Greenpeace stencil signs on footpaths across city
ENVIRONMENTAL campaign group Greenpeace has stencilled messages onto footpaths across Cardiff as it calls on the Welsh Government to invest more in public transport and walking and cycling routes.
Cardiff Greenpeace is urging the UK and Welsh Government to implement a “green recovery” plan as the country emerges from the Covid-19 crisis by funding additional investment in local public transport, walking and cycling.
To support its message, the group has stencilled phrases such as “more space for walking”, “more cycling” and “fewer cars” onto footpaths in Roath, Cathays and in the city centre.
The messages can be found on Wellfield Road and Castle Street, where Cardiff Council recently widened the footpaths to allow for social distancing, and on Crwys Road, where the council plans to build a new cycleway.
Lionel Jacobson, of Cardiff Greenpeace, said: “We need the Welsh Government to make big changes to the way we travel.
“A green recovery plan commits to massive investment in walking, cycling and public transport infrastructure, to help people make different choices about the way they travel.
“Greenpeace activists left this clear message in chalk to tell the government we desperately need to expand and increase these measures so people have more opportunities for active travel in the long term, not just for now.”
A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “It is encouraging to see so many people campaigning for an increase in active travel, and asking us to find ways of making it safer.
“We are working closely with local authorities to establish how we can reallocate road space for pedestrians and cyclists – and not just while we have to physically distance ourselves from others.
“We would like to embed these behaviours, and make them part of our everyday society. We allocated £15.4m last month to make this happen.
“We are investing heavily in active travel, and will be making announcements on further measures shortly.”