| Summer of Cycling: Mayor unveils new measures to support cycling across South Yorkshire |
South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard has announced a new 250km bike route, South Yorkshire by Bike, designed to encourage communities to get involved in the fun and freedom of cycling. Part of South Yorkshire’s ‘Summer of Cycling’, the new route will visit every corner of South Yorkshire, highlighting heritage and cultural sites. It will have easy to manage sections that are family friendly and fun to complete. Triple Olympic champion Ed Clancy, South Yorkshire’s Active Travel Commissioner, and Emily Chappell, cycling hero and campaigner who designed the route, will be riding the 250km circuit over three days this weekend and the route will be published after this ride. Ed Clancy will be using one of South Yorkshire’s 130 new e-bikes, funded by Active Travel England, which will extend the existing free e-bike loan scheme across the county. Mayor Coppard and Active Travel Commissioner, Ed Clancy, revealed the plans before opening the Sheffield Grand Prix with a family friendly ‘Rock Up & Ride’ circuit at 5pm, 17 July, ahead of the main elite cycle race. Oliver Coppard, South Yorkshire’s Mayor, said: “This is a cycling summer in South Yorkshire. We have elite cyclists and enthusiastic amateurs taking part in the Sheffield Grand Prix and Rock Up and Ride, and the Tour of Britain is arriving in September. “We’re extending our e-bike loan scheme to every local authority and we’re building more and better infrastructure to make cycling easier and safer. “And to further celebrate and promote what we have to offer, we are now developing South Yorkshire by Bike; a new 250km route taking in every corner of South Yorkshire, showing off the best of our landscapes, our landmarks and our communities.” Half a million pounds has been allocated to help South Yorkshire become a national leader in its e-bikes offer to residents. Over 130 new e-bikes will provide free e-cycle loan schemes across the community. They will extend South Yorkshire’s e-bike fleet to over 200, making it one of the biggest in the country. Ed Clancy, South Yorkshire’s Active Travel Commissioner, said: “A big part of my mission to help people to walk, wheel or cycle more is providing the skills, confidence and the right environment to give it a go. That includes more e-bike loans, bike training and repairs in the community, and building new cycle lanes. “It’s also about getting more people excited about the fun and freedom of cycling by showcasing the best South Yorkshire has to offer. That ranges from the Year of Active Travel and family-friendly South Yorkshire by Bike routes, through to hosting well-established events that communities can get involved in, like the Sheffield Grand Prix and Tour of Britain. “On my South Yorkshire by Bike ride I’ll be visiting some of the best places for short, easy bike rides, taking in industrial heritage, cultural attractions and green spaces. I’ll also be meeting the brilliant people and volunteers, who work tirelessly helping people get walking, wheeling and cycling more in our communities, along the way. “It’s gearing up to be an exciting summer of cycling in South Yorkshire and I hope it will help people to get involved and get out on a bike too.” Following the Sheffield Grand Prix and South Yorkshire by Bike, the ‘Summer of Cycling’ continues with the Tour of Britain in September. Stage 3 will take place across South Yorkshire, starting in Sheffield and ending in Barnsley. The South Yorkshire by Bike route will be released following Ed and Emily’s ride at www.southyorkshire-ca.gov.uk/sybb
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Summer of Cycling: Mayor unveils new measures to support cycling across South Yorkshire
