Cardiff cycle network shortlisted at national awards

Posted by Now Cardiff on Aug 10, 2012

Cardiff Cycle Network and transport infrastructure has been shortlisted at a number of national and Wales wide awards.

Cardiff has been shortlisted alongside other UK cities in three categories at the National Transport Awards 2012:

Cardiff Council is Wales’ first Sustainable Travel City  and is working in partnership with the Welsh Government on this joint funded scheme. The Council has rolled out a number of innovative transport projects, which have been recognised at this year’s National Transport Awards.

The three  awards the city has  has been shortlisted for are -

• Transport City of the Year – recognising Cardiff’s innovative transport policy, successfully delivering a complementary programme of transport improvements and achieving a shift to more sustainable modes of transport, such as the Pont Y Werin Bridge used by 28,000 pedestrians and 11,000 cyclists every month.
• Contribution to Sustainable Transport -  highlighting Cardiff’s innovative approach to cycling improvements in Cardiff, with the development and implementation of the Cardiff Strategic Cycle Network.
• Achievements in Cycling – for successfully encouraging more school pupils to cycle in school, through the cycle charity Sustrans ‘Bike It project’ which is now operating in 24 schools across the city.

Alongside the National Transport Awards the city has also been short listed at the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CLIT UK) annual awards. The Council’s Strategic Network Cycle Plan has been selected as a finalist in the prestigious Transport Policy, Planning and Implementation category. The Cardiff Cycle Plan has also been named as a finalist in the Wales Planning Awards. Both awards recognise the importance of  the Cycle plan has made to the city.

Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, Highways, Traffic and Transportation, Cllr Ralph Cook, said: “To be shortlisted for one award would be achievement enough, but to be recognised in three categories is a significant accomplishment which highlights the city’s commitment to ensuring that people can travel by walking, cycling and public transport for more of their journeys.”

“For the city to continue to develop as a young European capital, the right infrastructure has to be in place. Creating sustainable and practical transport is a key priority for this administration.”

The results of the awards will be known in October.

PIC: Cyclist cycling on Beresford Road off Newport Road,  part of Enfys Route 3/35 between Rhymney and the City Centre.

Walk this way to the new Wales Coastal Path

Posted by Now Cardiff on May 2, 2012

Enthusiastic ramblers, avid walkers, keen runners and gentle strollers will soon have a brand new route to enjoy when the Wales Coastal Path is officially opened next month.

On Saturday 5, May from 11am Cardiff will host a celebratory event in Roald Dahl Plass, Cardiff Bay to mark the opening of the longest continual coastal path around the country.

The 870 mile path will provide a walking route around the whole of Wales from the outskirts of Chester in the north to Chepstow in the south.

It will encourage and enable more people to enjoy physical recreation at the coast and will help Cardiff and the rest of the country to become an active and healthy nation.

It will also allow both locals and visitors to enjoy the coastal path whilst exploring and discovering the stunning coastline of Wales.

The path has something to offer everyone, from those looking for a short stroll, a diverse running route or those wishing to undertake the whole route in one trip.

Walking has several health benefits including achieving weight loss, improving lung capacity and lowering cholesterol, blood pressure and stress.

It is also great for maintaining an active lifestyle which in turn promotes health and wellbeing.

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Circle of Life – Cardiff Bay Salmon Release

Posted by Now Cardiff on Jul 5, 2011

On Wednesday 6th July, three Cardiff Primary Schools will return to Cardiff Bay to see the young salmon they have nurtured from eggs safely returned to the River Taff.

Gladstone, Lakeside and Thornhill Primary Schools have participated in the Salmon Coming Home Project; as part of the Cardiff Harbour Authority’s environmental education programme run by the Cardiff Bay Water Activity Centre.

Since February 2011, the school classes have each looked after the precious eggs, monitoring the water temperature and gaining an understanding of nature whilst in the classroom.

Responsible for checking the equipment and daily inspections, each school has been successful in safely monitoring the eggs. Once the eggs hatched in to the Alevins, they were then collected and taken to Cynrig Hatchery, supported by the Environment Agency, for specialist feeding for a few months, to build up their strength prior to being released.

Tomorrow they will be released into the rivers as Salmon Fry and each class will be on site to see them as they swim free for the first time.

 

Follow the path to Cefn Onn

Posted by Now Cardiff on Jun 30, 2011

A new pathway at Parc Cefn Onn has been officially opened to the public.

Executive Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture, Cllr Nigel Howells was joined by the Friends of Parc Cefn Onn to reopen the pathway.

The project has improved access along the main footpath in the park, which was highlighted as needing attention. Following a survey, the poor footpath was one of the biggest issues for park users.

The new improvements allow better access for wheelchair users and pushchairs to certain areas of the park such as the goldfish pond in the upper section of the park.

The work has been achieved after the Friends of Parc Cefn Onn and Cardiff Council secured a £134,900 grant from the Landfill Community Fund, through Resource Efficiency Wales.

The successful works were carried out by the Council’s landscape design team and contractor Griff Davies, and were completed in April this year. Further improvements are planned for the site as part of a long term restoration programme, developed in partnership with the Friends of Parc Cefn Onn.

The Friends group was set up in 2010 with the aim to help improve the environment and facilities of the park.

The group are pro-active and hold monthly work sessions under the guidance of Community Park Ranger, Alec Stewart.

Executive Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture, Cllr Nigel Howells said: “I am delighted that work has been completed on the pathway in order to improve access to the wonderful park.

“Park Cefn Onn is a valuable and much loved asset to the city and this is shown through the passion and dedication of the friends group who work alongside park staff to ensure the environmental, botanical, and historical features of the park are maintained and restored.

“The new pathway will mean that more people can safely and conveniently visit the park and enjoy all that it has on offer.”

Chairman of Friends of Cefn Onn, Gareth Thomas, said: “The new path is a great asset to the park and all of the Council and contractor staff involved in the planning, design, and construction of it deserve congratulations for the excellent work they have done.

“We have had lots of extremely positive comments from a wide selection of park visitors that it has really opened up the park and helped make it a beautiful place to visit.”

Parc Cefn Onn is a country park on the northern fringes of Cardiff. It contains a magnificent collection of native and exotic trees set within an intimate valley. Visitors enjoy the stunning scenery and the calm, relaxing atmosphere.

The streams, ponds, woodlands and other planting make this a rich haven for wildlife. Visitors regularly return to enjoy the park in different seasons. Train access, bike & car parking, toilets and a network of paths are provided.

The Friends of Parc Cefn Onn are looking for members of the community to join and support them with future projects. For further information, news, and photos of the development of the new path please visit the website at www.friendsofcefnonn.org.uk

New cycling network to be unveiled

Posted by Now Cardiff on Jun 27, 2011

Cycling in the city is set to change with a new cycle network in the capital.

Over the next five years, Cardiff Council will be developing a new cycle network to make it easier and quicker to cycle around the city.

The Council has consulted with the public on the new cycle network resulting in 12 main cycle routes being identified. With four routes already named, Taff, Ely, Rhymney and Bay trails, the Council’s Transport team launched a competition to name the overall network to go with its new logo and the eight remaining routes.

The competition was launched in April and received over a 100 entries. The winning names will be announced by Executive Member for Traffic and Transportation, Cllr Lisa Ford at the closing ceremony of the first Cardiff Cycle Festival on Sunday June 26 at 2pm at Gwdihw’s café and bar on Guildford Crescent.

A shortlist of entries were voted for by the Cardiff Cycle Liaison Group, which is made up of representatives from a range of cycle organisations including Sustrans, Cycle Training Wales, Pedal Power, Cardiff Cycle Campaign, CTC, Elected Members from Cardiff Council and representatives from the Police.

Executive Member form, Traffic and Transportation, Cllr Lisa Ford, said: “The Council actively promotes sustainable transport, and to achieve this we need to make sure the right resources and infrastructure are in place for people to have sustainable travel options. Over the next five years the development of the cycle network will help us achieve our goal and give the public a safe and sustainable way of travelling around the city.

“Throughout the development of plans for the new cycle network, we have listened to the public and their feedback has been essential in creating the new routes. I am pleased that the public have also been involved in the naming of the new network and there is no better time to announce the winners than during the closing party for the first cycle festival, which has been a huge success.”