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Women's Freedom

Less than one third of cycle trips in London are taken by women - we want to remove the barriers that stop women cycling.

Why don’t more women cycle?

In London, less than 1 in 3 cycle trips are made by women. In the Netherlands, it’s over half.

“Get off the road, b*tch!” women cycling in London told

We surveyed over 1000 women in London to ask what barriers prevent them from cycling. The responses were shocking. We received countless reports of harassment, aggression and even physical and sexual assault directed towards women cycling. The resulting report, ‘What Stops Women Cycling in London?’ reveals shocking levels of abuse faced by women cycling in the capital. It sets out our recommendations for the Mayor, Transport for London and London boroughs to overcome these barriers so that women can cycle any of their daily journeys without fear. Full survey results are here.

What do we want? Freedom to ride! When do we want it? After dark!

We analysed the entire Transport for London official Cycleway network and found nearly a quarter is ‘socially unsafe’ after dark such as stretches through unlit parks, industrial estates or alongside canals with no escape routes. In addition, our analysis shows that over half of all TfL Cycleways have at least one socially unsafe section, 11 Cycleways are over 70% unsafe, and seven are 100% unsafe after dark. The full report, Women’s Freedom After Dark, shows a range of case studies and how Transport for London and councils need to improve the cycle network to make it safe for everyone, 24/7. The report is followed by a protest on Thursday 6 February 2025.

 

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Hear from the women

GET INVOLVED

Join the LCC Women's Network! The network is run by a steering group of volunteers and has hundreds of active members. It has produced the Women's Freedom Rides, the What Stops Women Cycling in London? report and other vital projects alongside LCC staff. Women make excellent campaigners, so sign up to our newsletter to find out more.

What we want

Our campaign is calling on the Mayor to make London a city where all women, non-binary and gender non-conforming people feel safe to cycle.

We’re calling on the Mayor of London to ensure cycling is an inclusive mode of transport that men and women use equally, across London, by 2030, by:

  • Addressing physical safety for women when cycling: Deliver cycling infrastructure across London that is physically safe, accessible for all riders and their bikes, and of the highest quality. This will give women the confidence to cycle, including with children, without fear of hostile interactions with motor vehicles.
  • Addressing social safety for women when cycling: Improve delivery, monitoring and reporting on verifiable actions to radically improve social safety for women cycling in London, working in partnership with relevant authorities including TfL and London’s boroughs.
  • Thinking beyond the commute: Give the same priority to local cycle networks, such as low traffic neighbourhoods and safe routes to schools, as to cycle corridors into central London.

 

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See the 2024 protest

LATEST NEWS

24% of Cycle Network Unsafe After Dark

Women's Freedom After Dark report finds nearly a quarter of the total length of TfL’s cycle network is ‘socially unsafe’ after dark.

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Interview with Dr Maartje Van Putten

The first leader of Dutch safe cycling movement Stop de Kindermoord - Stop the Child Murder - tells her story.

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Women ride for freedom

Nearly a thousand women joined the LCC Women's Freedom Ride on Sunday 3 March.

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"Get off the road, b*tch"

New London Cycling Campaign Women's Network report, ‘What Stops Women Cycling in London?’ reveals shocking levels of abuse faced by women cycling in the capital.

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Women's survey

Women of London! Tell us what makes cycling harder for you - or puts you off altogether. Closes 5th June.

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1,000 ride for women's freedom in London, sign petition today.

The LCC Women's Freedom Ride saw 1,000 women and their allies cycling through central London. Now sign our petition for safe cycling for women.

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JOIN THE MOVEMENT

Our members are our political voice, and we need more women so together we can fight to make our roads safer. If you cycle in London please consider joining today. You'll be supporting our work and you'll get a huge range of benefits in return.

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Woman with children in cargo bike