Women’s Freedom Ride aims to make cycling safe and inviting

On Sunday 3 March hundreds of women across London will make their way to Lincoln’s Inn Fields to take part in an event which aims to make the roads “safe and inviting enough for all people who identify as women and non-binary to cycle”.

Organised by the London Cycling Campaign Women’s Network, the event is billed as a fun, family-friendly, fully-led protest ride and tour of Central London, taking in Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square and The Mall in front of Buckingham Palace.

As part of the event a petition will be handed to London’s cycling and walking commissioner Will Norman calling for improved conditions for women to cycle.

“We want to see riding a bike made safe, easy and convenient for women of all ages, backgrounds and abilities, across the whole city,” say the organisers.

“In 2023, we surveyed over 1,000 women about their experiences cycling in London and the responses were shocking. Nine in 10 of the women surveyed had faced abuse from other road users while cycling. We received countless reports of harassment, aggression and even physical and sexual assault.

“Being able to get around safely, cheaply and independently can be life-changing, yet for far too many women, the environment is simply too hostile to choose to cycle.

“Therefore we are calling on the Mayor to make London a city where any woman can cycle safely.”

Women’s Freedom Ride. Starts at 12.30pm, Sunday 3 March 2024 from 44 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London WC2A 2ES. Ride finishes back at Lincoln’s Inn Fields at 1.45pm. Before the start: There are fully-led feeder rides from all across London to help you cycle to the start point safely and in good company. There is a feeder ride starting from outside 30 Cleveland Street in Fitzrovia at 11.15am.