A woman with mobility issues said she feels "marooned" in her area of Cardiff, having been without a bus service on her main road for three years. Residents living on Lake Road West in Cyncoed have been without a bus service - what used to be the old Cardiff Bus number 28 route - since 2019.
The number 54 route, which also used to run along Lake Road West, no longer operates. Most residents living on the road running next to Roath Park Lake will make the walk northwards to the bus stop by Cardiff High School if they want to catch a bus into town.
However, Sian Davies who lives just off Lake Road West finds it nearly impossible to make the walk due to her mobility issues. Sian, 64, said: "I have looked at the alternatives, which would be the train from Heath High Level, but there is no disabled access.
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"It makes me feel completely worthless. I have been cast aside like an old boot. If I was a cyclist I would have so many options open to me, but my cycling days are gone because of my disability." Sian said she goes into town to get medication, do her shopping and meet friends among other activities.
She does sometimes drive, but often she can't do that due to the medication she takes to ease her pain on a "bad day". Sian said the situation has made her feel "marooned". She added: "I am very lucky. I have got friends who help me out, but when that happens you become a burden on people and just because I'm disabled it doesn't mean that I don't value my independence.
"It is the cost. Taxis are expensive. They have got a living to make. I realise that, but I can't keep shelling out for taxis and very often there are times where I would like to go and do things or I need to do things and I can't because I can't get there. I can't meet friends in town for coffee anymore or for lunch, or if I do it is really something you have got to plan in advance.
"If I know I am going to meet somebody, my first plan of action is to take my car into town, which I don't want to do. I would much rather use the bus, but at the end of the day if I am on a bad day pain-wise and I have taken strong pain killers then I have to get a taxi in.
"It is not just stopping me from doing day to day things like shopping, but it is stopping the social element of my life." Cyncoed ward member Cllr Bablin Molik has been campaigning to get the bus service on Lake Road West reinstated.
She recently expressed concern over what she sees as certain members of society being left behind when it comes to transport in Cardiff. She said: "Having an inclusive, reliable and sustainable transport system in the capital is key to the success of the city in terms of its economy, growth and environmental benefits and equally importantly for the social mobility, equality and wellbeing of the city's people." Read more about that here.
Cardiff Bus commercial director Gareth Stevens said: "As part of service changes back in 2019 we revised how buses operate in the Lakeside area. We routed all services via Lake Road East and Lakeside Drive to maintain the 30-minute service in this area as part of Lakeside sees the regular usage, which we need to operate our services.
"We have discussed options with local councillors and we are aware this has been discussed with Cardiff Council. Cardiff Council has the remit to support bus services that are not financially viable but are socially necessary, and in prior discussion have posed some possible alternatives for their consideration."
A Cardiff Council spokesperson said: "Unfortunately, under current legislation the council is unable to provide a subsidised service on routes where a bus operator already runs a commercial route as it would compete with that operator. Residents that are not serviced by a bus route can, however, call the door-to-door service ‘dial-a-ride’. This is one of the ways we support community transport for people who struggle to access public transport.
"Residents can register for the dial-a-ride service on the phone by ringing 029 20 490325. Once they are registered they can then make a booking to use the service at a cost of 80p for the 1 st mile and 30p per extra half mile. The dial-a-ride service can be used to access shopping, bingo, medical practices, hair appointments etc. The service does not transport passengers to the hospital as there is separate patient transport that can be arranged by the Heath board.”
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