Walking and cycling routes in Swansea are set to be expanded after Swansea Council secured millions in Welsh Government funding.

The Council has received confirmation from the WG of more than £8 million of transport funding which will be invested in the city’s growing walking and cycle network.

Part of the funding will also be used to improve main routes in the city for public transport, in a bid to improve bus services and speed up journeys for passengers.

In total, £8.325 million has been awarded to the Council after it submitted bids earlier in 2022.

A report to Cabinet will seek to approve a list of transport schemes that will help boost sustainable transport and encourage more people to walk and cycle.

Just over £7 million of the funding will be spent on developing new walking and cycling routes.

Included in the plans is a new route across Clyne Common, linking up the village of Bishopston with a recently completed walking and cycling route on Mayals Road.

New routes will also be developed in the north of the city, including a new route between Grovesend and Pontarddulais and a new link between Penllergaer and Gorseinon.

Funding will also be used to fill gaps in the walking and cycling network along the Tawe corridor in and around the Morriston area.

Andrew Stevens, Cabinet Member for Environment & Infrastructure, said: “Once again, Swansea has been successful in securing important funding that we want to invest in our transport network in the city.

“We have been working extremely hard for a number of years, creating new walking and cycling routes that give residents and visitors alternative ways to get around without needing to use a car.

“Our aim is to make walking and cycling a serious option for people, even more so with fuel prices continuing to rise across the country.

“Swansea is a vast city with many communities and we are continuing to plan and develop routes that link up these communities. Residents have already taken part in city-wide consultations on new routes so that we can plan ahead and we will continue to work with residents, cycle groups and other representative bodies to ensure new routes help achieve our aims.”

Some of the funding (£1.2 million) will also be used to improve main routes in the city – specifically targeting routes used by public transport services.

Cllr Stevens added: “We need to ensure busy routes used by public transport services are improved and can assist in making bus services more reliable and more attractive for potential passengers.

“The latest funding will assist us in improving bus priority as well as upgrading bus stops.”

(Lead image: Swansea Council)

Leading bike share operator nextbike is celebrating after its Swansea users crossed the line to reach 100,000 rentals since the scheme launched in 2018.  

The Santander Cycles Swansea scheme reached the milestone just ahead of UK Bike Week (6-12 June), which encourages people to get out there and enjoy their local community by bike. 

Nextbike UK MD, Krysia Solheim, said she was delighted to announce the news. 

“It’s clear that the people of Swansea have embraced a new-found love for cycling since the scheme was launched four years ago. 

“To have reached 100,000 rentals is fantastic news for the city, as people opting to cycle instead of using the car or public transport means that they’re not only helping to reduce CO2 emissions and ease congestion, but they’re also boosting their physical and mental health, too.”

Nearly 45,500 of those rides were taken in the last year (June 21 – May 22) alone, with a record day last week with 335 rides on Thursday, June 2.

The fleet of 70 pedal bikes has seen an average of more than 2 rides a day, with a high of 5 rides. 

The scheme is run in conjunction with Santander and Swansea University and was first launched in 2018, after the University beat stiff competition to win the Santander Cycles University Challenge. 

Since then, the scheme has helped thousands of students, locals and tourists ride confidently around the city.

May 2022 saw the scheme hit its best ever month with 5,844 rentals up 78 per cent from last year. 

“It’s fitting that the milestone comes during UK Bike Week which this year is asking people to imagine how their local community could be improved if everyone in it used their bikes more,” Krysia explained. 

“These last few years have seen a lot of change, many people took up cycling for the first time or rediscovered it. Some for exercise, some for commuting to work, to go to the shops or even just to be able to see friends and family. We’re delighted to be able to give the people of Swansea the opportunity to cycle and pleased to see them utilising it.

“We would love to expand the scheme, and it’s evident that the demand is there and would grow with additional stations and bikes.” 

Inclusive cycling charity Bikeability Wales also supports the scheme, ensuring bikes are regularly serviced, stocked and repaired from their workshop at the University’s Singleton Park Campus.

Getting people out of cars and on to bikes is the aim of a £50m investment announced by Deputy Climate Change Minister Lee Waters.

Speaking on a visit to Cardiff-based cycling charity Pedal Power, the Deputy Minister said the money would fund cycling routes and new facilities right across Wales.

Deputy Minister for Climate Change, with a responsibility for Transport, Lee Waters said: “This is a substantial investment and part of our commitment to making cycling easier so people cut the amount of journeys they take by car and travel in a way that is better for our planet.

“Getting people out of cars for short journeys and encouraging them to walk or cycle instead is a huge challenge for us, but one that has to be met if we are to reach our net zero carbon emission target by 2050.

“We need to make sure that we have the right infrastructure and routes in place so that people have the choice of cycling for their everyday journeys – we need to make the right thing to do, the easy thing to do.”

One organisation that is benefiting from this investment is Pedal Power in South Wales.

As part of a series of Welsh Government e-bike pilot schemes, the cycling charity received £0.21m for its ‘See Cycling Differently’ project which is aimed at increasing the inclusivity of cycling by offering a range of e-cycles.

Thanks to the money received the charity has expanded its e-cycle fleet and is encouraging its users to cycle more.  

Director of Pedal Power, Cardiff, Sian Donovan said: “Cycling is a fantastic way for everyone – all ages and abilities – to have fun, gain more independence and enjoy a sense of freedom which we know has provided a lifeline to many during the pandemic.

“We were delighted to receive funding from the Welsh Government to help us to continue to remove barriers to cycling so that it can be truly accessible and inclusive for all.”

As part of the investment announced today, all local authorities will receive a minimum of £500k with additional allocations having been awarded based on the outcome of a competitive application process.