17 Oct 2026
A group of female cyclists are taking part in a free night ride around St Albans Green Ring to highlight the urgent need for safer and more inclusive cycling infrastructure for women.
The St Albans Glow Ride is organised by South Herts CTC and is one of many similar events taking place in various UK towns and cities on October 22. Glow Rides aim to encourage local politicians to engage with Cycling UK’s demands for safer cycling conditions for women and greater investment in routes that works for everyone.
The rides, which involve lighting up streets 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 deterring more women in the UK from cycling compared with men, especially during dark evenings.
Local organiser Rona Wightman explained: “I have been a Cycling UK member since I was a teenager, and have been leading women-only rides with the local Cycling UK group, South Herts CTC, since 2007. Cycling UK research found that the biggest group of people not cycling but who wanted to cycle comprised women over 50 who had cycled when they were younger but been off the bike for a while.
“The Glow Rides address the factors that put women in particular off cycling. Perception is the right word, if women do not feel safe, they will not choose to cycle.
“One aspect is infrastructure, and blind corners and a feeling of being hemmed in make you instinctively nervous. I would praise SADC for their care of the Alban Way and other routes, keeping it feeling open, with no overgrown shrubs blocking sightlines.
“St Albans police are responsive to community concerns of anti-social or criminal behaviour that makes people feel unsafe. However, long stretches of old railway lines have no access points and can feel isolated enough that people can feel nervous. ”The Alban Way is not a route that I would choose after dark, which means I would need to use an alternative route, which brings us to the second major aspect.
“To avoid unlit or lonely former railway line routes generally means a long diversion or using main roads. The roads are seen as dangerous for cycling, and I hear this from men and women.
“Cyclists are treated badly by a small proportion of drivers, the ones who have ‘must get in front’ attitude. They lack the common sense to realise that the time spent being ‘held up’ by a cyclist is much less than the time they spend in queues of cars at traffic lights and junctions. But by following too close behind and revving or passing to close, they put off less confident riders.
“Both men and women are affected by inconsiderate driving and eerie, lonely cycling infrastructure, but in general, women feel more nervous and are put off cycling. And men do not get the additional leering and comments that women do.
“St Albans has a reasonably high rate of cycling including plenty of women, so we infer the infrastructure and driving standards are not as bad as elsewhere, and local people feel confident about cycling. But still many in our district who would like to cycle are not confident to do so, and that is why the Glow Rides are happening.”
Although the maintenance of off-road cycling routes has noticeably improved in the last few years, there are still some improvements she would like to see.
“The 20mph programme is very welcome and already more drivers are driving with more consideration. As 20mph becomes more widespread it becomes more apparent that 20mph is a sensible maximum and traffic flows better, so in fact car journey times are not lengthened by the change and driving is less stressful. 20mph is so much calmer for walking, cycling and driving, it is a huge boost for public health.
“Further afield, more ‘Quiet Lane’ designations for the smaller lanes that cyclists will choose for getting further afield, and are often walking routes too.
“Direct safe routes, with segregated cycle tracks along main roads. Yes, we are looking at the A5183 between Redbourn and St Albans. And the reason faster cyclists will use the A1081 carriageway rather than the shared walking and cycling path between Harpenden and St Albans is that the path is not wide enough, so upgrades of substandard legacy infrastructure are also needed.
““More cycle stands near shops, and existing cycle stands damaged by drivers being fixed, not just left to remind cyclists how vulnerable they are to being hit by a vehicle. By and large, sports centres already have good cycle parking. With retail parks and supermarkets it is mixed, mostly pretty poor. Positioning of cycle stands matters, in the open and close to the destination, not tucked away in a hidden corner that feels scary.
“And not just better driving, but also more considerate driving. That person cycling is someone’s mum, daughter, sister, friend, colleague, how would you feel if someone carelessly hurt them?”
Rona is keen to encourage participation in this month’s St Albans Glow Ride, which takes place on Thursday October 22, starting at 7pm in Civic Close – between the SADC offices and the Alban Arena – and lasting until 8.30pm.
“It will be a joyful cycle ride at a very easy pace! If you feel nervous about cycling around St Albans in the dark, this ride will demonstrate how delightful it really is. Having outlined concerns and areas for improvement, I have to point out that cycling is great, and if I was to write about the many personal, public and environmental benefits of more people cycling more often it would have to appear in serial form!
“Men are very welcome to support the event and to cheer us off at the start, but our group rides are women-only and our Glow Ride is too.”
For more information, see the events page.
