Cardiff Cycling Campaign is planning a joint campaign with other interested organisations to make sure Wales adopts policies as good as those proposed for England. Members voted for this action at the Annual General Meeting in October.

A report from the National Cycling Strategy Board (for England) calls for cyclists to be given more road space and far greater priority on the roads, as in continental Europe. This is intended to make a step change towards the agreed concepts and targets in the UK and Welsh cycling strategies.

Members noted that the Welsh Walking and Cycling Strategy had been adopted by the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG), but felt cycling issues are not being pursued satisfactorily in the Welsh Transport Forum.

It was agreed that CCC should seek a joint campaign with CTC Cymru, Sustrans Cymru and others to get WAG to consider and adopt similar proposals in Wales.

Councillor Jim James, the new Executive member for Transport and the Environment on Cardiff County Council addressed CCC members before the AGM.

Reporting to the General Meeting, the campaign’s Chair, Max Wallis, told members there were opportunities with the new Cardiff Council. The proposal for a City Cycling Forum was ‘on the table’; further discussions will take place on the widening of the A470 North Road and provision for cyclists, and other schemes; the Council has a new cycling website.

The members agreed to thank Jake Griffiths, who was Cardiff Council’s Cycling Officer until September, for his successes in promoting cycling and cyclists’ interests within the City. In the forthcoming year, the Campaign expects to re-engage with the Unitary Development Plan, review the Cardiff Cycling Strategy, and work on the development of recreational routes.

There were discussions about the CCC’s stance. Would the Campaign achieve what it wanted by being ‘confrontational’? Can it successfully represent all cyclists’ interests? One hot topic was the issue of segregation and/or combined use of foot and cycle paths; It was suggested that ‘dangerous’ cycling on the pavement has been brought about by lack of provision of safe on-road cycle routes or the lack of quality of shared facilities.

The Financial Accounts for 2003 / 2004, which had been independently examined, were approved at a Special General Meeting in November. The financial affairs were satisfactory, and there was no proposal to change the membership fees. Additional expenditure had been raised by advertising income in On Your Bike, and reduced newsletter expenditure.

The following current officers were re-elected: Chairperson - Max Wallis; Membership & Treasurer - David Nicholls; ‘On Your Bike’ Editor - Ken Barker (James Stewart will continue as Assistant Editor.) The position of Secretary remains vacant.