Sheffield adds post-lockdown pedestrian and cycle areas

Sheffield Council has put in a rainbow pedestrian crossing and street armchairs with false grass in one of the new city centre active travel schemes

A road in Sheffield city centre has been closed to cars to encourage pedestrians and cyclists and to make more room for social distancing.

The city council said the work was part of wanting to accelerate "active travel" schemes.

A rainbow crossing has been painted on Pinstone Street, which also has street armchairs, planters and false grass.

Other measures tested over the summer have included pedestrianised zones and a cycle lane on the ring road.

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Other "active travel" schemes include:

• Widening pavements and pedestrianising part of Division Street shopping area

• A "pop-up" cycle lane over several weeks along Shalesmoor ring road

• A "low-traffic neighbourhood" in Kelham Island residential area to benefit walkers and cyclists

The council said it "wanted to help people to travel on foot and by bike".

"Pinstone Street was originally pedestrianised temporarily, using emergency active travel funds, to create space for social distancing as businesses reopened and people returned to the city centre," it said in a statement.

"We took the decision to make the area more accessible and attractive as it became apparent that social distancing would be needed for some time."

Shops in Broomhill started a petition against the removal of free parking spaces to allow for temporary pavement widening

Businesses had mixed views about the works, some saying they like the "café culture" created by wider pavements and others saying it hit trade.

Jill Srusciante, of BBs Italian restaurant on Division Street, said it gave a "continental feel" to summer evenings.

In Broomhill, where parking was covered to allow pavement widening, businesses said it made trade "even harder".

Martin Greaves, of Williamson Hardware, said: "Things are bad enough for us with Covid-19, now people who used to pop in can't do that.

"The council say it's temporary although it looks pretty permanent."

Pinstone Street was initially closed to traffic in June using red and white water-filled barriers which have been replaced with fixtures such as planters

The council said future plans include more temporary lanes and pedestrian zones, and accelerating the Grey to Green project linking the city centre with routes such as the Five Weirs Walk, Canal Towpath and Upper Don Trail.

The council said some schemes "worked better than others" but feedback would be taken into consideration with future plans.

National sustainable travel charity Sustrans welcomed the measures and said the schemes were "well-designed for safer, healthier streets, and a more attractive, relaxing outdoor space".

It said Sheffield had "huge potential to develop low-traffic neighbourhoods linked to urban corridors" so people can travel short local journeys from home by bike or on foot.