Wednesday 22 October 2025 - Glow Ride

We took part in the national Cycling UK My Ride Our Right campaign with a women-only special ride from the city centre, down the new Active Travel Fund cycle lane and around part of the Green Ring.

The campaign is based on a Cycling UK study carried out in the spring, following up government figures that found that the increase in cycling by men had not been matched by increasing numbers of women cycling.  If women don't feel safe, they won't cycle.  Busy roads, aggressive driving, dark corners - to enable half the population to feel that cycling is an option, we need cycling conditions without these deterrents.  Oh, and male harassment we can also do without.

What needs to change?

• We need better networks of direct routes separated from traffic.
• We need to listen to women’s voices around the planning and design of routes, to make sure they work for them.
• We need better promotion of the new Highway Code, to foster more respect on our roads.
• Small things can make a big difference to women’s perceptions of safety – like improving lighting, reducing speed limits, and making sure cycle parking is in a good visible location.

The Glow Rides were held throughout the UK, more than 60 of them, on or near Wednesday 22 October. In St Albans, ten women gathered in Civic Close ready to glow.

We had a huge flag - just visible in the left of the picture above - and a rather splendid cycle-mounted 'feather', as well as stickers and some smaller flags.

If anything, our ride demonstrated that cycling after dark can be enjoyable - we set off after the rush hour and the roads were quiet.  We had bright lights and excellent reflectives.

Whilst it was a delight to ride in company, some sections of the Green Ring are very dark indeed: Verulamium Park and Everlasting Lane on our ride, and of course the Alban Way.  Another issue the ride highlighted was some of the junctions - we stayed on road from Branch Road across Verulam Road to Oysterfields, which is safer and smoother than twisting and turning off and on the footways at junctions.  The new cycle lane and signal-controlled crossing of London Road are great!

The weather forecast was not great, Storm Benjamin was coming our way, and when we felt the first spots of rain as we came up the Harpenden Road we split off for home from there, with five of us returning to the start point.

As cycle campaigners and advocates, we are have two seemingly conflicting arguments:  - Cycling is healthy, efficient and good for the economy and the environment, so cycle.

- But also - cycling is not as safe / does not feel as safe as it should.

It was a very enjoyable ride, with courteous and competent drivers.  And.... the leader experienced two close passes on her way to the start.  

So we will keep advocating for cycling and campaigning for safer conditions.

Here is the report of the national night of rides from Cycling UK: Cycling UK’s glow rides a huge success! | Cycling UK.