Stevenage Glow Ride 2 - October 2026

Our community ride attracted over 60 riders on Thursday October 22nd. It was one of over 80 organised across the UK as part of the Cycling UK national My Ride. Our Right campaign that calls for safer streets and better cycle routes, especially for women riding after dark.

We were joined on the ride by: 

• Kevin Bonavia, MP for Stevenage; 
• Rob Broom, SBC Councillor and Cabinet Member - Environment, Transport and Planning; 
• Nick Truran, Strategic Cycling Lead and Development Manager, HCC; 
• Stephanie Ruker, Partnership Manager, Cycling UK; and 
• Kate Bartlett of the London Cycling Campaign’s Women’s Network.

Ahead of the Glow Ride event, the Cycling UK Stevenage Campaigns published our Cycling After Dark in Stevenage Report which shows the results of 30 miles of audited cycleways, concluding that most of them do not do not feel socially safe. Only 20% of the audited cycleways felt completely safe.

Jill Borcherds, one of the organisers of the Stevenage Glow Ride and the Cycling UK Stevenage social safety audit, said:

We know that, nationally, women cycle half as much as men, and the biggest barrier is perceptions of safety, which only gets worse when it’s dark. Our report evidenced something most of us knew all along: our Stevenage cycleways don’t feel safe after dark for women.
Spending time out after dark on the network across the town actually shocked me - it was even worse than I expected. Short sections can mean a complete route becomes completely unusable in the dark - which of course can be as early as 4.30pm in winter. Improvements for social safety are essential if cycling in Stevenage is to be a practical choice for everyday journeys.

The 7-mile Glow Ride predominantly used Stevenage’s cycleways network, highlighting key issues identified by women that make the cycleways feel socially unsafe. The ride had more men than women joining - we were told by several women that they supported the event but would not be able to join themselves simply because they do not feel safe on the cycleways after dark and so had concerns getting to and from the ride from home.

While Stevenage's cycleways are unique and unlike infrastructure in other nearby towns, the network is only as good as its weakest links. Cycling is a safe activity but if it does not feel safe, it will put people off. This was acknowledged by Stevenage MP Kevin Bonavia, who joined the ride and said:

Stevenage cycleways at best are patchy and just having a small bit that is good isn't enough.

With autumn well and truly here, the route showed the realities of cycling after dark in Stevenage. Riders faced unlit cycleways with overgrown vegetation, glaring lights from passing cars, blinding lights in underpasses, and fadingleaf-covered solar lights in a pitch-black Fairlands Valley Park.

Cllr Rob Broom, acknowledged the issues riders face after dark. He said:

Coming this evening has alerted me to the challenges of cycling in the dark in Stevenage. I welcome the campaign and will keep the dialogue open with Cycling UK Stevenage Campaigns to work together to address these challenges. 

Other local Councillors who could not make it to the ride were invited to site visits to discuss the social safety of Stevenage's with 3 such meetings already undertaken before the ride itself.  

Following the ride, participants were invited at Junction 7 Creatives to read about the social safety audit conducted by women of Cycling UK Stevenage Campaigns, enjoy a hot drink and home-baked biscuits, and browse cycling-inspired art by Cambridge artist Priti from Sa-prem studio. Gift bags were distributed which included cycling lights, sponsored by Bragbury End Coffee Shop. 

Thank you to Lindsay Cook for the photos - see the selection in the Gallery below.