Statement from Cllr Caro Wild, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Planning and Transport on cycling in the city

"This year we have seen an increase in the number of cyclists on our roads and paths across the city. As a council we want this to continue to increase as those that choose to leave their car at home contribute to reducing congestion and improving air quality.

"As we move into autumn, we know that cycling becomes less straightforward. As the nights draw in, it becomes darker during commuter times, surfaces are more likely to have leaves on them, be wet, and even icy during cold weather.

"We want to do all that we can to support these people. With this in mind we have new arrangements to deal with leaves and other debris on our main off-road cycling route, the Taff Trail. Starting this week, the Council will be regularly sweeping sections of the Taff Trail which are most heavily affected by the autumn leaf fall. 

"When winter arrives, gritting these paths is less straightforward. Unfortunately, it is impractical to manually grit the paths and using gritting large vehicles isn't possible either. We also have to consider the environmental effects of grit being put down in our parks and green corridors.

"We continue to look into these issues and welcome any ideas people may have.

"We want cyclists to be safe during the winter months.  Having good lights on their bikes, wearing visible clothing, ensuring tyres and breaks are fully functioning and taking extra care in poor conditions is of paramount importance.

"But most importantly, we strongly urge motorists to take extra care and consider the safety of cyclists. Allow extra space and reduce speeds if cyclists are on the road. Even the smallest of collisions can cause serious injury.

"Let's continue to work together to improve Cardiff as a cycling city, keep Cardiff moving and to keep us all safe."