At Cardiff Cycle City we’re passionate about supporting potential cyclists, new cyclists, returning cyclists and even experienced cyclists to enjoy two wheels in and around our capital city. So, here’s our list of Cardiff-centric tips, venues, organisations, initiatives, legislation, terminology and inspirational people to help you on your two-wheeled journeys!
We hope they assist you on your cycling travels, perhaps help you evangelise cycling in Cardiff to your family, friends, colleagues and social media followers, or even encourage you to do some cycle-related campaigning or volunteering yourself. Together, we’ll make Cardiff the best cycling city in the UK!
What have we missed? Let us know at admin@cardiffcyclecity.org
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A
A48
The A48 can be a bit of a (physical and mental) barrier to getting around Cardiff by bike. Here’s a few spots where you can easily circumvent it:
The bridge over Eastern Avenue to the south of Heath Hospital is a shared use, bridging Flaxland Avenue in Heath (by the All Nations Centre) with the traffic-free path around the south and western perimeter of the hospital grounds.
Underneath the Gabalfa flyover a network of paths and underpasses provide a means to cross the A48 and avoid the flyover and roundabout.
A short, wide, open underpass near Excelsior Road provides a way under the A48 at Western near Tesco, accessed from in front of Aldi (previously Wickes). Similarly, on the banks of the Taff River on the far side of Tesco Western Avenue car park the traffic-free Taff Trail passes under the A48.
Tyr Winch Road (the B4562) in Old St. Mellons is a fairly quiet road crossing over the A48.
Active Journeys.
See our “Sustrans Active Journeys” entry below.
Active Travel.
Walking and cycling for utility or purposeful journeys, as opposed to recreational walking and cycling.
Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013.
The Senedd’s Active Travel Act actually came into force in September 2014. It requires local authorities to map and continuously improve routes and facilities for “active travel”. Active travel is defined as walking and cycling for a purpose (such as accessing work or services) rather than for leisure. Both Welsh Ministers and local authorities are under a duty to promote active travel and consider enhancing provision for active travellers when carrying out certain functions like building or maintaining highways. One of the key local authority obligations is to maintain mapping of current infrastructure and an integrated active travel network, essentially a rolling 15 year plan. See our “Active Travel Network Map (“ATNM”)” entry. Guidance exists to support delivery.
Active Travel Network Map (“ATNM”).
Previously called the Integrated Network Map (“INM”). The map setting out Cardiff Council’s vision to improve cycling and walking routes across the city and meet the requirements of the Active Travel (Wales) Act. This “blueprint for walking and cycling” shows existing routes plus the 15 year plan for upgrades and infrastructure improvements. Details here:
Ajax.
Cardiff cycling club, with a mainly sporting focus. www.cardiffajaxcycling.co.uk.
B
Bay Trail
See our “Cardiff Bay Trail” entry below.
Bike Life Cardiff.
Sustrans charity’s bi-annual assessment of cycling in and around Cardiff and progress towards making cycling an attractive and everyday way to travel. At the time of writing Sustrans has published studies in 2015, 2017 and 2019, produced in partnership with Cardiff Council. Reports examine infrastructure, travel behaviour, the impact of cycling and new initiatives. See www.sustrans.org.uk/bike-life/bike-life- cardiff.
Bike Lock Café.
Cardiff’s first secure cycle storage facility, cafe & meeting/event venue – all in one place. If you’re looking for a city centre meeting or event space, Bike Lock has a private meeting room can hold up to eight people. If you’re looking for more space, Bike Lock Café is available for exclusive hire every evening and all day on Sundays – it’s where Cardiff Cycle City hold a lot of their events and meetings!
BMX.
BMX cycling offers a wide range of challenges across the sport, from supercross racing to freestyle tricks, with the skills required developed from a passion for cycling creativity and adrenaline. After exploded in popularity in the early 1980s, now a UCI and Olympic sport. Competitive or non-competitive, see https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/getintobmx. Cardiff has it’s own club (currently) based at Maindy leisure centre and an indoor freestyle facility at RampWorld in Llanishen (https://www.rampworldcardiff.co.uk/).
Breeze.
British Cycling’s brilliant women-only bike rides offering fun, free bike rides for women of all abilities. For Cardiff rides check out www.letsride.co.uk/groups/breeze- cardiff-and-vale-of-glamorgan, www.facebook.com/BreezeNetworkCardiffandVale/ and https://www.facebook.com/SheCyclesWales.
C
Cafe Velo.
Lovely cycle-friendly coffee shop in Llantwit Major. Okay, that’s really the Vale of Glamorgan rather than Cardiff, but plenty of cyclists include it in forays out west to the Vale. Rocky Road a favourite! See https://www.facebook.com/cafvelo/ and https://twitter.com/cafvelo.
Cardiff Bay Trail.
A circular roughly 6 mile cycling route around Cardiff Bay via the Barrage. Highlights include Mermaid Quay, Roald Dahl Plass, the Pierhead Building, Norwegian Church, Cardiff International White Water centre, the International Sports Village, Pont Y Werin bridge, Penarth Marina, Custom House, Penarth Head and Cardiff Bay Barrage.
See www.outdoorcardiff.com/trails-across-cardiff/cycling/ for more information and a route map.
Cardiff Council cycle training.
Cardiff Council offers a range of adult and child cycle training. See what’s on offer at www.cardiff.gov.uk/ENG/resident/Parking-roads-and-travel/Road-Safety/Pages/default.aspx.
Cardiff Cycle City.
That’s us! Cardiff Cycle City has been delivering its mix of cycle campaigning and advocacy since 2014. We bring together different individuals and groups in one common vision: To help make Cardiff the best cycling city in the UK.
Follow us, join our mailing list or even better volunteer some time via https://cardiffcyclecity.org,
https://twitter.com/cdffcyclecity and www.facebook.com/CardiffCycleCity/
Cardiff Cycle Workshop.
An award-winning bike-recycling enterprise and repair workshop. Based at Gabalfa, and part of Cycle Training Wales, the workshop aims to avoid potentially useful bikes from being scrapped, providing a cheap means to get
people onto bicycles.
Cardiff cycling (and walking) map.
Cardiff Council provide a free map showing suggested cycling (and walking) routes. Libraries, community learning centres and cycle-friendly establishments (like I Want to Ride my Bike Cafe) often stock copies, plus you can download the map from the Council site here:
Cardiff Cyclists’ Touring Club (CTC).
Cardiff’s local members’ group for Cycling UK. Organised rides and (Coronavirus-permitting) social events. Focused on leisurely, accommodating rides, not racing!
See https://cardiffctc.com and www.facebook.com/CardiffCTC/.
Cardiff Social Cycling.
Social cycling group in Cardiff running since 2017. Arrange local social rides in and around Cardiff for all ages and abilities. See https://www.letsride.co.uk/groups/cardiff-social-cycling and https://www.facebook.com/groups/1984875485078609.
Carten100.
An annual charity challenge ride from Cardiff to Tenby:
https://www.carten100.com/.
Commute Smart.
A series of British Cycling videos containing all sorts of advice on commuting by bike. Includes content on bike checks, route planning, hazards, road positioning, negotiating junctions and roundabouts, wet weather and commuting in the dark. See www.britishcycling.org.uk/commuting.
Confidence.
New to cycling? A bit rusty? Need a bit of a confidence boost? We all go on a bit of a journey as we improve our cycling experience and proficiency. Consider making this transition quicker, and probably even more fun, by undergoing some training, joining a group ride or buddying up with a friend, colleague or relative who’s an experienced cyclist.
Search this A-Z for organisations and initiatives that provide training and group rides, including Breeze, Cardiff Council, Cycle Training Wales, PedalPower, She Cycles Wales and Sustrans Cymru.
Cycle Training Wales (and Doctor Bike).
Providers of a range of cycle training in and around Cardiff, including schools training, one-to-one training, ride leader and instructor training. Based at Gabalfa. Doctor Bike is their mobile mechanic service for bike health checks and repairs.
Cycleways.
Cardiff Council’s proposed cycle routes to support and promote cycling for all ages and abilities. Will connect communities to major destinations across the city, including the city centre, Cardiff Bay, University Hospital Wales and Newport Road.
Designed to be “intuitive and comfortable to use and separated from motor vehicles and pedestrians where needed”. The first of such improvements opened in 2019 on Senghennydd Road.
Cycling UK.
The UK’s cycling charity. Formerly the Cyclists’ Touring Club, Cycling UK now has a membership of over 70,000 people and campaigns for safe and fair use of our roads for cyclists, better cycle infrastructure, improved access and more. See www.cyclinguk.org and www.facebook.com/CyclingUK/?ref=page_internal.
D
Design Guidance.
The Senedd’s Active Travel Design Guidance upon which new walking and cycling infrastructure in Wales is based.
Dutch Reach.
The Dutch Reach is a simple change to the way you get out of the car that can help stop drivers and passengers opening their doors into the path of a cyclist or vehicle causing an accident. Go to the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service Facebook page for a short 48 second video and spread the word to family and friends:
https://www.facebook.com/SWFireandRescue/videos/192580968678696/.
E
Ely Trail.
On the western side of the city, a circa 7 mile largely traffic-free walking and cycling route. It links Cardiff Bay and Penarth at the coast to St Fagans north west beyond the city. The trail largely follows the River Ely and provides easy access to open countryside, wildlife and St Fagans National History Museum. Within the city it spans, or is easily accessible from: Cardiff Bay, Penarth, Llandough, Leckwith, Caerau, Victoria Park, Canton, Riverside, Ely, Pentrebane, St Fagans and Michaelston-super-Ely.
For more information and a route map see: www.outdoorcardiff.com/walks/ely-trail/#Information.
F
Filtered permeability.
Transport design technique ‘filtering out’ motor vehicles from parts of a network but retaining cycling and walking (and sometimes bus) access. Often achieved by use of one or more “Modal Filters” (see entry below).
Free.
The cost of cycling all over Cardiff once you’re on your bike! No petrol, no diesel, no car tax, no MOT, no insurance, no fares, no parking fees or fines. For good reason feminist Susan B. Anthony badged the regular “safety bicycle” a “freedom machine” that gave women “a feeling of freedom and self-reliance”.
G
Gabalfa flyover.
Don’t fancy cycling over the flyover at Gabalfa or braving the roundabout underneath? Nor us! Not everyone is aware that beneath the flyover a network of paths and underpasses provide a means to cross the A48 and North Road (A470) and avoid the flyover and roundabout. Google Maps provides a good view.
Geraint Thomas, OBE.
The first Welshman to win the Tour de France. A road racing and track career balanced between team ‘domestique’ (a rider who rides in service of a team leader) duties and glittering individual achievements. These included Tour de France stage wins, Tour de France overall win (in 2018), World Championship track wins, Olympic Gold medals, national Championships and wins at E3 Harelbeke, Paris-Nice, Critérium du Dauphiné and more. Born in Cardiff and passed through the below-mentioned Maindy Flyers in Cardiff. Celebrated by a special gold coloured post box on Castle Street!
Google Maps.
Google Maps is your friend! As per our “Parallel routes” entry below, don’t assume that your cycle route around Cardiff should be the same as the route you’d adopt by car or bus. You can often avoid the queues, the worst of the air pollution and what Chris Boardman once called that “low-level sense of unease” by picking an alternative route.
These days Google Maps have a “Bicycling” option to show (and use for directions) dedicated and cycle-friendly routes. Experience suggests this isn’t foolproof, but it’s often a useful pointer in you’re trying to spot a sensible cycling route. Perhaps Google’s biggest strength however is with the Satellite and Street View options. These can be a boon when trying to spot quiet roads, cut-throughs that aren’t open to vehicular traffic and shared use paths. Bon voyage!
Go-Ride.
British Cycling’s development programme for young people, delivered by Welsh Cycling in Wales. The programme is aimed at ensuring young people have a safe, structured and well organised club to take part in the sport of cycling.
See https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/wales/article/20131212-welsh-cycling-news-Go-Ride-Wales-0?c=WA.
Go Safe.
Wales’ road casualty reduction partnership. https://gosafe.org. Initiatives include “Operation SNAP” (see separate entry) which allows submissions of video and photographic evidence from members of the public in relation to witnessed driving offences.
Guided rides.
Fancy joining a free and friendly local ride, led by knowledgeable ride leaders? Women-only and mixed offerings. Check out British Cycling’s Let’s Ride listings for what’s available in and around Cardiff: https://www.letsride.co.uk/guided-rides.
Gwenda Owen.
Cycle instructor, Bikeability training champion, ride leader, friend of the cafe stop, consultation respondent, Cardiff Council and Welsh Parliament lobbyist, Open MTB and Trails for Wales advocate, a leading light in Cardiff active travel and a Cycling UK and Cardiff Cycle City devotee. Many were delighted when Gwenda featured in Cycling UK’s “100 Women in Cycling 2017” list for her dedication to promoting and improving cycling in Cardiff.
H
Healthy Travel Charter, Cardiff.
A charter containing 14 healthy travel commitments including offering the cycle to work scheme, secure cycle storage and showers and promotion of free cycle training and maintenance. Launched in 2019, and covering in excess of 33,000 public sector staff.
At the time of writing the following organisations have signed up: Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, Cardiff Council, Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, HM Prison and Probation, HM Revenue & Customs, Welsh Parliament, National Museum for Wales, Natural Resources Wales, Public Health Wales, South Wales Fire and Rescue, South Wales Police, Sport Wales, Transport for Wales, Transport for Wales Rail, Welsh Ambulance and Welsh Government.
I
Inner tubes, valves and tyres
Sooner or later we all need to pump up a tyre, buy a new one, or swap an inner tube. To the uninitiated, the plethora of tyre, inner tube and valve types and sizes can, understandably, seem a bit bewildering. And don’t assume that ageing pump in the shed, garage or rattling ’round the car boot will fit your bicycle tyres; it might not. Here’s a few links to demystify things:
https://www.cyclescheme.co.uk/community/how-to/how-to-use-tyre-valves
https://www.cyclist.co.uk/buying-guides/5084/the-cyclist-guide-to-buying-the-right-inner-tube
Integrated Network Map (“INM”).
The map setting out Cardiff Council’s vision to improve cycling and walking routes across the city and meet the requirements of the Active Travel (Wales) Act.
Details here: www.cardiff.gov.uk/ENG/resident/Parking-roads-and-travel/transport-policies-plans/integrated-network-map/Pages/default.aspx.
It’s too far / too hard
Cycling UK’s advice on an easy switch to cycle commuting: You don’t have to ride all the way to work and back every day. Maybe commute by bike two or three days a week? Or try mixed-mode commuting, making part of the journey – or all of the return journey – by public transport. This is much easier with a compact folder like a Brompton. Or invest in an e-bike if you want to cruise up hills or commute longer distances.
I Want to Ride my Bike Cafe.
Cycling cafe, bar and workshop. Coronavirus-permitting, the home of Cardiff Cycle City public and committee meetings. On Park Place around the corner from the Museum and City Hall. Espresso and Walnut cake highly recommended!
See https://ridemybikecafe.com and www.facebook.com/ridemybikecafe/.
J
Jif.
Cardiff cycling club, with a mainly sporting focus. See https://www.facebook.com/cardiffjif/?ref=page_internal and https://cardiffjif.org.
K
Keep Cardiff Moving.
Cardiff Council’s online information source for travel around the city. Includes information on cycling, walking, bus and rail travel, transport projects, active travel for schools, Park and Ride and more. See https://keepingcardiffmoving.co.uk/home/.
L
Living Streets Cymru.
The Cardiff-based Welsh arm of Living Streets; the UK charity campaigning for healthy low-traffic streets where walking (and cycling) are natural and easy choices. See www.livingstreets.org.uk/about-us/wales.
Llwybr Newydd.
The Wales Transport Strategy 2021, published by the Senedd in Wales. It sets out the Wales-wide ambitions for the next 20 years and priorities for the next 5 years. See https://gov.wales/llwybr-newydd-wales-transport-strategy-2021.
LTN.
Low Traffic Neighbourhoods. An area-wide approach to reduce the volume of motor traffic and give active travel modes an advantage. Reductions are typically achieved by measures such as planters, bollards, or one-way motor traffic flows.
M
Maindy Flyers.
Cycling Club for children and young adults. Based at the Maindy cycle track at Maindy Leisure Centre. Provide training, coaching, social rides and racing. Follow in the footsteps of Geraint Thomas, Elinor Barker, Luke Rowe and Owain Doull.
Manon Carpenter.
Hailing from over the mountain in Caerphilly and an alumna of Cardiff University. Former elite professional downhill mountain bike racer. Winner of multiple downhill World Cups, the British National Championships, the World Cup overall and the downhill World Championships.
Mesh Network Density.
If a settlement is imagined as a grid this analysis allows the number of active travel routes to be measured within a 1km square. It is the Welsh Government’s aim to achieve a mesh density of cycling routes in designated settlements of approximately 250 metres.
Modal Filters.
Transport design feature used to limit through-journeys along a street. Typically restrict motorised traffic but allow “filtered permeability” (see above) for cycling and walking.
Modal Shift.
In the context of “Active Travel” (see above), a journey that would have been undertaken by another non-active mode of transport (e.g. private car) replaced with another active mode such as walking or cycling.
N
Newport.
Probably not as far from Cardiff by bike as you might imagine! Use the Sustrans National Cycle Network map (www.sustrans.org.uk/national-cycle-network/) to check out the northerly route (4) around Draethen and Pen-y-lan or the more southerly option (88) via Marshfield. Both deliver you near to the Tredegar House National Trust property at Duffryn, from where you can pick up National Cycle Network route 4 into Newport centre. Route 88 particularly is a lovely route through the reed beds and reens.
Nextbike.
Cardiff’s hire bike scheme. See www.nextbike.co.uk/en/cardiff/. Since the launch of the scheme in early 2018 it has grown to (at the time of writing) 1000 hire bikes and 90+ hire stations across the city. As of September 2020, Nextbikes had been rented more than 833,000 times across Cardiff, making it their most successful scheme in the UK to date. Increasingly a cheap and convenient way to get around our city. At the time of writing pay-as-you-ride hire prices start at £1, monthly membership is £10 and annual membership is £60 (for standard bikes).
Nicole Cooke, MBE.
Okay, so she really hails from Wick in the Vale of Glamorgan. However, she’s no stranger to Cardiff and Cardiff cycling clubs and this list feels incomplete without her. Inspirational former professional cycle road racer with a glittering career of Olympic, World Championship, World Cup, Commonwealth Games, National title, women’s Tour de France (La Grande Boucle Féminine), Giro d’Italia, Fleche Wallone and numerous other wins to her name.
Outspoken critic against drug doping, sexism and exploitation in cycle sport and passionate advocate for women’s cycling. Chapeau! http://nicolecooke.com.
No shower at work.
Cycling UK’s advice on cycling into work with no shower when you get there: This doesn’t stop millions of Dutch cyclists. Slow down. it’s not a race so don’t work up a sweat. Put your luggage on the bike instead of your back to prevent overheating. If necessary take a spare shirt / blouse, underwear, and deodorant, then change in the loos. Nuclear option? E-bike.
O
Old Bikes.
Do you have an unused bike? Maybe languishing in the shed or garage going nowhere. Old or new, there are a couple of places in Cardiff that may well check it, refurbish it and give it a new lease of life via a new owner: See our entries for “Cardiff Cycle Workshop” and “PedalPower”.
Operation SNAP.
A Go Safe (https://gosafe.org) initiative in Wales allowing the submissions of video and photographic evidence from members of the public in relation to witnessed driving offences.
Reports can be made either via the https://gosafesnap.wales website or via any one of the four Welsh Police Force websites.
Over the barrage.
See our entry for “Cardiff Bay Trail”.
P
Parallel routes.
A sneaky tip for zen urban cycling: Don’t assume your cycle route around Cardiff should be the same as the route you’d adopt by car or bus. You can often avoid the queues, the air pollution and what Chris Boardman once called that “low-level sense of unease” by picking an alternative route.
Even if there’s no segregated cycle route nearby it’s not unusual to be able to find a quiet, largely parallel route that’s more pleasant and may even be quicker. Google Maps is your friend (see our Google Maps entry above)!
Here’s just a couple of examples to give you an idea: Instead of Penarth Road (A4160) through Grangetown, use parallel streets like Redlaver Street and Coedcae Street. Through Rhydypenau and Pentwyn, instead of the busy Rhyd-y-Penau, Cyncoed and Gwern-Rhuddi roads, try Bettws-Y-Coed Road, Black Oak Road and Hampton Crescent(s).
PedalPower.
Based in the heart of Cardiff, the PedalPower charity works wonders providing a “cycling charity for all”. Their aim is to encourage and enable children and adults of all ages and abilities to experience the benefits of cycling. This wonderful charity provides accessible bike hire and sales (to enable people with any ability or disability to cycle), general cycle hire, adult and child cycle training, cycling groups (for all abilities), women’s rides, bike checks and repairs, and donated bikes and second-hand bike sales. There’s even a great cafe to indulge yourself pre- or post-ride. See www.cardiffpedalpower.org.
Plan2Ride Cafe.
Cycling (and walking) cafe, cycle workshop, bike hire and bike sales. Conveniently located in Tongwynlais on the Taff Trail into and out of Cardiff. Cinnamon Whirls a particular highlight! See www.plan2ride.co.uk and www.facebook.com/plan2ride/.
Punctures.
We all get them. This handy video from British Cycling covers advice on carrying a spare inner tube and how to fit it when you suffer a flat tyre:
Cycling UK’s advice: Punctures are relatively rare, especially if you fit tougher tyres, such as Schwalbe Marathon Plus or Continental Contact Plus, and keep them firmly inflated. Still worried? Commute by folding bike and phone a taxi if you have a problem you can’t fix.
Q
Quick!
Think cycling is slow? Think again! Time and again it proves the fastest way to get around Cardiff:
www.walesonline.co.uk/business/business-news/fastest-way-commute-cardiff-compared-12539257.
R
Ready Set Ride.
British Cycling and HSBC initiative including free, quick and easy games to help you teach kids to pedal. https://readysetride.co.uk/.
Repairs.
Does your bike need a fix, a safety check or a service? Search this A-Z for organisations and initiatives that provide repairs, including Cardiff Cycle Workshop, Doctor Bike, I Want to Ride my Bike Café, PedalPower and Plan2Ride cafe.
Rhymney Trail.
The cousin of the Taff and Ely trails. Another route largely following a river, this time up the River Ely to Cardiff Gate.
Find details at https://www.outdoorcardiff.com/walks/rhymney-trail/ and go and explore!
S
School Streets.
A very welcome Cardiff Council initiative. School Streets are areas around Primary School entrances that are pedestrianised during peak drop-off and pick-up times to help children access the school safely, promote active travel and reduce air pollution. After a successful well-received small-scale pilot Cardiff Council are moving towards wider permanent School Streets closures.
See www.cardiff.gov.uk/ENG/resident/Parking-roads-and-travel/school-streets/Pages/default.aspx.
Security.
Us cyclists tend to love our bikes. Sadly, bike thieves tend to covet them too. There’s some useful tips here to try and ensure you keep hold of yours: https://keepingcardiffmoving.co.uk/cycle/bike-security/
Shared use.
A route or surface which is available for use by both pedestrians and cyclists, without any physical separating features or markings segregating the two modes of travel. Normally created by converting the footpath.
She Cycles Wales.
Facebook page promoting all things women’s cycling in Wales. Part of British Cycling’s Breeze initiative. See https://www.facebook.com/SheCyclesWales.
Slow.
Think cycling is slow? Think again! Time and again it proves the fastest way to get around Cardiff:
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/business/business-news/fastest-way-commute-cardiff-compared-12539257.
Sustrans Active Journeys.
The Sustrans Active Journeys programme works to support “Active Travel” schools across Wales. It seeks to create a culture that makes it easier for children and their families to walk, scoot and cycle to school.
Schools across Wales can apply to receive support with planning, promotion and delivery of a wide range of active travel events and activities from a Sustrans Active Journeys officer as well as free access to a wide range of
resources, online travel challenges and the “Active Travel School Award” scheme.
If you’re interested in getting support for your school or just want to find out more then email schoolswales@sustrans.org.uk, use Sustrans’ webpage www.sustrans.org.uk/wales/activejourneys or phone 02920650602.
Sustrans Cymru.
The Cardiff-based Welsh arm of the sustainable transport charity. Sustrans Cymru provide a range of resources, events and support for people and communities seeking greater opportunity to walk, cycle, scoot or “wheel”. See www.sustrans.org.uk/about-us/our-work-in-wales/ and www.facebook.com/Sustrans.Cymru/.
Sybil Williams, MBE.
Visionary founder of the inclusive Cardiff-based cycling charity Pedal Power; the charity that makes cycling accessible to people of all ages and abilities.
Until her relatively recent retirement from the charity’s directorship, Sybil tirelessly steered and grew the charity from it’s modest physiotherapy initiative origins to the comprehensive award-winning charity it is today. In 2014 Sybil was honoured with an MBE for services to cycling and disabled people; she even cycled to London to accept it!
T
Taff Trail.
For now at least, Cardiff’s primary north-south cycle route. Largely traffic-free, the trail follows much of the course of the River Taff (and National Cycle Network Route 8) from Cardiff Bay out of the north of the city ultimately all the way up to Brecon.
Within the city it spans, or is easily accessible from: Cardiff Bay, Grangetown, Taffs Mead, Riverside, Bute Park, Cooper’s Field, Pontcanna Fields, Pontcanna, Gabalfa, Llandaff, Llandaff North, Hailey Park, Whitchurch, Radyr, Coryton, Morganstown, Tongwynlais and Taff’s Well.
Transport White Paper.
Document detailing Cardiff Council’s £2bn vision to transform transport in Cardiff and South East Wales. Proposes an ambitious 10-year plan to tackle the climate emergency, reduce congestion and improve air quality in and around Cardiff.
Options include the Cardiff Metro, new rail / metro stations, rapid bus transport, a fully segregated cycle network and 20 mph speed limits.
U
Uphill.
Central Cardiff is pretty flat but you don’t have to stray far to try out a hill or two. The Cardiff By Bike website gives you helpful information on the most challenging rides in and around Cardiff if you want to give them a try (or indeed avoid them!)
https://cardiffbybike.wales/2016/03/23/challenging-climbs-around-cardiff/.
The same website helpfully gives some tips on climbing a hill at https://cardiffbybike.wales/2016/03/16/climbing-hills/#more-1041.
Utility journeys.
Bikes are great fun. They’re also good alternatives to the car for everyday journeys, for example to the shops, school or workplace. With a backpack, a basket, some panniers, a trailer or even a cargo bike you might be surprised how much you can transport on two wheels. Check out Cycling UK’s and Cycling magazine’s cargo bike guides: www.cyclinguk.org/article/cycling-guide/guide-cargo-bikes and www.cyclist.co.uk/buying-guides/8458/best-electric-cargo-bikes-alternative-transport-for-families-or-businesses
V
Vote.
Who to vote for if you want to support cycling in and around Cardiff? Whether it’s local council elections, Senedd elections or Westminster general elections, Cardiff Cycle City (C=CC) endeavour to organise (often virtual) hustings prior to elections to enable people to hear what prospective candidates have to say about cycling.
Join the C=CC movement for free via our website and keep yourself informed about upcoming events. But however you get your information use your vote to shape the future of cycling!
W
Wales Transport Strategy.
See “Llwybr Newydd”.
Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.
This Senedd legislation sets out the ambitions, permissions and legal obligations on public bodies in Wales to improve our social, cultural, environmental and economic well-being.
The act requires Welsh public bodies to think about the long-term impact of their decisions, to work better with people, communities and each other, and to prevent persistent problems such as poverty, health inequalities and climate change. Amongst others it contains goals for health, equality and global responsibility and indicators including healthy lifestyle, air quality and greenhouse gases.
At the time of writing the act is unique to Wales and offers a huge opportunity to make a long lasting, positive change to current and future generations.
See www.futuregenerations.wales/about-us/future-generations-act/ for more details.
Welsh Cycling.
The national governing body of cycling in Wales overseeing cycle sport and affiliated cycling clubs. Work in partnership with British and Scottish Cycling.
https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/wales/article/20161108-About-Welsh-Cycling-0.
WelTAG
The Welsh Transport Appraisal Guidance; the framework to assess the strategic case for proposed changes to the transport system in Wales. It contains best practice for the development, appraisal and evaluation of proposed transport interventions. See https://gov.wales/welsh-transport-appraisal-guidance-weltag.
Whitchurch Cycling Club
Lovely, friendly, socially and family-orientated cycling club for kids and adults alike. Serving the north of Cardiff and beyond. See https://www.facebook.com/whitchurchcyclingclub/ and https://whitchurchcycling.wordpress.com.
Why cycle?
Governments the world over are grappling with how to solve issues such as lack of physical activity, obesity, congestion, local pollution, global climate change, mental health and other social issues. We’re no different in Wales.
We’re no different in Cardiff. Chris Boardman said the solution is “glaringly, frighteningly, excitingly simple… how we move”. Getting on our bikes instead of, by default, jumping into a car is a panacea for us and future generations. Oh, and let’s not forget, it’s cheap and just plain good fun too!
Women Only.
See our “Breeze” entry for British Cycling’s brilliant women-only bike rides. There’s more women-focused British Cycling web content at www.britishcycling.org.uk/womenscycling whatever your level or activity.
Also see our “PedalPower” entry; this amazing charity is also very supportive of women’s cycling.
Plus check out our “She Cycles Wales” entry for their Wales-wide Facebook page promoting all things women’s cycling.
A straw pole of Breeze cyclists has not identified a go-to shop in Cardiff for women’s bike stuff but get in touch if you know different! Consider finding a comfortable saddle and the right padded shorts if you’re plagued by female saddle soreness.
To find out more about female undercarriage issues check out this useful article by Victoria Hazael on the Cycling UK website: www.cyclinguk.org/saddlepain.
X
eXercises.
Sorry! Go to the cycling UK website to learn about indoor exercises specifically designed for cyclists. You’ll find clear explanations of several exercises you can do at home: https://www.cyclinguk.org/article/five-indoor-exercises-cyclists. At the time of writing it does not look as though Cardiff Council Leisure Centres offer
cycling specific exercise classes; something to lobby for?
Y
Ysgol Hamadryad.
Wales’ and Cardiff’s first Active Travel School. Read about the success story here:
https://cardiffcyclecity.org/schools/how-to-make-a-21st-century-school-embrace-active-travel/.
Z
Zig-Zag Path.
Okay, so we’re cheating a bit, this is really in the Vale! However, the zig- zag path is a popular cycling and walking route in and out of Penarth for a lot of Cardiff residents. It links Penarth Heights and Penarth’s town centre to Terra Nova Way down in the Penarth Marina.
