Mayor Dan Jarvis' “Ditch the car” plea in drive for a cleaner South Yorkshire

CITY REGION Mayor Dan Jarvis and chamipion Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey have launched a new drive to go green when it comes to choosing transport.
From left to right are: British Cycling's policy advisor Chris Boardman, Yorkshire editor at The Business Desk Kayley Worsley who chaired the discussion, Clive Betts MP, reader in transport at the University of Westminster, Dr Rachel Aldred, member of Sheffield City Region Youth Combined Authority, Simran Uppal, chairman of Transport for the North, John Cridland, active travel commissioner for Sheffield City Region Dame Sarah Storey, and professor of sports engineering at Sheffield Hallam University, Steve Haake. 190670From left to right are: British Cycling's policy advisor Chris Boardman, Yorkshire editor at The Business Desk Kayley Worsley who chaired the discussion, Clive Betts MP, reader in transport at the University of Westminster, Dr Rachel Aldred, member of Sheffield City Region Youth Combined Authority, Simran Uppal, chairman of Transport for the North, John Cridland, active travel commissioner for Sheffield City Region Dame Sarah Storey, and professor of sports engineering at Sheffield Hallam University, Steve Haake. 190670
From left to right are: British Cycling's policy advisor Chris Boardman, Yorkshire editor at The Business Desk Kayley Worsley who chaired the discussion, Clive Betts MP, reader in transport at the University of Westminster, Dr Rachel Aldred, member of Sheffield City Region Youth Combined Authority, Simran Uppal, chairman of Transport for the North, John Cridland, active travel commissioner for Sheffield City Region Dame Sarah Storey, and professor of sports engineering at Sheffield Hallam University, Steve Haake. 190670

Pledging to make travel provisions across South Yorkshire “fit for the 21st century”, Mr Jarvis said he was bidding to secure substantial government funds in order to achieve it. 

The Mayor outlined plans to improve travel across Rotherham and the rest of the region at his first transport conference at the New York Stadium held last Thursday (May 9). 

Speaking to a packed room of transport, business, academic and health experts as well as running and cycling groups, Mr Jarvis said travel in South Yorkshire “needed to change” and stressed “the default daily commute shouldn’t be a car”. 

Transport was a key feature in connecting people and places, driving growth and productivity, tackling air pollution and improving health, he said, calling for more resources to be ploughed into public transport and for people to get on their bike or walk more often.

“I’ve made transport my personal priority and I’m pleased we’ve begun progress to make travel across South Yorkshire fit for the 21st century,” said Mr Jarvis.

Britain’s most successful paralympian, Dame Sarah has been named as the region’s active travel commissioner and said the topic had become a “real passion” for her. 

“I’m working to help more people get out of their cars and choose walking or cycling when going out on smaller journeys,” Mrs Storey said.

“Not everyone is going to be an elite athlete, but we can all enjoy being more active — which also helps reduce the strain on our health service.”

Mr Jarvis said he was working with Transport for the North to deliver a bold new transport strategy.

Its aims include residents being able to walk, cycle, drive or use public transport from their home to their nearest town centre in no more than 15 minutes, transport links enabling travel between the centres of Rotherham, Barnsley, Doncaster and Sheffield in less than 30 minutes and journey times to major cities in the north, including Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham and Hull of no more than 75 minutes.

John Cridland, chairman of Transport for the North, highlighted revealed the stark reality of the region’s economic state, pointing out how the average Northerner is “£5,000 poorer” compared to those in the South.

He called on the Government to redress the balance and bring much-needed funding to the north. 

Mr Jarvis said next steps included a bid to the £200 million Transforming Cities Fund.