Active Travel
Active Travel is about making our everyday journeys - such as travelling to school, work or the shops by foot, cycling or wheeling
Active Travel will save you money, improve your health and help the environment.
View NPT’s approved ATNM.
2 out of 3 journeys are less than five miles. If its not far, leave the car
Changing the way we move around Neath Port Talbot will have a massive impact on your community
Need a bit of support to find your feet?
Useful tips to help you plan your journey.
Surveys carried out as part of our active journeys programme in Wales show that pupils would prefer to travel actively if they were given the choice
Employers across Neath Port Talbot should encourage employees to think walk, cycle or wheel
What is Active Travel?
Active Travel is about making our everyday journeys - such as travelling to school, work or the shops by foot, cycling or wheeling.
How will active travel help me?
You will save money
Cars can be expensive. Vehicle tax, maintenance, and insurance costs around £969 per year. And that doesn’t include the fuel to power it.
You will improve your health and wellbeing
Walking regularly can reduce the risk of heart disease and active travel helps to ease stress levels and benefit your mental wellbeing.
You will help your community and the planet
Active travel cuts congestion, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and other air pollutants.
You will save time
It’s quicker than you think – you can walk a mile in around 15 – 20 minutes or cycle it in five. It could take longer to find your car keys!
Active Travel Network Map
Our Active Travel Network Map shows where walking and cycling routes already exist (Existing Routes) and where upgrades or brand new routes are anticipated for the next 15 years (Future Routes).
As set out by Welsh Government these routes should be in the following areas:
Neath, Port Talbot, Pontardawe, Croeserw, Cymmer, Brynamman, Gwaun Cae Gurwen, Blaengwrach, Glynneath, Cwmafan, Seven Sisters and Resolven.
This is important because we are able to apply for funding from the Welsh Government each year to implement the proposals on the Active Travel Network map. If routes are not on the map they are not eligible for funding.
View the latest Active Travel Network Map approved in 2022:
Interactive Active Travel Map
Did you know?
2 out of 3 journeys are less than five miles
If it's not far, leave the car
Chose walking, cycling or wheeling
Greener, Happier, Healthier
Up and down the country, more and more people are adopting active travel, to be:
- Greener
- Happier
- Healthier
Changing the way we move around Neath Port Talbot will have a massive impact on your community. And you’ll discover new sights and sounds you’ve never come across!
If it’s not far, leave the car!
Get inspired
Need a bit of support to find your feet?
Whether it’s taking things slow on a short walk or cycling to get around, being active can benefit us all.
Joining a local cycle club is a great way get advice on cycling, the type of cycle to get to suit your purpose, plus it's a great way to enjoy the benefits of cycling, keeping fit and making new friends, below are some local cycle clubs you may wish to consider joining.
Swansea Wheelrights are a Swansea cycling club where the focus is to help get people on bikes by, eg, providing beginners' classes.
The Port Talbot Wheelers organise a variety of open races and time trials during the year. They have various rides throughout the week that suit varying standards.
The Swansea Cycle Group, cycle in the Swansea and outlying areas. All ages and levels are catered for but please note under 16 year olds must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Be prepared
- Lighten the load by keeping things at your destination when you can e.g. shoes or a second hairbrush.
- Small waterproof bags will keep your belongings safe from rain, sweat, or spillages without needing an expensive backpack.
- If you carry food, think about what might travel well and put it in an appropriate container.
- Lay everything out the night before for a morning trip. You will be less likely to forget something!
- Be active for as much or as little of your journey as you want to be. Getting off the bus a stop early and walking an extra 10 minutes counts.
- Team up with a friend or colleague to motivate each other and have some company.
Schools
Why schools should promote an active school run
Surveys carried out as part of our active journeys programme in Wales show that pupils would prefer to travel actively if they were given the choice.
It goes without saying the benefits of a more active travel policy for schools can be truly significant. These include:
- Children arrive at school fresh and ready to learn with increased concentration levels throughout the day
- The streets around the school are safer and the air cleaner, with less congestion.
- Encouraging an active lifestyle at an early age can help children later in their lives.
- Educating children about reducing carbon emissions and helping to protect our planet will help in our fight against climate change.
Employers
Why employers should promote active travel with staff
Employers across Neath Port Talbot should encourage employees to think walk, cycle or wheel for a healthier and more environmentally friendly commute. Leaving the car at home is the greenest way to travel.
There are some great initiatives out there, such as the cycle to work scheme which is an employee benefit that saves 25-39% on a bike and accessories. Employees pay nothing upfront, and the payments are taken tax efficiently from their salary by you, their employer.
You could even hold competitions, asking employees to log their ‘active travel’ journeys to compete with colleagues to see who can clock up the most miles on foot/cycling.
How we can help
We would love to hear your ideas.
Please contact greener@npt.gov.uk for further information.
