If it’s not easy, they won’t use it.
Australian bicycle organisation senior leaders were in Canberra to hear Lee Waters speak. From L-R Peter Mclean, Melinda Tarrant, David Whitney, Sara Stace, Kirsty Kelly, Hon. Rachel Nolan, Lee Waters MS, Nick Hannan, Hon. Andrew Wallace, Cecily Michaels, Dr Helen Haines MP, Kate Chaney MP, Peter Bourke, Senator David Pocock, Alton Twine, Alison McCormack, Stephen Hodge., Alton Twine, Alison McCormack, Stephen Hodge. Photo source weride.org.au
Earlier this week, our Executive Director Cecily Michaels and Board President David Whitney attended an inspiring event at Parliament House, hosted by the Parliamentary Friends of Cycling. Lee Waters, a Member of the Welsh Parliament, former Minister for Transport and Deputy Minister for Climate Change shared his transformative approach to transport in Wales.
Lee Waters's presentation was a powerful reminder of a simple yet profound truth: people will naturally choose the easiest option. For the past 70 years, the easiest option has been driving a car, as we've designed our transport systems to prioritise convenience for motorists. However, to meet our legal carbon obligations and reduce car dependency, we must make sustainable transport options just as convenient. During his talk, Waters outlined how Wales has implemented three structural changes to achieve this: integrating transport planning, legislating for Highway Authorities to prioritise active travel, and lowering speed limits in areas where people and traffic mix. These changes are designed to make the sustainable choice, the easiest choice.
Lee Waters is renowned for his bold decision to pause all new road schemes in Wales while an independent review assessed their alignment with climate targets. His actions have made international headlines, particularly for leading the charge on reducing the default speed limit in built-up areas to 20mph (about 30 km/h). This change is just one element of his broader vision for a sustainable and climate-conscious transport system in Wales.
During his presentation, Waters detailed the steps he took to embed climate considerations at the heart of Welsh transport policy. Besides freezing road builds to assess their alignment with climate targets, he established a national transport strategy that prioritises modal shift, setting an ambitious target of 45% of all journeys to be made by public transport, walking, or cycling by 2040. Waters also led a significant reform of bus policy in Wales, introducing the concept of ‘One network, one timetable, one ticket’, and reshaped the role of Transport for Wales into a multi-modal delivery body.
This week’s event underscored the importance of integrating climate targets into transport planning and demonstrated the potential for similar reforms here in Australia. It was encouraging to see such a diverse group of stakeholders engaged in the conversation, highlighting the growing momentum for sustainable transport solutions nationwide.
