Mayor’s Year of Active Travel sees thousands get involved
Thousands of young people and adults from South Yorkshire took part in the Mayor’s Year of Active Travel as the month ended. South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard launched the initiative to encourage more people in the region to get active to build a healthy future.
Events were held throughout the year to contribute to the Mayor’s vision. In March, the Living Streets UK Walking Summit was held in Sheffield which highlighted the importance of making neighbourhoods more walkable for people of all backgrounds.
In June, thousands of children from 78 primary schools took part in the Mayor’s Walk and Wheel Challenge. The event lasted for ten days and helped every child choose between walking, scooting, or biking to school.
Oliver Coppard said: “My Year of Active Travel celebrated the progress we’ve made not just over the last year but all the work that went into making that progress possible over the last few years.
In July, South Yorkshire By Bike highlighted the traffic-free paths, separate cycle lanes, quiet roads, and family-friendly routes that connects communities across the region with a 250km ride.
Coppard added: “We’ve made roads and streets safer through better crossings and safer cycle lanes and we’ve supported community groups with measures like School Streets and safer speed limits where people live.
Over 150 groups which help get people walking in communities were celebrated in SouthYorksWalks, organised by the South Mayoral Combined Authority. The event took place over a weekend in September.
Putting his words into action, the Mayor showed his personal commitment to the program by either walking, running, or volunteering at South Yorkshire’s 12 park runs. The final park run at Penistone on December 14th was open to everyone and over 100 participants were able to claim a free limited edition t-shirt for their attendance.
Coppard said: “It’s been a pleasure to meet so many people over the last year who now have more choice about how they get around and how they can fit activity into their daily lives.
Coppard said: “I am always impressed by the communities and groups who champion active travel and who, every day, advocate for more from me and from others.”
The Year of Active Travel has aided with the creation of a new focus on walking, wheeling, and cycling strategy for South Yorkshire. This is currently being developed and will be published in 2025.
The plans will be to help children choose to walk, scoot, or bike to school and encourage healthy habits. Engagement with communities will be important to create healthier neighbourhoods and safer roads. This will give people more freedom in how they choose to travel.
Ed Clancy OBE, South Yorkshire’s Active Travel Commissioner, said: “There’s so much to celebrate about walking, wheeling and cycling in South Yorkshire. I’m inspired by the passion of our communities and partners making it easier for people to get moving and we’re just getting started.
Clancy added: “The new strategy we’re developing now will create safer, healthier neighbourhoods, giving children the choice to walk, scoot, or bike to school and connect people to opportunities.
Clancy said: “This ambition will be backed by behavioural science, community input and better infrastructure. I’m excited for what’s next. Let’s make South Yorkshire healthier, happier, and safer through active travel.”
Dr Jo Maher, an NHS GP in Wincobank, added: “As an urban GP, I’ve witnessed first-hand how the environment we live in provides us with ways to make healthy changes or denies opportunities in disadvantaged areas.
Maher added: “There is growing evidence for specific benefits of walking, wheeling and cycling for both mental and physical health: both from moving more and reducing social isolation.
Maher said: “Talking about being more active can make a real difference, too. One in four people with a long-term health condition take action to do so after speaking with their healthcare professional. We’re working hard to keep that conversation going in South Yorkshire through initiatives like the Year of Active Travel.”
South Yorkshire has been committed to active travel in the region, with the appointment of Ed Clancy to Commissioner of Active Travel signifying this.
