That’s TV report on the glow ride

That’s TV 23rd October 2025 Report on the glow ride

Comments from Peter Silburn, chair of Norwich Cycling Campaign, Cllr Liam Calvert, Kitty Cresswell Riol and Leah Spagatner.

A group of cyclists rode through the streets of Norwich to raise awareness about women’s safety at night and to call for better cycling infrastructure. The Glow Ride attracted over 100 participants who aimed to highlight their concerns over the dangers women face when they’re alone on their bike. That’s TV spoke to councelor Peter Silburn who said he was delighted by the turnout to highlight such an important message. It’s really about women’s safety. Um so study after study tells us that uh the majority of women cycling on our roads don’t feel safe. Uh and it’s not just about the lack of cycle infrastructure. It’s about the the type of infrastructure. It’s mostly infrastructure designed by men for men. Uh but for women they they have a different experience. Uh you know typical things are like narrow paths, dark blind bends, lack of lighting, uh routes that go across um industrial estates or parks. I mean parks is a really good good case in point. You know during the daytime uh and cycle through a park may be very nice but at night time it’s a very different experience and we really need to be listening to women. That Stevie also spoke to councelor Liam Calvert who said he felt it was important to have some political representation at the event. So there’s a whole combination of kind of interventions. So uh on on main roads it needs to be segregated cycling as you say cycle lanes. So people are cycling away from motor vehicles but on side streets it just needs to be a reduction in through traffic. So we have loads of terrace streets which are rat runs and if we can close those off to motor vehicles they become safe places for people to cycle. allows children to cycle school and it means that streets are quiet and peaceful for the residents who live on those streets. Basically, uh motorized traffic should, you know, be on the main roads. That’s what they’re there for and so that’s where we think traffic should be. Organizers Kitty Creswell Real and Leah Spartner also spoke to that TV who said they were glad to see that issues over women’s safety were at the forefront of people’s minds. Nine out of 10 women are afraid of cycling in urban areas, especially at night. I mean, and this figure is disgusting. And it’s not to do with the fact that women lack confidence. It’s to do with the fact that well, the environment. So, that’s to do with like cycling infrastructure. That’s to do with driver behavior and attitudes. And that’s to do with kind of the cycling culture um in general. I think in the current climate like Kissy has mentioned we there is so many things that highlight the kind of barriers or the problems to things and especially with a lot of movement around women and being safe and feeling safe outside but I think with events just like this I mean look at this turnout is just absolutely fantastic to see not just women but men and children you know we are all in this together you know this is about creating ing safe and inclusive streets for everybody. Can’t wait to ride together all blown up and for everyone to like stop traffic. I think that’s a really special special thing to do