Nearly quarter of TfL cycleways ‘unsafe’ for women, report says

Almost a quarter of Transport for London’s (TfL) cycleways are “socially unsafe” for women after dark, a new report says.

The Women’s Freedom After Dark report, released by the London Cycling Campaign (LCC), shows that 24 per cent of TfL’s cycle routes run through isolated or unlit places that feel unsafe after dark, especially for women.

The city’s cycleways are signed and paid for by the mayor of London and TfL.

LCC are calling for “social safety” to be part of route quality assessments and for TfL not to approve or fund routes that fail the test.

A spokeswoman from TfL said: “We welcome this report from the London Cycling Campaign and will be carefully considering its recommendations.”

“Socially unsafe” means routes where there is a risk of harm from others due to factors such as poor lighting and a lack of escape routes.

LCC’s Women’s Network volunteers assessed and mapped the whole of TfL’s current Cycleway network against criteria on social safety.

The report features five case studies including Cycleway 10, which passes next to Millwall’s Stadium alongside an isolated railway line where muggings and bikejackings have been reported.

Emma Barnie, from Lewisham, said: “One evening cycling home beside Millwall, two young guys tried to block the cycle path that I was on. 

“I instinctively sped up and managed to swerve up onto the verge right round them and get away. 

“I’m a super confident cyclist but this has completely put me off using this crucial part of the network after dusk and I’ve changed my whole daily commute and routine.” 

The study found that 58 per cent of TfL Cycleways have at least one socially unsafe section after dark whilst seven Cycleways are 100 per cent socially unsafe after dark.

Another Lewisham resident, Louise Whittle said: “I’ve been cycle commuting in London for 22 years but I would say my local Cycleway is unusable after dark. 

“I’ve been stopped by local police, who specifically warned me from cycling that route after dark.

“I started using the road alternative, but I’ve literally had cars crash at the side of me, so have switched again to another route. I’m caught between the devil and the deep.” 

The report comes a year on from the LCC’s initial survey and report “What Stops Women Cycling In London?” which found one in three women who currently cycle in London stop during winter months or after dark due to a lack of safe routes.

More than half said they were faced with an impossible choice between cycle routes that go through isolated places where they feel at risk, or riding on hostile main roads with no protected space for cycling.

Kate Bartlett of LCC Women’s Network said: “Women make only a third of all cycle journeys in London – they make over half of all cycled journeys in the Netherlands. 

“Until London has a truly safe inclusive network designed for everyone, we’ll lag behind.”

The LCC Women’s Network will hold an after-dark women’s freedom ride in protest this evening which will parks and isolated stretches of London’s cycleways.

A TfL spokeswoman said: “Everyone should feel safe when cycling in the capital and we know that the safety of women and girls, can be a barrier to cycling. 

“We’re working to better understand how our schemes affect the safety, and feeling of safety, for women and girls. This includes a trial of a new women’s safety auditing process that we are hoping will help us develop a more effective approach.

“We are working closely with the Mayor, police, boroughs and other partners who have a shared responsibility and interest in making spaces safer for women and girls, including supporting boroughs in upgrading existing routes.”

Pictured top: The Women’s Freedom After Dark report was published yesterday (Picture: LCC)