An alliance of 20 Welsh organisations is calling on the Assembly Government to perform a U-turn on transport policy.
An unprecedented coalition has come together to call for a shift away from road building to fund a bold package of measures to help tackle climate change.
For the first time public transport operators have joined passenger watchdogs, health groups and other groups to press for greater priority to be given to a range of initiatives that promote green transport.
“We’re fed up with strategies promising greener transport when half the transport budget is tied up in road schemes,” said Lee Waters, Chair of Sustainable Transport Cymru.
“From past experience we know this will result in more people driving further and faster.
"If we are serious about tackling climate change and creating a healthier Wales, we urgently need a bold shift in transport policy. Projects which cut car use should be given priority.”
The call comes as the long-awaited National Transport Plan for Wales is put out to consultation.
The Sustainable Transport Cymru coalition has agreed a list of measures which command widespread support to cut car use and reduce carbon emissions.
They want to see many measures to promote integrated transport, including multi-modal ticketing, better bus-rail interchanges, smart cards, and secure cycle parking.
Theya also want more traffic calming and speed restraint in residential areas to encourage walking and cycling, an extensive network of shared paths for walking and cycling (segregated from traffic), congestion charging allied with extra investment in public transport and reallocation of road space towards sustainable modes of transport.
These measures to reduce car dependency could and should be funded by a shift away from road building.
One piece of good news from the draft report is that a proposed six-lane M4 relief scheme and a link road to Cardiff Wales Airport have failed to make the list of transport schemes
promoted within the new transport strategy for Wales, after the estimated cost of the dual carriageway soared to about £1billion.
Sustainable Transport Cymru is an alliance of Welsh organisations including Railfuture Wales from the private, public and voluntary sectors:
BayTrans, Bevan Foundation, British Heart Foundation Cymru, BMA Cymru, Bus Users UK Cymru, Campaign for National Parks, Confederation of Passenger Transport Cymru (CPT), CTC Cymru, Energy Saving Trust, Passenger Focus, Physical Activity Network for Wales, Severn Tunnel Action Group, Snowdonia Society, Sustrans Cymru, Traveline Cymru, Welsh Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA), WWF Cymru and YHA Cymru.
Information from Lee Waters on 07764774650 / 02920 650602.