8:00am Monday 30th April 2007
BIB101H07-DEMO BIB102H07-DEMO BIB103H07-DEMO BIB104H07-DEMO BIB105H07-DEMO BIB106H07-DEMO SOME 400 cyclists turned out in Penarth last Sunday morning to protest against the lack of pedestrian and cycle access to Cardiff International Sports Village.
The protesters, who rode in convoy over the four-lane Cogan Spur highway, were demanding that Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan Councils and the Harbour Authority commit funding to a bridge across the river Ely.
Cardiff Friends of the Earth, who helped organise the demonstration, said they were delighted by the turnout.
The Cogan Spur - from which pedestrians are banned - is normally braved by only the most hardened, experienced and determined cyclists.
But for 15 minutes it became a cycle path, as families went for a Sunday morning bike ride with a difference.
"It was great to cycle across the bridge," said 10-year-old Chloe Lewis.
"Normally it would be much too scary. Right now the only way I can get to the sports village is if my mum or dad drive me."
Tom Margrain, who presented the leader of the Vale Council with a petition on Friday advocating that funds from the Penarth Heights development go towards the Ely bridge to offset the traffic impact, said: "It's the biggest demonstration I've ever seen round here.
"The convoy stretched all the way across the Spur."
Campaign leader Mark Buehner said: "It's good that the bridge is now firmly back on the agenda.
"But there's still no firm funding commitment from the Vale or Cardiff."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMdNgPv_az8
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