Eilidh Murray on the London Cycle Campaign's Women’s Freedom Ride

It's a joyous way of getting about London, and statistically a safe one. But it often doesn't feel that way.

Academic studies show women are disproportionately more impacted by feelings of road danger than men.

But the result, particularly in London's boroughs where too little is being done to enable people to cycle safely through low traffic neighbourhoods and along protected cycle tracks, is fewer women than men cycle in London – only 1/3 of cycle trips in London are by women. In Holland, that cycling nirvana, it’s the reverse.

I'm determined, as chair of trustees at London Cycling Campaign, co-ordinator of Cycle Islington, chair of LCC's Women's Network coalition and ride leader for Joy Riders, to do something about this. To enable women of all shapes, backgrounds, ethnicities and ages to cycle in safety in London without fear.

Eilidh Murray says the LCC Women's Freedom Ride is more than just a fun day out (Image: LCC)

If you don't cycle in London but would like to, what better way to start than at the LCC Women’s Freedom Ride on Sunday, March 3?

You’ll be in a big group with leaders and marshals, going at a slow pace along safe routes.

The ride is around central London, starting at Lincoln’s Inn Fields, and ‘feeder rides’ will lead groups from Haringey, Islington, Camden and Brent and many other boroughs to and from the main ride.

It will be a joyous celebration - with hundreds of others – of women's freedom to ride. And if you already ride, come join in (lcc.org.uk/events/lcc-womens-freedom-ride-2/).

Last year's ride – despite the cold, was a glorious day, designed to highlight a serious point.

Because it's not just a lack of safe cycling infrastructure stopping women from cycling in London – although that is the primary issue. Women suffer way too much gendered abuse while cycling.

LCC's Women's Network is shortly releasing a powerful film and report based on women's experiences cycling in our capital city. It's shocking stuff – and the aim, alongside the ride and the petition, is to put pressure on the Mayor, the Metropolitan Police and every London borough to act on the issues stopping women from cycling freely on bikes (and trikes).

Freedom is something women on wheels have been demanding since the suffragettes. Let 2024 be the year more women get cycling for freedom, health and fun.

For more info go to: lcc.org.uk/freedom

• Eilidh Murray is chair of London Cycle Campaign's Women’s Network.