The row in Swansea between cyclists who want more pop-up lanes andbusinesses who want more parking

QUOTE:
Campaigners on bikes rode through Swansea calling for "pop-up" cycle lanes to be created, but some businesses are worried limited parking will be lost.

On 07/07/2020 13:02, Simon Mason wrote:
QUOTE:
Campaigners on bikes rode through Swansea calling for "pop-up" cycle lanes to be created, but some businesses are worried limited parking will be lost.

Extinction Rebellion Swansea organised the moving protest after stencilling yellow bike signs in Walter Road and Wind Street.

[Criminal Damage]

It claimed that Swansea Council had not taken up suggestions for temporary pop-up lanes which would be funded by the Welsh Government.

The authority said it had, however, secured £600,000 of Cardiff Bay cash of late on new travel infrastructure including bike storage, as well as spending more than £7 million on cycle and walking paths in the last two years.

In a statement, Extinction Rebellion Swansea said council chiefs should follow the approach of other authorities on pop-up lanes.

"In comparison, Cardiff City Council has been inventive and extensive in its use of the funding with several streets closed to cars and cycle lanes in many others," it said.

"This pattern is replicated across the UK and Europe using simple methods and low-cost materials to make quick, easily-reversible improvements to the urban environment."

The group said air quality in Swansea would improve if more people felt safe cycling, and that a two-way cycle lane should be part of any planned redesign of Wind Street.

Many cyclists use the shared-use path along the seafront but Walter Road, which also heads from the west to the city centre, has no designated cycle space. There is restricted parking on either side along much of the road.

Vince Rawlings, store manager at Cartridge World, Walter Road, said a dedicated cycle lane would reduce parking "and kill us".

He suggested that lanes running along the rear of Walter Road could better accommodate people on bikes.

"I'm not against cyclists - I'm a cyclist myself," he said. "But there isn't enough parking around here."

A member of staff at Uplands Kitchens, Walter Road, said he felt Walter Road was wide enough for all users.

"I'm all for cyclists," he said. "But I think the council needs to look at parking, and have less restrictions."

There was concern at yesterday's protest when a motorist appeared to drive his car towards some of the cyclists when they turned onto Oystermouth Road, near the LC.

Video footage showed the driver involved in a confrontation with some of the cyclists. South Wales Police is investigating a report of an assault.

Cllr Mark Thomas, cabinet member for environment enhancement and infrastructure management, said he hoped to invest the £600,000 secured recently from the Welsh Government in cycle infrastructure, such as bike storage at busy locations.

Council chiefs also expect to hear back from ministers about an earlier bid for £6.9 million of so-called active travel funding, which would include permanent cycle lanes.

Cllr Thomas said the authority had delivered 10 miles of new cycle routes over the last two years, and added: "Overall, I'm confident our efforts to help boost cycling in Swansea and help increase the use of bikes as an alternative, sustainable mode of transport will match the efforts of any council in Wales."

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/w...-news-18553970