Cycle Islington joined campaign group London Cycling in a Women’s Freedom Ride event earlier this month, with bikers calling on the Mayor to improve women’s safety ahead of International Womens Day.
This year’s ride had cyclists coming from all over London, circuiting around Central London areas including Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square. The Freedom Ride was in response to an alarming report by London Cycling Campaign [LCC] Women’s Network released in January, which stated that less than a third of London’s daily cycling trips are made by women.
The report indicated that abusive and aggressive behaviour against women was a significant reason why they chose not to cycle, with 93% of respondents saying that drivers had used their vehicles in an intimidating manner while they were cycling. What is perhaps even more shocking is that these incidents have caused one in five women to give up cycling either temporarily or permanently.
The lack of adequate cycle routes was also highlighted as a major barrier to cycling for women. Only 15% of those surveyed believed their London borough provided a local cycle network that met their needs.
Islington Now spoke to Rachael Swynnerton, an Islington-resident and volunteer for LCC Women’s Network. “I think there has been quite a lot of emotion and shock about the statistics that came out this year,” she said. “The Freedom Ride was joyful, but it was mainly about standing up for our right to feel safe because this [the statistics] is just unacceptable.”
“We want more women to join us and make our voices heard loudly and clearly,” Swynnerton added, “because it isn’t right for women to feel unsafe whilst cycling.”
This was the second year Cycle Islington participated in LCC’s freedom ride. While the first year was a “celebration of women” who loved cycling in the city, this year the organisation embarked on the fight for safe cycling for women.
