Minutes:
The Chair welcomed Dame Sarah Storey to the meeting.
Dame Sarah Storey thanked the Board for their recent letter of congratulations.
Dame Sarah reported that she had observed the use of an electric single-person vehicle whilst staying at the accommodation village at the Tokyo Olympic Games. She informed the Board that she was considering highlighting its use at the next DfT Board meeting, to enquire if these vehicles could either be imported, or built in the UK, or even better, built in South Yorkshire.
In relation to Active Travel, Dame Sarah reported that she had been very busy and had also taken the opportunity to meet with Mayor Jarvis.
At a recent School Streets visit in Barnsley, several challenges had been raised to her. The main concerns raised were in relation to other people’s vehicles parked outside people’s homes when dropping off and colleting children from school.
Dame Sarah felt that it would be a good opportunity to expand the School Streets programme across the region. There were a number of good trials currently taking place on school streets, for example in Barnsley and Doncaster.
Councillor Johnson invited Dame Sarah to attend a School Streets visit in the Sheffield area.
The Board were informed that there would be a number of updates next month, which included the announcement around the Comprehensive Spending Review and any announcements from the COP26 summit.
A number of schemes were now reaching completion including the ‘Grey to Green’ scheme in Sheffield.
On 17 September, Dame Sarah had joined South Yorkshire Police’s Road Policing officers in the Rivelin Valley for a ‘Close Pass’ operation targeting drivers who overtake cyclists too closely. The operation had received national press coverage. Dame Sarah was pleased to note the good work being undertaken by South Yorkshire Police and hoped that the Force would replicate this operation in other areas.
In addition, Dame Sarah had talked to Dr Billings (South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner) at the operation who had stated that, road safety and speeding now featured as a priority in his Police and Crime Plan.
Inspector Kevin Smith had informed Dame Sarah that he was very eager to undertake an operation entitled ‘Top Deck’, which utilises the top deck of a bus to look for other motoring offences.
Dame Sarah informed the Board that she had recently met with the national lead for fatal collision investigation, Detective Chief Superintendent Andy Cox.There was now an opportunity for collaboration cross-borders where there are roads which need policing from South Yorkshire into Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.
Dame Sarah said that there was a lot of focus on being able to support the reduction of the greatest harm, whilst active travel facilities were being built. She felt that the region should use education opportunities to ease the challenges people face when walking and cycling.
The Board discussed recent media coverage around Active Travel in the local press. Following discussion, it was agreed that further work needed to be undertaken with businesses to showcase the good work they are undertaking around Active Travel.
Dame Sarah added that it may be a good opportunity to invite local press from Doncaster, Rotherham and Barnsley to a Wheels for All Centre to observe how bikes are helping people with disabilities.
In response to a query from P Kennan, P Zanzottera reported that Government feedback on the Active Travel fund bid had not yet been received.
The Chair thanked Dame Sarah for her updates.