Agenda item

A report was submitted which provided an update on the work of the Active Travel Programme, led by Dame Sarah Storey.

The Board were informed that the Active Travel Commissioner had joined with other commissioners in calling for the government to provide continuous funding for Active Travel.  The Transforming Cities Fund bid had recently been submitted which contained a work programme of up to £130m of Active Travel schemes up to 2023.

Work had been progressing to develop a region-wide active travel network that conveyed the extent of the infrastructure provision required to enable a significant increase in walking and cycling by 2040.

The transport team were preparing the Active Travel Implementation Plan that would be used to deliver the policies and goals set out in the SCR Transport Strategy.

The programme had been informed by the work of Chris Boardman’s team in Manchester, and his advisor, Brian Deegan, had been contracted to hold a series of workshops, one in each authority.  The work had helped to produce a draft active travel network for the whole of South Yorkshire which was currently being refined.

The Network would be developed, in stages, between now and 2040, the first phase would be developed through the Transforming Cities Fund.

Dame Sarah Storey delivered a presentation setting out her vision including the importance of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods and accessibility.

Low traffic neighbourhoods are areas where interventions restrict the use of cars meaning a safer environment for pedestrians and cyclists.

The Commissioner had visited Waltham Forest in London where the construction of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods had lowered vehicle use and ownership and increased the levels of walking and cycling.

Pavement parking had been banned and residents parking areas created, cycle shelters had also been constructed outside houses.  End-of-street closures had been implemented to create community spaces and passageways had been cleaned and lit to provide safe, easy access throughout the neighbourhood.

As a result of these measures, changes in driver behaviour had been observed, as more pedestrians were using the area local businesses were rejuvenated and residents had started to take more pride in their neighbourhood.

The plan therefore would look at creating Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, alongside the existing TCF schemes, to help reduce the number of vehicles and to create more space for walking and cycling and public transport enhancements on main roads.

The active travel plan would therefore include a linked-up network of:

• Low traffic neighbourhoods
• Segregated cycle facilities on busy roads
• Footway improvements
• Off-road network improvements
• Crossings for active travellers
• Major infrastructure such as active travel bridges.

Dame Sarah highlighted that poorer neighbourhoods are set to benefit from the Low Traffic Neighbourhoods approach, often residents have fewer cars but are disproportionately affected by non-residents passing through or parking.

P Kennan raised the challenge of engaging the business community. P Zanzottera suggested there are best practice examples such as HSBC in Sheffield and confirmed that the revenue funding we are seeking from government would in part be invested in business advisory services to support active travel choices.

M Lynam reminded the Board that final Active Travel Implementation Plan will be received by the Board at the next meeting.

The Chair thanked Dame Sarah Storey for an interesting and informative presentation.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.