City saddles up for positive news on bike network cash
SWANSEA Council is expecting good news to be announced this month in relation to investment in cycle network infrastructure in the city.
The council submitted a £6.9 million bid to the Welsh Government’s Active Travel Fund earlier in the year and is hoping for good news on a successful bid.
The expected cash boost would follow previous successful bids that have seen £8.1 million of funding from the Welsh Government in the past three years and has all been invested in the creation of new cycle and walking routes across Swansea.
Recent funding secured includes £600,000 in June as part of plans to boost cycle use during the coronavirus pandemic and is being invested in secure cycle storage facilities and at key locations including park and ride site.
Other cycle initiatives will also be invested in using the money.
The latest Active Travel plans by the council would see 12km of new cycle routes created in the next 12 months.
Between 2018 and 2020, 16km of off-road cycle track have been developed leading to a total of 118km of purpose built cycle track in Swansea – which assists those wishing to cycle to and from work or simply to cycle as a form of exercise.
Some new routes created have seen a 300% increase in cycle use compared to previous years.
Councillor Mark Thomas, cabinet member for environment enhancement and infrastructure management, said: “We are extremely confident of receiving a good settlement in the latest Active Travel programme.
“The Welsh Government has been very supportive of our plans to invest in cycle infrastructure in Swansea and that has been reflected in previous bids we have made with more than £8 million coming to Swansea in recent years.”
New routes recently completed include ■ 1.4km route between Kingsbridge and Gowerton ■ 2km route in Ynystawe ■ 1.3km between Trallwn and Llansamlet ■ 2.7km between Penllergaer
and Llangyfelach
Mr Thomas added: “The new routes we have created in recent years are helping to increase cycle use in the city, providing safe, off-road networks that link up communities and make commuting much easier for those wishing to travel to and from work.
“We have made a long term commitment to ensure cycling is considered as a serious alternative to using a car to travel and we are confident that our ongoing efforts to create even more cycle routes will help convince more to leave the car at home and get on a bike.”
The council also supported Swansea University in bringing the Santander bike rental scheme to the city and is seeing regular use of the bikes between Mumbles and the new Swansea Bay University campus.
The new routes we have created in recent years are helping to increase cycle use in the city, providing safe, off-road networks that link up communities and make commuting much easier for those wishing to travel to and from work - Councillor Mark Thomas