Councillors have heard the number of cyclists in the South Yorkshire city is up almost 30% since 2019<\/p>\n
Cllr Ben Miskell, chair of Sheffield City Council’s transport, regeneration and climate policy committeeAuthor: Julia Armstrong, Local Democracy Reporting ServicePublished 1 hour ago
Last updated 1 hour ago<\/p>\n
A leading Sheffield councillor has defended the authority\u2019s policy of investing to encourage cycling, saying it eases traffic congestion and is showing \u201cbig results\u201d.<\/p>\n
Coun Glynis Chapman spoke at the July meeting of the council\u2019s planning and highways committee, when four schemes to help cyclists negotiate city roads were approved. She asked figures the council had to prove that cycling has increased. <\/p>\n
Coun Ben Miskell, chair of the transport, regeneration and climate policy committee, said: \u201cIf we\u2019re serious about tackling congestion in this city, we need to improve public transport \u2014 bus franchising from 2027 will help, alongside plans to expand the tram network. <\/p>\n
\u201cBut we also have to face the fact that 60% of journeys between 1-2 miles are still made by car, which adds to congestion. In many parts of Sheffield, we simply don\u2019t have the space to keep widening roads. That means shifting to more space-efficient modes of transport for shorter journeys, where possible. <\/p>\n
\u201cA great example of this is the school run, where we want to get more children walking \u2014 to improve their health and give them and their families more independence as well as tackle congestion on our roads. <\/p>\n
\u201cFor too long, busy roads have been difficult to cross and there hasn\u2019t been enough investment in safe cycling infrastructure. We\u2019re changing that. <\/p>\n
\u201cThis investment is already making a difference. The number of people cycling in Sheffield rose by 28% in 2024 compared to 2019\u2014and we\u2019re not stopping there. <\/p>\n
\u201cWalking and cycling options are now being built into all our transport projects, with work underway not just in the city centre but further afield in places like Magna and Tinsley, connecting communities with high-quality, joined-up infrastructure. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s another important point too: the money we receive from government for active travel projects can\u2019t legally be redirected to support other pressures like homelessness or adult social care. It must be used to improve walking and cycling. <\/p>\n
\u201cIf we don\u2019t use it, then it goes elsewhere and I think it\u2019s entirely right that we seize the opportunity to make lasting improvements to how people get around our city. <\/p>\n
\u201cUltimately, this work opens up access to more opportunities for people, improves health, and will save time by tackling congestion. It\u2019s also showing big results in the city already.\u201d<\/p>\n