Puddles covering cycle lanes 'may cause injuries'

Cyclists say puddles covering lanes could pose a danger

Huge puddles on Cardiff cycle lanes could cause injuries, campaigners say.

One cycle path was described as a "minor lake" following heavy rainfall last week in the capital.

Campaign group Cardiff Cycle City said there should be better maintenance of the lanes across the city.

Cardiff council said heavy rainfall had contributed to the high amount of surface water on roads and paths.

Cardiff Cycle City chairman Chris Roberts said cyclists had real concerns about the city's cycle paths.

He also said he encountered a "minor lake" whilst cycling along a section of the Taff Trail in the Gabalfa area.

“There were some pedestrians coming towards me. I did not want to end up splashing them, so I tried to move over onto the side and found myself in a pothole and I nearly came off my bike," he said.

“You can’t see what is underneath. It could be that there is glass there, it could be that there is a pothole there, it could be that there is a brick there that causes you to fall off, and for particularly elderly cyclists and children it could cause significant injuries. They are a safety issue.”

A picture posted by Cardiff Cycle City on X, formerly Twitter, showed a section of the North Road cycle path submerged.

Mr Roberts said the puddle was about three inches (7.5 cm) deep when he was there just over a week ago.

Cardiff Cycle City said the council had invested in cycle infrastructure

Mr Roberts said it was "frustrating" as the council had invested in "brilliant" cycle infrastructure.

“It is better than it used to be, but we are still having problems with wet leaves on cycle routes, proving very slippery and very dangerous and there needs to be a better maintenance regime in place," he added.

High levels of rainfall

Cardiff council said officials are checking whether there are any blockages in the system.

"So far this February the amount of rain which has fallen in Cardiff is almost 260% higher than the average rainfall for this time of year," a spokesperson said.

“This level of rainfall will always have an impact on surface water gathering and on the time it takes for water to drain away naturally.

“The land on either side of the Taff Trail is saturated meaning the water on the cycleway doesn’t have anywhere to run off which will cause ponding."