrated Network Maps (INMs). After a 12 week public consultation, we submitted our draft INMs in November 2017, and the Welsh Government approved them on 27 February 2018.

A road marking depicting a bicycle and a parent and child

Contact

Address: Policy and Development Team, Streetscene Services, Bridgend County Borough Council, Civic Offices, Bridgend, CF31 4WB
Telephone: 01656 642528

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