MAYOR OLIVER COPPARD JOINS ENGLAND’S MAYORS TO IMPROVE WALKING, WHEELING AND CYCLING

Published 2 July 2025 at 9:07am

 •    Mayor Oliver Coppard has committed to giving communities healthier, happier and better-connected travel choices in South Yorkshire

•    A joint statement from England’s Mayors, supported by the Transport Secretary and the National Active Travel Commissioner, pledges to deliver a national walking, wheeling and cycling network South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard has signed up to an ambitious pledge by England’s Mayors to create a new national walking, wheeling and cycling network that will help millions more people make happier, healthier and better-connected journeys.

The commitment would deliver new high-quality walking, wheeling and cycling routes to schools, the shops and workplaces across the region, giving communities more choice about how they travel.

Work that will be delivered in South Yorkshire includes:

•    A new South Yorkshire walking, wheeling and cycling strategy to be published in September setting out Mayor Oliver Coppard’s vision to create safer, healthier neighbourhoods for children and more routes to opportunities

•    A comprehensive programme for schools, building upon Mayor Oliver Coppard’s Walk and Wheel Challenge, which saw over 144 primary schools in South Yorkshire moving more and differently on the school run during Walk to School Week (19 - 23 May 2025).

•    Completion of our existing £160m programme of projects to help people choose to walk, wheel and cycle more including better crossings, better pavements, School Streets, cycle paths, walking and cycling community groups and e-bike loans. 

Joining a coalition of twelve of England’s Combined Authority Mayors, Mayor Coppard yesterday (1 July) attended a summit in York alongside West Yorkshire’s Tracy Brabin, York and North Yorkshire’s David Skaith, the North East’s Kim McGuinness, the West Midlands’ Richard Parker, Hull and East Yorkshire's Luke Campbell and the East Midlands’ Claire Ward. 

Mayor Coppard met with National Active Travel Commissioner, Chris Boardman, and the UK’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Sir Chris Whitty to kickstart the plans.

Greater Manchester’s Mayor Andy Burnham, Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotherham, Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Mayor Paul Bristow have also signed the pledge published today. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has also added his signature in support.

South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard, said:

"I want South Yorkshire to be the healthiest region in the country. That’s why I'm putting neighbourhoods and schools at the heart of our plans, to make our region the best place for children to walk, wheel and cycle. To give every child the best start in life.

"Our shared commitment as Mayors, that we’ve discussed with government, strengthens our ability to deliver the safer neighbourhoods, healthier journeys, and more routes to opportunities we need – to make South Yorkshire a wealthier, happier, healthier, and better connected place for everyone."

Collectively, Mayors have committed to delivering a national network of 3,500 miles of safe routes connecting housing to schools, providing routes to opportunities, and targeting neighbourhoods where health and air quality are poorest, helping to reduce stark health inequalities.

It aims to help residents in South Yorkshire and across England meet recommended activity levels, reducing risks of Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and depression while supporting the Government’s Plan for Change by easing pressure on the NHS and boosting growth.

National Active Travel Commissioner, Chris Boardman, said:

“Our regional leaders have today marked the start of an exciting chapter, by pledging to give people across the country more transport choice. We know that more walking, wheeling and cycling will improve our countries mental and physical health, but it will do much more; it’s the foundation for thriving integrated public transport networks, it increases access to work, boosting local economic growth and it will give millions of children more independence.

“People will only consider traveling actively if it is easy and safe. That’s what the Mayors have today pledged to do and that's why Government is backing them. It’s going to have a hugely positive impact on millions of people’s daily lives.”

The Local Transport Minister, Simon Lightwood, said:

"I know I am one of many who enjoy the physical and mental health benefits that come with walking or cycling to work or school.

"That's why this Government is investing £616m over the next four years, on top of £300m announced in February, to give more people around the country high quality and healthy ways to get around, and supporting Mayors' plans to create a joined up network.

"It is a key part of our Plan for Change, boosting local businesses, growing local economies and easing pressure on the NHS."

South Yorkshire’s Active Travel Commissioner, Ed Clancy, added: 

"Walking, wheeling, and cycling bring about countless benefits but safer streets, better connections to bus, tram and train, and more routes to opportunities are essential to making everyday journeys easier, healthier, and happier.

“Everyone deserves the freedom to choose how they get around - whether it’s walking, scooting, or cycling to school, the shops, the park, or work. For children especially, moving more and in different ways helps build lifelong healthy habits. That’s why the school run is at the heart of our plans for South Yorkshire.”

As part of the agreement the Mayors have committed to: 

1. Work with the Department for Transport, Active Travel England and local authorities to create a country-wide national walking, wheeling and cycling network, comprising of local networks that are safe and easy to use. This will give their regions’ 20 million residents access to high quality, safe routes in their communities.  

2. Transform the school run by delivering high-quality, safer routes in neighbourhoods nationwide.  

3. Boost regional integrated transport networks by giving people easy walking, wheeling and cycling access to buses, trams and trains which will link to new housing and support local economic growth. 

The initiative comes as recent research shows one in six early deaths could be prevented with regular moderate exercise. Meanwhile, a study from 2023/24 found that, in England, 35.8% of year 6 children were overweight or living with obesity, with 22.1% living with obesity. 

Chief Medical Officer Professor, Chris Whitty, said:  

"Increasing physical activity has health benefits across the life course. As part of this, we need to make walking and cycling more accessible, and safer, as well as access to green space easier and more equitable. This will help remove barriers to improving physical activity levels and could significantly improve the health of England's increasingly urban population." 

The first wave of improving active travel routes to schools will include the delivery of proven and popular schemes, including school streets, traffic calming measures, new crossings and well-maintained pavements.

Regional mayors will lead local implementation, selecting interventions that best fit their communities' needs and developing programmes to encourage active travel, such as walking and cycling buses for children.

The initiative aligns with the government's Plan for Change, focusing on prevention rather than cure by building health and wellbeing into everyday activities.

The programme will be delivered primarily using existing transport resources, with additional targeted investment from Active Travel England, improving efficiency by consolidating separate funding streams into a mission-focused approach.