South Yorkshire Safer Roads Partnership
News
01 Apr 2024
£4.8M CASH BOOST FOR ACTIVE TRAVEL
South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) has successfully secured a total of £4.86m from the government agency, Active Travel England, for high-quality walking, wheeling and cycling routes that will benefit people in South Yorkshire.
£3.36 million of £3.9 million worth of schemes asked for from the Active Travel Fund 4 Extension funding has been secured which will transform walking, wheeling and cycling routes in the region.
Nearly £1 million from the Capability Fund has been allocated for South Yorkshire for bike hire, training and maintenance schemes, with SYMCA securing nearly double what it got last year. The aim of the Fund is to support the development of infrastructure plans and community engagement and training initiatives.
Half a million has also been allocated to help South Yorkshire become a national leader in its e-bikes offer to residents with a pilot for a free e-cycle loan scheme. SYMCA is one of only a handful of authorities in England to receive this funding.
This funding has provided a welcome boost to the region in support of its plans to ease congestion, transform the school run, create healthier communities and better places.
South Yorkshire’s Active Travel Commissioner, Ed Clancy, said: “It’s my priority to make sure that everyone who wants to walk, wheel and cycle feels confident and safe enough to do so. I want to break down the barriers that are limiting people using healthier travel choices.
“A huge part of that is making sure we have high-quality cycle routes that separate bikes from cars on the roads as much as possible, making walking safer by building new paths and better crossings, and working closely with local people to help them have better choices when it comes to walking, wheeling and cycling.
“E-bikes are a potential game-changer for those who are not currently physically active. Active Travel England’s funding will help us build on the transformative plans we are already taking forward to create a revised strategic vision for walking, wheeling and cycling in South Yorkshire with real people at the heart of our new network plan.”
South Yorkshire’s winning schemes will improve the walking environment in Burngreave, Sheffield, deliver a new segregated cycle route on Bawtry Road in Doncaster, and improve walking, wheeling and cycling routes to schools in Athersley and Bolton Upon Dearne in Barnsley.
SYMCA is working with Active Travel England (ATE) in order for local ambitions to be realised in further rounds of funding.
£3.36 million of £3.9 million worth of schemes asked for from the Active Travel Fund 4 Extension funding has been secured which will transform walking, wheeling and cycling routes in the region.
Nearly £1 million from the Capability Fund has been allocated for South Yorkshire for bike hire, training and maintenance schemes, with SYMCA securing nearly double what it got last year. The aim of the Fund is to support the development of infrastructure plans and community engagement and training initiatives.
Half a million has also been allocated to help South Yorkshire become a national leader in its e-bikes offer to residents with a pilot for a free e-cycle loan scheme. SYMCA is one of only a handful of authorities in England to receive this funding.
This funding has provided a welcome boost to the region in support of its plans to ease congestion, transform the school run, create healthier communities and better places.
South Yorkshire’s Active Travel Commissioner, Ed Clancy, said: “It’s my priority to make sure that everyone who wants to walk, wheel and cycle feels confident and safe enough to do so. I want to break down the barriers that are limiting people using healthier travel choices.
“A huge part of that is making sure we have high-quality cycle routes that separate bikes from cars on the roads as much as possible, making walking safer by building new paths and better crossings, and working closely with local people to help them have better choices when it comes to walking, wheeling and cycling.
“E-bikes are a potential game-changer for those who are not currently physically active. Active Travel England’s funding will help us build on the transformative plans we are already taking forward to create a revised strategic vision for walking, wheeling and cycling in South Yorkshire with real people at the heart of our new network plan.”
South Yorkshire’s winning schemes will improve the walking environment in Burngreave, Sheffield, deliver a new segregated cycle route on Bawtry Road in Doncaster, and improve walking, wheeling and cycling routes to schools in Athersley and Bolton Upon Dearne in Barnsley.
SYMCA is working with Active Travel England (ATE) in order for local ambitions to be realised in further rounds of funding.
