This document was sent to Leigh Bramall, Cabinet member for Transport and the Environment, on his appointment in the new Labour administration following 2011 elections.

Congratulations to Labour for winning back control of Sheffield council. Recent Transport policies have not we feel worked well for Sheffielders, resulting in longer traffic jams, slower and more expensive buses, poorer conditions for walkers and cyclists, high road casualties, meanwhile air pollution, obesity and heart problems remain major causes for concern in our city.

We know that the new administration will be operating under severe budget restraints, but there are some measures the council can take that are low-cost and represent excellent value for money. Here’s what we would like to see done:-

1) A default 20mph limit on all residential streets in the city. The Previous Administration supported this but they devolved the decision to the Community Assemblies who didn’t have the budget to do it properly. Let’s see a programme to roll this out city-wide – it has been proved to be the most cost effective measure to improve road safety and encourage people to walk, cycle and use public transport. It doesn’t require expensive and unpopular speed bumps – just put the signs up, and then deal with problem areas as they arise.

2) PFI For Sheffield Roads Whatever the views about the PFI concept, the plans are well advanced, so lets crack on and give all road users a better quality environment for their journeys.

3) Bus Quality Contract. We need to do something about the crazy situation where different operators are chasing each other up and down the busy corridor with half-empty buses while the housing estates are poorly served. Let’s get this in place and then see what we can do to get back to the situation we had in the ‘70s, where taking the bus was the obvious option for most journeys. Recognise that buses need priority measures to get past the traffic at peak times. Alongside the Bus quality contract should be a requirement to provide truly integrated transport – this means for example being able to take a bike on the tram and on some bus routes as well as trains, and availability of hire bikes, possibly e-bikes or folders, at public transport interchanges for the onward journey.

4) Support for Cycling. Sheffielders have been voting with their pedals and taking to their bikes in droves. However, the current policy of putting in on-road bike lanes and advanced stop lines on roads, although useful in some locations, has failed in others where they are routinely ignored by motorists. Let’s see properly designed, properly maintained continental-style cycle tracks alongside major road corridors, and off the main roads the 20mph limit would make cycling a much safer and more realistic option for all. Restore free cycling training for adults, which costs peanuts.

5) Support for Walking. Walking  is such an obvious way to get around that it often gets ignored. Pedestrians do need a safe environment, with lower road speeds, safe places to cross roads and well-lit pavements at night. This is very cheap to provide and delivers huge benefits.  Motorists need to be told in no uncertain terms that it is unacceptable to park your car on the pavement.

6) An end to tokenist ‘please the motorist’ schemes. We don’t need these bonkers electioneering ideas like taking out bus lanes on Ecclesall Rd or tinkering with Moorhead.
A proper transport strategy will allow for people who really need to use their motor vehicles, whilst maintaining a safe environment for all road users and pedestrians.

7) Taxis. Taxis are a key enabler for many people, plugging the gaps that public transport fails to fill, and we commend the fact that black cabs will carry bikes, unlike buses and trams. However, there is an over concentration of taxis in parts of Sheffield and this is causing problems for other road users. In particular, taxis are blocking cycle and bus lanes when queuing for trade, and routinely ignore cycle lanes and Advanced Stop Lanes. The taxi sector needs to be properly regulated and drivers should be given Free Cycle Awareness lessons.

We will look forward to an opportunity to discuss these measures with the new Cabinet member with responsibility for Roads and Transport.