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9.
July
2021.
Vision to improve Cardiff’s cycling and walking routes revealed

 09/07/21

Cardiff wants to increase the number of people walking or cycling to work from 31% to 43% by 2030.

A new, updated vision for active travel in the city has been revealed by Cardiff council which includes:

  • The latest information on a network of routes where segregated cycleways would be feasible;
  • Planned improvements to the Taff Trail, Ely Trail and Rhymney Trail
  • Ensuring the council's prioritised list of road safety schemes lock in with pedestrian improvement schemes and active travel routes;
  • Connecting the city's 130 schools to the active travel network; and
  • Continuing engagement with the public to Identify new active travel routes in the city. 

Having a 15-year vision is a statutory requirement for Local Authorities under the Active Travel Act, to ensure progress is being made across Wales, and to determine where government funding is allocated. The plan includes a schedule of 280 infrastructure schemes which, if agreed will form the basis of year on year plans across the city.

Permission is being sought from the council's cabinet to carry out a statutory 12-week public consultation on the updated map before its submission to Welsh Government Ministers in December 2021. The consultation will be an opportunity for people to provide their views on proposals and suggest additional proposals which could be added to the final schedule of schemes submitted to Welsh Government with the new map.

Cardiff Council released its Transport White Paper in February 2019, setting out the council's transport strategy for the next 10 years. It included the council's plans to build five main cycleways across the city, connected to a city centre loop of high quality cycleways.

Cllr Caro Wild, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Transport said: "Since the launch of the Transport White Paper, people will have seen new cycleways being built, nextbike's on-street cycle-hire scheme put in place, and the ongoing development of active travel plans for schools across our city.

"But we know there is a lot more to do to enable people make every day journeys by bike and on foot. We all want cleaner air and we all want to do what we can to tackle the Climate Emergency. Improving cycling, walking and public transport options for everyone is a key priority for this council. We see it as a way in which we can encourage more people to leave their cars at home, which will reduce congestion, clean the air we breathe and help us all become a little healthier and happier.

"We are particularly grateful to the many partners and members of the public who helped us build these maps, using a ‘commonplace survey' for the first time we have a truly bottom up plan with people telling us how their daily journeys can be improved."

The launch of the consultation on the new Draft Active Travel Map coincides with the announcement that the second phase of Cycleway 1 will be built. This will run from Cathays up to the University of Wales with work due to start this autumn.

Public consultation took place on this new cycleway last summer. 876 people responding to the survey, with 57% of people in favour and 23% of people against the plans.

The route will extend the existing cycleway built on St Andrews Crescent and Senghennydd Road, down Cathays Terrace, onto Whitchurch Road, up Allensbank Road to the University Hospital of Wales, with plans for the new route to be completed by spring 2022.

The scheme includes a complete re-design of the highway and pavements, making the route a much safer and more pleasant place to walk and cycle. Rain gardens and new trees will provide more sustainable drainage to protect against localised flooding, and add biodiversity in one of the areas of Wales with the least green space.

More information (including the draft Cardiff Active Travel Network Map) here: 
https://cardiff.moderngov.co.uk/ieIssueDetails.aspx?IId=27992&PlanId=0&Opt=3#AI25174