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Minister for Economy and Transport, Ieuan Wyn Jones announced that the Welsh capital city had been chosen as the pathfinder for the Sustainable Travel Towns Initiative and will benefit from a multimillion pound investment in a range of sustainable transport measures. If successful, this innovative concept could be rolled out across Wales.

The investment over the next two years will transform the way people travel to, and around Cardiff, and will include a free city centre shuttle service, park and ride facilities and improved cycling and walking routes.

It will also give the go-ahead for the Pont-y-Werin bridge, a new walking and cycle crossing of the Ely river between Penarth and the Sports Village complex.

The initiative, funded by £14.5million from the Welsh Assembly Government and £14million from Cardiff Council, will initially be for two years but the council hope to include further phases after that.

Mr Jones said:
"Cardiff has been chosen as the first region to benefit from this substantial investment to create a sustainable urban transport system.

"Commuter levels in and around Cardiff have increased significantly over the past few years.

"This is an exciting opportunity to develop and implement a range of innovative transport solutions which will benefit the 210,000 people who travel around the city on a daily basis."

The plan includes a combination of infrastructure and service improvements which aim to cut congestion in the city and improve local and regional access.

The infrastructure improvements include developing better bus corridors, the future pedestrianisation of High Street / St Mary Street, and a free city centre bus connecting to the Bay. There will also be an enhanced city centre cycle network, and a new parking strategy including park and ride facilities on key commuting routes.

This will run alongside a programme of improved services including better travel information, journey sharing schemes, car clubs and free bike hire.

Jane Davidson, Minister for the Environment, Sustainability and Housing said:
"We have become far too reliant on using the car and we need to consider alternative, greener ways to travel. Increased bus and cycle use is a win-win situation. It will mean fewer cars on the road and will lead to a healthier Wales. It will ease congestion, lower carbon emissions and will contribute to our fight against climate change."

Sustrans Cymru Diector Lee Waters said:
"Sustrans fully supports the vision to make the Welsh capital a Sustainable Travel City. Thirty years ago Copenhagen had the same levels of cycling that Cardiff has today. Now over a third of all commuting journeys in the Danish capital are by bike. Cardiff has the potential to achieve the same. With a joined-up approach we can encourage people to use their cars less and chose to travel in ways which benefit their health and the environment."