Public Events Will Take Place On The Cycling Strategy

Following Cabinet approving the cycling strategy on January 19 – three public drop-in-sessions will take place in February and March. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The City Council has set out our vision to get half of daily journeys in the city to be made by walking, cycling and public transport by 2021. The Council intends to go even further increasing this to 60% by 2026. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Cabinet approval allows the public consultation to start so that the Council can get the public’s views on the proposed cycle routes, and what routes cyclists would like prioritised to make Cardiff a safer, greener and healthier city. All the information is provided on the Council’s website – www.cardiff.gov.uk/cyclingstrategy ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The public drop-in-sessions will take place at the following locations, dates and times: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Grangetown Hub – Tuesday February 7th between 6pm and 7pm
City Hall, Room C – Thursday February 23rd between 6pm and 8pm
The Old Library, the Hayes – Saturday March 11th between 10.30am and 3pm. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Ramesh Patel, Cabinet Member for Traffic, Transport and Sustainability, said: “There is no doubt that are too many cars on our roads and plans have to be put in place to encourage people to leave their cars at home. We have to ensure that alternatives to the private car are attractive and viable for everyone. Cardiff is projected to be the fastest growing UK Core City over the next 20 years. This presents a number of opportunities and a number of challenges. Transport is one of these challenges. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We are investing in sustainable transport infrastructure which includes cycling and walking. These public events will give residents, visitors and commuters an opportunity to view the planned cycling improvements and give their views on the main routes planned for the city and how to join up the existing cycling network. Those who already cycle in the city will be well placed to give their feedback. However, we are very keen to hear from people who don’t currently cycle as encouraging more people to take up cycling is a key objective of this strategy. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The Cycling Strategy sets out our intentions to improve cycling infrastructure at schools, universities, workplaces and shopping areas. We are building a new Bus Interchange in Central Square and a new bike hub and storage facility with 600 places planned for this development. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“There is no doubt that cycling is on the increase in Cardiff and the recent statistics are encouraging. In 2005, only 4.3% of commuters travelled to work by bike. Today 9.2% are cycling to work. Our strategy sets out how we intend to double this figure again to over 18% by 2026. This will mean that the network will have to accommodate an extra 38,000 cycle trips per day. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The City Council has recently published maps showing an overview of our aspirations for both cycling and walking and these have been published on our website – www.cardiff.gov.uk/activetravel ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Research shows us that 52% of car trips made in the Welsh Capital are less than 5km. This is a distance that can be comfortably cycled in 20 minutes. We also know that 28% of Cardiff residents that currently do not cycle would like to do so. When the roads are congested this makes cycling an even more attractive option as travel by bicycle would be quicker than a car during rush hours. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“As Cardiff is a relatively flat and compact city, the opportunities to increase cycling are vast and we hope that the public all take an interest and visit the public events to give their views.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​