Voxpop: Time to travel sustainably?

Is cycling the way to solve Cardiff’s transport problem?

Cardiff’s transport system has worsened during the Rugby World Cup and jam-packed trains and road closures have left many visitors waiting hours to leave the city.

With Cardiff’s transport network at breaking point, is it time to finally make a change and encourage sustainable travel?

Cardiff’s Local Transport Plan aims to improve bus travel and promote cycle lanes. The council is also hoping that by 2026 there will be a 50-50 split between journeys by car and trips by sustainable modes of transport, but are the plans realistic when 80% of Cardiff’s workers commute by car?

Phill Sykes, manager of Evans Cycles said, “We are naturally very happy to sit in cars and go for the easy option, but cycling is becoming popular.”

We asked the public if they would use sustainable modes of transport rather than travelling by car.

Would you use sustainable modes of transport rather than travelling by car?

James, 36, client relationship manager, Cardiff.

“There’s too much traffic on the road and they need to do something about. I used to live in London until about a year ago and there’s so many different options in London for getting around that they just don’t have in Cardiff.”

Wendy, 53, accountant, Cowbridge.

“I use my car because it’s convenient, we live out in a village in the middle of nowhere and there’s no public transport that’s reliable.”

Rob, 23, works in retail, Roath.

“I prefer walking because running a car is too expensive and there’s not a lot of point in the city when everything is so close quarters. My preferred mode of transport is a skateboard.”

Natalia, Law graduate, Cardiff.

“I’m trying to commute to work by bicycle but the paths are not available everywhere. I’m really proud of using any other mode of transport that is not the car and be more environmentally friendly.”

James, 26, works in finance, London.

“I don’t have a car so I cycle probably around 90% of time to wherever I go, I get the tube occasionally, but I mainly cycle”.

Hannah, 31, team manager in an insurance company, Canton.

“I mainly use the bus because it’s a pound to Canton so it’s cheap and it takes about five minutes to work. If the weather is nice I will walk in, it’s about a half hour walk in which is quite pleasant”.

Nicole, 28, nurse, New York.

“In New York I don’t have a car, I use public transportation and I love it so much more. I don’t have to pay to park or worry about accidents or anything I like that. Here, in Cardiff I haven’t used public transportation, I’ve walked”.

Cardiff Council, cycle lanes, Evans Cycles, Local Transport Plan, LTP, public opinion, Rugby World Cup, Transport, voxpop