Our London office is delighted to announce the appointment of its new Head of National Cycle Network (NCN) in London, Kelly Clark.
In the newly created post, Kelly will lead Sustrans’ work to ensure the NCN in the capital meets the priorities set out in the charity’s vision, Paths for Everyone: places for walking, cycling and wheeling that are safe and accessible for everyone.
Kelly will work closely with partners including Transport for London (TfL), The Greater London Authority, Boroughs, Managing Authorities, Funders, Volunteers and others to make it easier for everyone to enjoy the Network where it is already great and improve those sections that aren’t yet good enough.
Kelly has most recently headed up the Neighbourhoods and Networks team in London and led Sustrans’ work as TfL’s delivery agent for their Quietways programme (now called Cycleways). Her team worked with TfL and 31 Boroughs and Managing Authorities on 36 routes, completing 233 schemes and opening 7 new routes across the capital.
Prior to joining Sustrans, Kelly worked in the Transport and Logistics sector for ten years as a consultant working on the bus, rail and supply chain; and planning and delivering transport services for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Kelly is part of the Part W collective - an action group of women working across architecture and design, infrastructure and construction and campaigning for gender parity across the built environment.
Kelly is passionate about the role the National Cycle Network can play in London and said:
“We want to make it easy for people to find great stress-free routes and places close by to explore, gain confidence and stumble upon interesting places and special green spaces.
She added:
“My toddler loves to ride on the back of my bike, and my mum uses an electric bike as a mobility scooter as she can’t comfortably walk.
"Our favourite days out involve us being able to wheel out from home and explore interesting places and green spaces.
"A great day out for us is easily ruined by scary roads, barriers we can’t get through or surfaces we don’t feel safe riding on. It also takes a lot of local knowledge to be confident you have a good safe route.
"I want to make it much easier for people from all walks of life to get out for local stress-free adventures”.
Director of Sustrans in London, Matt Winfield, said:
“I’m delighted that Kelly brings her deep knowledge of managing major cycle infrastructure schemes in London and passion to make cycling accessible for everyone to the new role of Head of National Cycle Network.
"London’s approach to designing and delivering good quality cycling and walking infrastructure has moved on in leaps and bounds in recent years, and we are very proud of the role Sustrans has played in this.
"London’s National Cycle Network is a vital part of the mix, alongside TfL’s Cycleways and Liveable Neighbourhoods in the boroughs, to enable Londoners to change how we get about, improve our wellbeing and clean up our toxic air”.