1000km of walking and cycling routes for Sheffield

The Sheffield City Region has published an ambitious plan to create a network of more than 620miles of accessible walking and cycling routes across South Yorkshire to enable people to leave their cars at home.

Image: Dame Sarah Storey and Mayor Dan Jarvis (picture taken before social distancing guidelines were in place)

Mayor Dan Jarvis and Active Travel Commissioner Dame Sarah Storey’s Active Travel Implementation Plan sets out how, by 2040, South Yorkshire will have a fully connected network of walking and cycling routes.

The network will feature 800 safe crossings for people travelling on foot or by bike, and nearly 200 square miles of low traffic neighbourhoods, which see streets transformed into places where you can relax and play safely, with very little through traffic.

£166 million has already been secured from the Transforming Cities Fund, with half allocated for active travel, but more investment is required from the Government to make Mayor Jarvis and Dame Sarah’s plans a reality.

In South Yorkshire around 40% of journeys to work that are 1km or less are currently driven in a car, with this figure rising to 64% when the distance at 5km. When it comes to commuting, just 2% of journeys to work are taken by bike and 10% on foot. More than 70% of people in South Yorkshire commute by car.

By enabling active travel, it is forecasted that walking and cycling could be increased by 21% and 350% respectively, by 2040. To do this, Mayor Jarvis and Dame Sarah are committed to providing high quality, safe infrastructure which is accessible to all users, including adapted bikes and wheelchairs, and will empower local communities to codevelop ambitious future plans for walking and cycling in their neighbourhood.

To find out more about the Active Travel programme, head to sheffieldcityregion.org.uk/cyclewalkscr.