A new Active Travel map is available which identifies walking and cycling routes and facilities in Aberystwyth. Ceredigion County Council produced the map in partnership with Sustrans, the UK sustainable transport charity.
Aberystwyth, along with Cardigan and Lampeter, was designated as an Active Travel town under the Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013.
Council Highways officers, in partnership with Aberystwyth University and the National Library of Wales, installed new cycling infrastructure for the benefit of their staff and visitors. A new public bike repair station was installed next to the cycle shelter at the entrance to Aberystwyth University Penglais Campus in recent months. Cyclists can use this to make minor repairs and adjustments with a range of tools available. There is also a pump attached which can be used by wheelchair and pushchair users in addition to cyclists for inflating their tyres.
A new cycle wheel ramp has been installed to help cyclists use steps below the National Library, which is a popular link to the Library and University for those wishing to avoid the busy main road. Paul Scullion who works at Aberystwyth University said, “This new cycle wheel ramp has made my daily cycle commute to work a lot easier as previously I had to lift and carry my bike up and down these steps which was quite awkward. Now I can place my bike wheels in the groove of the ramp and push my bike instead – it’s great.”
Councillor Dafydd Edwards, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Highways & Environmental Services said, “This new active travel map for Aberystwyth shows the location of these innovative facilities for cyclists in the town in addition to cycle parking areas. The map highlights traffic-free cycle routes which provide alternative options for cyclists who are less confident in using the roads. We are continuing to develop proposals to build on improvements carried out in recent years and further increase this network of traffic-free routes so that more people will be encouraged to make car-free journeys to places of employment, education and so on. We’d like to remind cyclists to always observe and respect signage and road markings that are in place and to use shared use paths carefully, particularly being aware that some pedestrians may have visual or hearing impairments.”
The new bilingual map will be made available free of charge at council offices, Aberystwyth Library, the Tourist Information Centre, Plascrug Leisure Centre and local bike shops. It can also be viewed and downloaded from the council’s Active Travel web page, www.ceredigion.gov.uk/resident/travel-roads-parking/active-travel/ or on the Sustrans website, www.sustrans.org.uk/sites/default/files/file_content_type/aberystwyth_web.pdf.
The new map and improved cycling and walking facilities have been implemented by Ceredigion County Council; funded through Welsh Government Active Travel Fund and match funding from the council.
28/01/2019