Project Director: Stephen Parkes
Project Duration: 2020-2021

In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Sheffield City Council (SCC) and Lancashire County Council (LCC) implemented road-space reallocation measures to facilitate social distancing and increase levels of active travel in the post-lockdown landscape. These adaptations addressed road-space capacity issues for non-vehicle users along key commuter routes and were seen as an important element of the creation of a ‘climate-smart’ recovery and support the longer-term goal of de-carbonising transport.

This study – funded by the DecarboN8 Network – involved a collaboration between Sheffield Hallam University, the University of Central Lancashire, and the respective local authorities to evaluate the impacts of the road-space reallocation programmes. The study critically evaluated these two diverse areas, which were in varying states of preparedness for a rapid uptake in active travel. For example, Sheffield – as part of the wider city region – had already undertaken considerable work prior to the pandemic to encourage higher levels of active travel and in Lancashire it was almost a decade since the introduction of 20mph zones in residential areas across the county but progress had since stalled.

The study used a combination of online data collection techniques over a 12-month period to gather longitudinal data on travel behaviour, attitudes to active travel and the use of the temporary road-space reallocation measures.

The project team included Richard Weston (University of Central Lancashire) and Mary Lawler (University of Central Lancashire).

The final report from the project is available, along with a poster summarising the project (PDF, 2.2MB).