SOUTH YORKSHIRE RECOGNISED AS NATIONAL LEADER IN WALKING, WHEELING AND CYCLING

Published 11 December 2025 at 12:30am

South Yorkshire has been recognised as one of the top-performing regions in the country for walking, wheeling and cycling, after being awarded Level 3 status in Active Travel England’s latest capability ratings. 
 
The new rating places South Yorkshire among just a handful of authorities nationally to demonstrate strong leadership, a growing capacity, and ongoing commitment to increasing numbers of people choosing to walk, wheel or cycle. 
 
It means South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) is well placed to benefit from future support for walking, wheeling and cycling projects in the region, and unlock nearly £17 million of further funding from SYMCA’s Integrated Settlement from Government. 

South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard, said: 

“I want South Yorkshire to be the healthiest region in the country, and that means making it easier, safer and more welcoming for everyone to walk, wheel and cycle. That’s especially important for our children - every child deserves to feel safe walking to school, and every parent should feel confident their child can enjoy playing outside. 
 
“Our plan goes beyond just transport – it’s about boosting health, creating opportunities; giving everyone genuine freedom and choice about how we travel and move. Every journey begins in our communities, on our streets, with our own feet or even on wheels.  
 
“Active Travel England’s ratings celebrate the progress we’re making in South Yorkshire. Achieving a Level 3 rating is a brilliant demonstration of what we can accomplish when we work together. It celebrates how far we’ve come and recognises the power and value of our vision: to make South Yorkshire not just healthier and happier, but the very best place in the country to walk, wheel and cycle for kids.”
 
The announcement comes as South Yorkshire continues to collectively build on a strong foundation of projects designed to improve journeys and give people more choice in how they travel - including more than 88 kilometres of new routes, over 250 new or better crossings, and helping thousands of adults and children feel confident walking, wheeling, or cycling.  
 
Strong delivery by South Yorkshire’s councils also helped secure the Combined Authority’s rating, with highlights including Barnsley’s popular Beat the Street game, Doncaster’s 43 kilometres of new walking, wheeling and cycling routes, Rotherham’s community support through the Journey Matters hub, and Sheffield’s investment in multiple School Streets.  

Ed Clancy OBE, South Yorkshire’s Active Lives Commissioner, said:  

"I’ve spoken to hundreds of people who want what I wanted as a kid – the freedom to walk to school, ride a bike and play outside safely. That shouldn’t be too much to ask. This Level 3 rating proves we’re on the right track.  

“Our focus now is creating safer neighbourhoods and routes to opportunity, so everyone – regardless of age, ability or income – can choose to walk, wheel or cycle. Thanks to the hard work of our local partners, we’re building a South Yorkshire where every journey starts with confidence and ends in opportunity." 
 
South Yorkshire’s ambitious new Walking, Wheeling and Cycling Strategy is the first of its kind in the UK - underpinned by a strong focus on community engagement, it sets out a twin-track approach to build safer
The Level 3 rating reflects South Yorkshire’s progress in: 

• Embedding active travel into local transport and planning policy 
• Delivering a growing network of safe, accessible routes 
• Supporting communities to choose walking, wheeling and cycling through engagement and education 

Active Travel England’s capability ratings assess local areas on leadership, planning and delivery on a scale from 0 to 4. While most areas remain at Level 1 or 2, South Yorkshire’s upgrade to Level 3 signals a step change in ambition and delivery - unlocking £17 million additional investment to accelerate projects that make the region healthier, wealthier, happier and the best place to walk, wheel and cycle.