21.2.22

Think of great cycling cities and you're probably more likely to pick Amsterdam than Cardiff. But mile by mile, that's changing.

For a start, it's now possible to cycle all the way from Four Elms Road in Adamsdown to Leckwith Road in Canton on a fully-segregated cycleway.

It's a fairly leisurely 15-minute cycle.

And it's part of a wider network of five connecting cycleways being developed across the city to help make cycling safer and quicker.

Here's an update on progress:

🚲Cycleway 1

The first phase along Senghennyd Rd is open and contractors are working to connect it with a new section of the route being built on Cathays Terrace between the Woodville pub and the junction of Crwys Road/Fairoak Road/Whitchurch Road.

Once the Cathays Terrace section is finished (complete with new trees and rain gardens to manage rainwater sustainably), the next step will be construction of the section of the route along Whitchurch Road, between the junctions with Crwys Road and Allensbank Road.

Once completed, it will connect residential areas with key destinations like UHW, primary schools, Cardiff University Student Union, Sherman Theatre and the city centre (where it will connect with the planned city centre loop).

🚲Cycleway 2

The pop-up cycleway on Newport Rd is now open - it currently runs from Four Elms Rd through the city centre where it connects with Cycleway 5.

Options for a permanent segregated route extending east along Newport Rd to connect with the proposed Parkway development (and eventually to Newport) are currently being looked at, and we're hoping to consult on initial proposals later this year.

🚲Cycleway 3

The pop-up on Tyndall Street is expected to formally open this month, and furtherimproved extensions to Cardiff Bay and James Street are being considered as part of plans for the new indoor arena, and other developments in the area.

🚲Cycleway 4

The first phase of Cycleway 4, through Sophia Gardens and along the Pontcanna Fields spine road is already completed - all that's left to do is to introduce the environmentally-sensitive lighting that is currently being designed.

Last year we consulted on the next stage of the route - from Pontcanna Fields up to Llandaff. There will be more public consultation on that later this year once the concept designs for route options are ready.

🚲Cycleway 5

This is the Western section of the cross-city route. The first section along Cowbridge Road East and Wellington Street, is open in ‘pop-up' form along Cowbridge Road East and Wellington Street, and we're working on design options for a permanent, segregated route.

We'll be asking your views on those options later this year.

The route along Leckwith Road will connect to the stretch of route planned along Lawrenny Avenue (and ultimately on to Caerau and Ely).

The aim is to start construction of the Lawrenny Avenue scheme this spring to tie in with the opening of the new Fitzalan High School, so that we can make choosing active travel for the school run as child friendly as possible.

🚲Roath Park Corridor.

We're looking at design options for a segregated cycle route extending north-east of the city centre and public engagement on initial proposals around Roath Park will be carried out shortly.

So change is coming. And it has to.

Transport generates 41% of Cardiff's total CO₂e, so getting people out of their cars (if they're able) and onto public transport, bikes, or just good old-fashioned walking is a key part of our #OnePlanetCardiff response to the climate emergency.

As well as being environmentally friendly, cycling is also family friendly, child friendly, and moderate regular exercise is also body and mind friendly.

But cycling isn't going to work for everybody, that's why we're also working with our partners to help improve public transport. We recently consulted on our 9-point strategy aiming to double the number of people who use buses.

The strategy covers introducing cheaper fares; working with Transport for Wales to develop an integrated ticketing system which works with the Metro; getting more low-emission buses on the road, building infrastructure which will make bus travel easier and quicker; and improving service for customers.

And yes it's true, we're not quite Amsterdam. But we could be one day.

After all, we have more in common than some people think.

There's the weather for a start. Did you know that on average it only rains in Cardiff three days a year more than it does in Amsterdam?¹

We'll even have Canals soon...

More on that here:https://www.cardiffnewsroom.co.uk/releases/c25/28406.html

And okay, maybe right now we don't have the same cycling culture as Amsterdam...

But these things can change.

Once upon a time, neither did Amsterdam.

¹(Source:www.weather2travel.com)