New cycle lane along Mayals Road to be developed

A new safe cycle route is being developed along Mayals Road to provide a link between Swansea Bay seafront and the Gower.

Swansea Council says it also intends to create a further link along Clyne Common.

It is part of the Welsh Government Active Travel scheme which aims to encourage more people to improve the local environment by swapping their car for a bike.

The new route along Mayals Road will include a dedicated on-road cycle lane along both sides of the road and will be separate from both the road and pedestrian footways.

Sections of the new route will converge into a shared-use path for both pedestrians and cyclists. Swansea Council says that this will help pave the way for a new planned cycle lane along Clyne Common, linking with Bishopston.

Mark Thomas, Cabinet Member for Environment Enhancement & Infrastructure Management, said: "We have been very successful in our efforts to bid for Active Travel funding for a number of years.

"In recent years we have developed a number of important cycle links which connect with already established national cycle routes.

"The new route along Mayals Road will be a huge benefit for residents in the Mayals and West Cross communities wanting to cycle more and will assist us in connecting communities with other parts of the city so that cycling can become a serious alternative to travelling by car."

In a video posted by the council, they said that the scheme will lead to more trees along the new route.

Following a survey of 130 trees along Mayals Road, the council says it has identified 19 trees to be felled, however, it says that this is because the trees are dead or dying.

Some residents in the area have previously expressed opposition to the new cycle lane due to the felling of the trees.

The council added that it will use Active Travel funding to help pay to replace the trees, and that two will be planted for every single tree removed.

Cllr Thomas added: "Swansea is now starting to lead the way with the amount of dedicated cycle track it has in the city compared to other parts of Wales.

"We now have around 120km of cycle and walking routes, helping people to cycle safely, whether it's to work, school or simply to exercise."

Safe cycle crossings will also feature as part of the scheme allowing cyclists to travel between both sections, with three new safe crossing points being created along Mayals Road.

Swansea received more than £5.1m in 2020 to create nine kilometres of purpose built off and on road cycle lanes, with £1.8m going to the safe cycle lane along Mayals Road.

According to the council, there has been a surge in cycle route usage in Swansea since the start of the pandemic, with the latest projects designed to extend the 120km of cycling routes further in the months ahead.

Electronic cycle-counters installed along many of the routes along Swansea Bay have recorded a tripling of cyclists using routes in 2020 compared to previous years, the council said.

Contractors are now working at key junctions of the route including the junctions with Mumbles Road and Westport Avenue.

Other new routes include an Olchfa link, a route along Townhill Road, along with funding the new Swansea Central Bridge which will carry a shared-use path.

You can find out more about the Mayals scheme and other Active Travel projects here.