Sixteen calamitous decisions by Cardiff Council

Cycle lane policy takes footpaths away from pedestrians in parks

March 2022

Despite a great deal of fanfare and some good schemes, Cardiff’s cycle lane network remains sub-standard in comparison with most northern European cities of a similar size and ambition.  

Cycle lanes in Cardiff are often constructed with temporary plastic infrastructure which could easily be removed.  Important advances in cycle and walkways are removed - for example the private car free zone on Castle Street.  Cycle lanes don’t link up and often come to an end at dangerous junctions.

Furthermore, the council is unwilling to encourage real behaviour change by installing bike lanes along roads and instead has a policy of taking pathways in parks away from walkers.  A prime example of this is its decision to run a cycle superhighway through footpaths in Bute Park, rather than create more space on Cathedral Road for cyclists.  

In Our Vision for Cardiff we propose that the council takes the following actions: 

• prioritise pedestrians, cyclists and public transport over private car use

• stop developments that increase car dependency and use, and promote those with good provision of local services and public/active transport

• stop building cycleways through green space and parks. Cycleways need to be built on roads

• trial making buses free on weekends, school holidays, etc

• prioritise pedestrians and cyclists at traffic lights

• increase parking charges and residents’ parking permits