Sheffield is leading the way with active travel plan for walkers and cyclists

But in some respects we’re already ahead of the game in Sheffield, said some local active travel advocates.

“It’s important to know that Sheffield City Region are now leading the national debate,” said SCR active travel programme director Pete Zanzottera.

“Our overall plan, our funding bids, and the infrastructure standards are all recognised as being of the highest standards.”Sheffield will now be working to Dutch-style criteria for active travel routes, after adoption of standards across South Yorkshire to ensure three- and four-wheeled cycles can use cycle routes, and that new footways and cycle tracks will be separated from fast and high-volume traffic.The South Yorkshire authorities agreed the day before the national announcements that ‘magic paint’ cycle lanes with no separation from buses and lorries will no longer be implemented, and that pavements and road crossings will help walkers and wheelchair users get around the city without big delays waiting for traffic.

“We’re poised to deliver a network of active travel routes and neighbourhoods that will allow the transformation of South Yorkshire,” said SCR active travel commissioner Dame Sarah Storey.

In Sheffield, the first significant active travel route to be proposed for funding through the government’s emergency travel allowances (more than £7m for South Yorkshire) will probably be in the Sheaf Valley, with significant changes to an existing route near Norton Hammer to reduce through traffic and parking, and segregation for cyclists nearer town.Low-traffic neighbourhoods in parts of Nether Edge and Crookes are also proposed, which must be in place along with the first new ‘substantive’ route for walkers, runners and cyclists by next April under the rules of the new funding.Dame Sarah Storey is also pushing for more ‘school streets’ that will “improve the lives of families and children, because they are designed to ensure safety in the immediate vicinity of a school,” she says.

“By minimising traffic and therefore poor air quality, children arriving at school are less likely to be impacted by speeding vehicles or inattentive drivers, along with the long-term health implications associated with poor air quality and lower levels of activity.”The city region want a package of ideas for schools across South Yorkshire to help more people walk a mile or cycle up to three miles to their local school.

Excitement at rare bird sightingThere’ll also be a national public review of the Highway Code, with a proposed hierarchy of road users with walkers at the top to favour walkers and cyclists over faster road users.“There are a large number of inconsistencies in the Highway Code, which was largely written with vehicles in mind,” says Dame Sarah Storey.

“Some of the rules are routinely not observed and there are far too many instances of drivers taking priority, causing injury, delay and inconvenience to other road users.”

The new public consultation will allow for a structured revision, she adds, taking account of how engineers will now be building for people rather than cars.The Government announced new e-bike support programmes and ‘cycling on prescription’ schemes, but these are already here in the Outdoor City, where CycleBoost e-bike loan schemes have been running for several years.

The city council is also readying a new ‘social prescribing’ scheme’ for early next year, where doctors can offer loan bikes and e-bikes for patients, following preparation work with partners Heeley Trust and Move More.“We want doctors to be able to prescribe cycling just like they’d prescribe medicines,” said Sheffield Council senior transport planner Paul Sullivan.The existing city region Active Travel Implementation Plan includes most of the Government’s ideas.

“Whilst there are still those who might be sceptical at the likelihood of a plan like this being a success in a place with many hills, they may find they think differently once they have the chance to try an e-bike,” says Dame Sarah.Sheffield will need at least £26 million per year over the next 20 years to deliver the existing active travel plan, said Paul Sullivan.

“So we’re looking forward to getting started once the money arrives.”

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