South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority: Walking, Wheeling and Cycling Strategy

South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority has developed a region-wide Walking, Wheeling and Cycling Strategy designed to give residents greater choice in how they move and to make active travel safer, more accessible and better integrated with public transport. The strategy outlines a long-term vision, mission and outcomes framework, backed by community engagement and detailed evidence analysis. It aims to create safer neighbourhoods, address health inequalities and provide connected routes to opportunities. The strategy positions active travel as essential for improving wellbeing and supporting South Yorkshire’s ambition to become the healthiest region in the country.

South Yorkshire faces entrenched barriers to walking, wheeling and cycling, including inconsistent and inaccessible infrastructure, concerns about personal safety, and therefore limited choice in the way people can travel. Disabled residents and seldom-heard groups have historically felt excluded from transport planning, highlighting the need for more inclusive engagement approaches. These challenges are compounded by significant health inequalities and limited transport options that restrict access to employment, education and essential services. SYMCA recognised that these issues are both practical and cultural, with poor health outcomes and limited travel choice constraining regional prosperity.

SYMCA delivered a multi‑phase programme to develop a comprehensive strategy grounded in robust evidence and meaningful regional engagement. Working alongside local authority partners and guided by the mayor, the team carried out an extensive co‑design process that included workshops, focus groups, surveys and targeted outreach to groups whose experiences are often under-represented in transport planning. This included disabled residents, women of South Asian heritage - who were engaged specifically to understand the cultural, social and safety barriers that shape their travel choices - and small business owners. A network of Community Champions is being created to sustain long‑term involvement across communities. Structured thematic analysis of all engagement data helped define the strategy’s priorities and outcomes. The resulting strategy sets out a clear vision, mission and six outcomes to 2035, combining infrastructure improvements with behavioural and community‑focused initiatives, supported by network maps illustrating both current programmes and desired active travel routes through to 2045.

The strategy has provided South Yorkshire with a unified regional direction for active travel, enabling shared investment planning and delivery. It strengthens the region’s ambition to become the healthiest in the country by supporting more active daily travel, helping address health inequalities and reducing dependence on cars. Engagement produced a detailed assessment of community needs, improving understanding of barriers and aspirations. This collaborative approach shifted the region towards designing transport projects with communities. The strategy supports modal shift by integrating active travel with public transport and positions the region to maximise future transport funding opportunities.

SYMCA is progressing into the delivery phase, embedding co-design through the continued use of Community Champions and ongoing engagement with residents. Monitoring, evaluation and research are built directly into the strategy to track progress towards outcomes set for 2035. The strategy’s combination of infrastructure improvements with behavioural programmes supports sustained cultural and practical shifts in travel behaviour, aligned with long-term network planning and funding cycles.

The development process demonstrated the importance of early, sustained and inclusive engagement. Involving seldom-heard groups revealed insights that strengthened the strategy and ensured it reflected lived experience. Combining infrastructure improvements with behavioural interventions produced more impactful and lasting change. Establishing a clear vision and outcomes early improved collaboration across partners, while framing active travel as a public health issue resonated strongly and strengthened support.