Nicola Marshall has been named as South Yorkshire’s Active Travel Programme Director.
Working alongside Mayor Oliver Coppard and Active Travel Commissioner, Ed Clancy, Nicola will drive ambitions to make walking, wheeling and cycling the first choice for everyday trips in South Yorkshire and lead on the development of the region’s cycling and walking network.
With over 20 years’ experience at organisations including Cycling UK and Save the Children, Nicola has worked across multiple charity and sports sectors to empower individuals, families and communities. Leading the Sweaty Betty Foundation – the corporate charity of the activewear brand, Sweaty Betty – Nicola’s most recent role specifically supported women and girls to get active, and stay active, for life.
Nicola said: “I’m incredibly excited about the opportunity to make South Yorkshire the best place to walk and cycle in the UK. I passionately want my toddler to grow up thinking the first choice for every journey is on his feet, a scooter, or a bike. Creating safe places to walk and cycle is a brilliant start, but we also need to actively support people to choose to get on their feet or their bike.
“I love being active, but I know as a mum with limited time it often feels easier to jump in the car. My job will be about building on the amazing opportunities that are already out there in our region and supporting communities with what can, sometimes, be tricky challenges around choosing active travel. I can’t wait to start making it easy and cost effective for thousands more people to cycle and walk more every day, helping make South Yorkshire a better place to live.”
Nicola will join South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority on 1 August to support delivery of the region’s Active Travel Implementation Plan for over 1000km of walking and cycling routes, 800m of safe crossings and 230 sq. km. of low traffic neighbourhoods across the region by 2040.
