More people in Cardiff are leaving their cars at home and are walking, cycling or taking the bus, Plaid Cymru councillor Delme Bowen, Executive Member for Transport has revealed.
An update at the end of the first year of Cardiff becoming a Sustainable Travel City has pointed to a continuing significant shift to more sustainable transport.
Car and taxi usage has fallen from 59.7 per cent in 2008 to 52.3 per cent in 2009 while walking was up by 1.4 per cent to 18.3 per cent, bus usage three per cent more at 15.5 per cent and cycling use jumped 1.6 per cent to 7.4 per cent. Train usage also rose from 3.8 per cent to 4.7 per cent over the same period.
In fact, since 2005 the numbers of people walking in the capital has risen five per cent while car and taxi usage has dropped 12.5 per cent over the same period.
The Plaid councillor said: “The investment, principally by Cardiff council and the Welsh Assembly Government, is clearly paying dividends and I’m delighted that we are clearly heading in the right direction and making great strides.
“Use of public transport is on the increase as are the more healthy activities such as walking and cycling. These are all good signs for a sustainable future. Car and taxi journeys have dropped and this fall which started well before the recession and is continuing.
“This shows that our investment in sustainable travel over the past two years is bearing fruit,” added Councillor Bowen.
The Plaid councillor added: “Questions have been raised about the work we have been doing to develop Cardiff as a sustainable travel city but the results show that the public are embracing this initiative. We all have a part to play in helping make our society more sustainable.
“While the car remains an important part of life for many, Plaid Cymru hopes that the trend of falling usage continues and people use the alternatives where possible.”
The total funding under the Sustainable Travel City Initiative for 2009-10 and 2010-11 was £29,690,000.
