I won’t be able to come along on Thursday 22 October to witness families, women and riders of all ages lighting up Bath’s streets for a ‘glow ride’, because I will be away on holiday.
However, I am pleased to publicise the event – one of over 60 taking place across the UK on the same evening to call for safer and more inclusive cycling infrastructure for women.
Bath has some lovely traffic-free routes, such as the riverside and railway paths, which are perfect for leisure rides in daylight. After dark, though, they become far less practical for everyday journeys like getting to work, school or to see friends, and many women tell us that is exactly when they stop cycling. This is your chance to hear from local people about why that happens and what would change it.
Surveys show that women are more likely than men to be put off cycling by concerns about busy traffic, and more likely to say that direct, separated cycle routes would encourage them to cycle.
The event:
- A striking evening visual: lots of bikes decked out in lights, glow sticks and bright clothing gathering in Orange Grove, against the backdrop of Bath Abbey, before riding together through the city.
- Different types of cycles: tricycles, tandems, cargo bikes, e-bikes and children on their own bikes, showing that cycling in Bath is for everyone (children accompanied by an adult).
- The route: [Brief description of the route and any good photo points along the way].
- People to speak to:
- Mayor of Bath, Cllr Ruth Malloy
- Chair of BANES Council, Cllr Shaun Stephenson-McGall
- Saskia Heijltjes, organiser with Kidical Mass Bath and BANES Councillor and Member Advocate for Active Travel in Bath
- Pete Dyson, Bicycle Mayor of Bath
- Local women and parents taking part, who can talk about their own experiences of cycling in the city after dark.
- A local angle on a national campaign: a Bath story tied into a coordinated night of action in over 60 towns and cities across the UK.
- Free and open to all: registration is encouraged, but drop-ins are very welcome.
https://bbr.cyclinguk.org/Events/Details/?id=b42386a8-5c9c-f111-b8dc-7c1e522f3407
Why it matters
The ride in Bath is organised by Kidical Mass Bath, a community group that runs family-friendly group rides calling for safer streets for cycling, and is one of many ‘glow rides’ taking place in towns and cities across the UK on 22 October. Glow rides are organised by local communities who are calling on politicians to engage with Cycling UK’s demands for safer cycling conditions for women and greater investment in routes that work for everyone.
The rides, lighting up streets across the country with bike lights, glow sticks and vibrant clothing, are part of the charity’s campaign My Ride. Our Right, which revealed how intimidating behaviour from drivers, poor infrastructure and fears over safety are putting more women in the UK off cycling than men, especially on dark evenings.
Saskia Heijltjes, Chair of Kidical Mass Bath, said:
“Bath’s off-road paths are a joy on a sunny Saturday, but on a dark weekday evening many women simply don’t feel safe using them, and the alternative is often a busy main road without safe cycling infrastructure. That means women are giving up cycling for half the year, just when they need it most for getting to work, picking up children or getting home. We want routes that feel safe and direct at any time of day, for everyone. The glow ride is a joyful way to make that point: we’re lighting up the streets to show that people want to ride here, all year round.”
“In July 2021, councillors from every group backed a cross-party motion committing the council to protect women and girls from violence and harassment, to build that principle into all council strategies and to make public spaces safer. Safe cycle routes after dark are part of delivering on that, and this ride is a positive, visible way to show our continued support.”
