Cardiff to set standard for sustainable travel

The initiative, funded by £14.5 million from the Welsh Assembly Government and £14 million from Cardiff Council, aims to take the pressure off Cardiff’s busy roads and reduce the city’s carbon footprint.

Minister for economy and transport, Ieuan Wyn Jones said: "Commuter levels in and around Cardiff have increased significantly over the past few years. This is an exciting opportunity to develop and implement a range of innovative transport solutions which will benefit the 210,000 people who travel into the city on a daily basis.”

Over the next two years, key sustainable transport measures that will run in Cardiff, include a free public bike sharing scheme around the city – similar to the successful Parisian model – alongside the development of more cycle routes and a new pedestrian and cyclist bridge spanning the River Ely and connecting Cardiff to Penarth. Free bus services looping the city centre every five minutes should also be up and running within the year, while park and ride facilities for commuters coming in off the M4 and further pedestrinisation of Cardiff city centre are also on the cards.

If successful, after two years, this ambitious approach to transport will be rolled out across Wales. 

Lee Waters, Cymru director at Sustrans, the UK sustainable transport charity, said: "Sustrans fully supports the vision to make the Welsh capital a Sustainable Travel City. Thirty years ago Copenhagen had the same levels of cycling that Cardiff has today. Now over a third of all commuting journeys in the Danish capital are by bike. Cardiff has the potential to achieve the same. With a joined-up approach we can encourage people to use their cars less and chose to travel in ways that benefit their health and the environment."