Bollards action plan to stop cars parking in underpass cycle route
A COUNCIL is seeking to install heavier bollards at an underpass after its initial attempt to prevent cars parking there failed.
A Cardiff council spokesperson said temporary bollards at the Taffs Mead Embankment railway underpass keep getting moved.
The council said it was installing temporary barriers before permanent ones could be put in place again after cyclists and residents expressed their frustration at having to “dodge” parked cars.
The underpass, which is part of the Taff Trail cycle route, was originally blocked off to motor vehicles with bollards. However, these were removed when lighting work took place.
One resident, Liz Silversmith, said: “If the council are going to spend this much money on very welcome segregated cycle lanes throughout the city centre, it would be a shame for it to fall down at inter-connected points between routes.
“We need to ensure it’s not only safe for all path users, but to make sure that it’s pleasant to ride down and no unexpected cars are taking up the space.
“Bollards need to put in, safe LED lighting, and it would also be a nice place for a sign that shows all the cycle highways throughout the city, showcasing the good investment and progress made to being an active travel city, which will soon be brought together in the bus interchanges being finalised.”
Another resident, Gwilym Owen, called the work to widen the pedestrian and cycle path “fantastic”.
However, he admitted the issue of parked cars in the railway underpass was “really irritating”.
He added: “You have got this thing, which is arguably really good and the whole point of it is to avoid conflict or any unintentional collisions by spacing people out, and then suddenly you have this hazard of a line of cars at the bottom of it.”
When asked if any other measures had been put in place to resolve the issue of cars parking in the underpass, the Cardiff council spokesperson said it was trying to get heavier bollards put in place as soon as possible and that it was currently sourcing some.