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The Glow Ride is a national initiative led by Cycling UK as part of its My ride. Our right campaign, bringing communities across the UK together for a coordinated night of action for safer cycling. On Thursday 22 October 2026, women-led rides will take place in towns and cities across the country, lighting up the streets and highlighting the barriers that can prevent women from cycling, particularly after dark.

The rides are open to everyone who wants to support the campaign and are organised locally by cycling groups and community organisations. By bringing lots of rides together on the same evening, the initiative aims to create a visible national demonstration that women have the right to travel freely and feel safe on our streets. Making our streets safer and more welcoming for women makes them safer and more accessible for everyone who cycles, walks and wheels.

Find out more on Cycling UK's website. More resources can be found below in "Why the Glow Ride?".

gLOW RIDE NORWICH '26: the basics

Date: Thursday 22nd October

Start: Outside City Hall, Norwich

Arrival time: from 6 pm

Speakers and pre-ride briefing: 6.30 pm

Ride start: 6.45 pm

Finish and afterparty: 7.30 pm at St Saviours Yard

keep up-to-date

RSVP the facebook event

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updates on instagram

Glow ride '25

The Glow Ride initiative began last year, with Norwich taking part in the first national event. Organised by Norwich Cycling Campaign, Critical Mass Norwich and Kidical Mass Norwich, the ride was a great success, bringing together around 70 people to light up the city on bikes.

The ride brought together a wide range of cyclists and bikes, with plenty of lights and decorations making for a striking sight as the group travelled through the city centre.

Photo: Claire Bullion

Glow ride '26

This year, we're hoping to build on the success of last year and bring even more people together for the Glow Ride. By filling the streets with cyclists after dark, the ride is a visible reminder that women and other people who cycle have a right to feel safe and confident on our roads at all times of day and night.

The route is still being finalised, but it will be a 45-minute ride around the city centre, starting and finishing outside City Hall.

The ride will be at a relaxed, social pace and is open to everyone. Children are welcome but must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

All types of cycle, including adapted bikes, tricycles, e-bikes and cargo bikes, are welcome. (There were unicyclists last year!)

Please be aware that photography will take place before and during the ride.

There will be a group leader and marshals to help guide the ride and support participants along the route (find out more below in "Riding in a group").

As this is a Glow Ride, participants are encouraged to bring plenty of lights and reflective clothing and to make their bikes as bright as possible (find out more below in "Getting your bike Glow Ride ready"). Please make sure your bike is roadworthy and bring anything you need for the ride.

The ride will go ahead in most weather conditions, but if conditions are considered unsafe, the ride may be postponed or cancelled. Any changes will be shared in advance (find out more below in "Weather and Cancellation").

Speakers: TBC

st saviours yard afterparty

The ride will end at St Saviours Yard (Magdalen St) for the Glow Ride afterparty! A number of wonderful vendors will be open and waiting for us to arrive, including SØD Bakery for moreish sweet treats, Mouneh Kitchen for delicious rice bowls, Sir Toby's Beers for cold beverages and The Merchant's Hatch for hot. There’ll also be a DJ and Outspoken! Cycles will be bringing their bike smoothie maker (or cocktail, for those who want something stronger...) so make sure to stick around for good tunes and good company.

ride essentials

RIDING IN A GROUP

There are a few things to be aware of when riding as part of a group, particularly around positioning, communication and keeping the group together:

Keep a steady pace: Try to maintain a consistent speed and avoid sudden braking or acceleration, as the rider behind may not have time to react.
Leave space: Keep a safe gap between your bike and the rider in front. Don't ride so close that you could easily clip their wheel if they slow down.
Ride predictably: Keep your line and avoid weaving between riders. If you need to move around an obstacle, check behind you and move gradually when it is safe.
Signal hazards: If you spot a pothole, parked car, pedestrian or other obstruction, point or call it out so riders behind have time to react.
Signal when stopping: Let people around you know if you need to stop, particularly if you have a mechanical problem.
Look before moving: Check over your shoulder before changing position or direction, and make sure there is enough space before moving across the group.
Follow the ride leader and marshals: They'll give directions and help the group navigate junctions, traffic and changes in the route.
Keep together: Stay with the group and avoid getting too far ahead or falling behind. Keeping together is particularly important when crossing roads, as riding through as a group means everyone can continue safely if the lights change while we're crossing.
Don't worry about keeping up: If you find the pace difficult, let the back marker know. They're positioned at the rear of the group, so you won't be left behind.
Be considerate: Remember that you're riding alongside other people with different levels of experience. Give others space and be patient, particularly at junctions and when the group slows down.

Photo: Kitty Cresswell Riol

Getting your bike Glow Ride ready

The Glow Ride is all about being visible after dark, so lights are an important part of the ride. Make sure your bike has front and rear lights that are working properly and securely attached.

And then make sure to add more lights!... You can also add reflective details and decorations to make your bike stand out, including fairy lights, LED strips, spoke lights and reflective tape. Please make sure anything you add is securely fastened and does not interfere with your ability to ride or with your lights, brakes or wheels.

Does your cycle need a little TLC to get it ride ready? Get brilliant cycle maintenance support at Bicycle Links and UEA Bicycle Repair Cooperative. And look out for free Dr. Bike events throughout the city as well as Repair Cafe Norwich.

SAFETY

The ride will be supported by a ride leader and marshals who will help guide the group and manage the route.

Please follow their instructions throughout the ride and let a marshal know if you have a problem with your bike, become separated from the group or need assistance.

All participants are responsible for ensuring their bike is safe and roadworthy before taking part.

Photo: Leah Spagatner

Photo: Claire Bullion

Weather and cancellation

The ride is planned to go ahead in most weather conditions, so please come prepared for the weather. If it’s wet, bring a waterproof jacket and consider wearing waterproof trousers or other clothing that will keep you comfortable. In colder weather, dress in warm layers, and make sure your lights and any other equipment are suitable for the conditions.

We may need to cancel or postpone the ride if conditions make it unsafe to ride. Any decision to cancel or postpone will be communicated as soon as possible through the Facebook event page and our social media channels. See below for links.

cONTACT us

If you have any questions about the Glow Ride, accessibility, the route or anything else before the event, please email info@womenscyclingauditnorwich.org.uk

have an idea?

Have an idea for something you'd like to see as part of the Glow Ride? We'd love to hear it. Whether it's an activity, decoration, entertainment or something else, please email kitty@womenscyclingauditnorwich.org.uk

Photo: Shelley Blowers

glow ride '26 supporters

We're very grateful to Eaton Park Community Association for funding this year's ride.

Glow Ride ’26 is being organised by a number of Norwich-based cycling organisations committed to making cycling more inclusive and accessible.

Bicycle Links is a cycling charity working to make cycling accessible to everyone. They provide a range of services and projects, including cycle training, bike maintenance, community cycling and support for refugees and people seeking asylum. Through their work, they help people gain access to bikes, develop cycling skills and build connections through cycling.

Boudicca Bikers is a cycling group creating a supportive and welcoming space for women and gender-diverse people to build confidence and enjoy cycling together. They organise regular group rides and social cycling activities for people of different ages and abilities.

Kidical Mass Norwich is a family-friendly cycling group that organises fun, social rides for children, families and people of all ages. The rides aim to make cycling enjoyable and help create a culture where children can safely and confidently get around by bike.

Critical Mass Norwich is a monthly group bike ride celebrating cycling and making space for people to ride together through the city. The ride takes place on the last Friday of every month and is open to anyone who wants to join.

Norwich Bicycle Repair Cooperative are a brilliant local community bike workshop, helping people keep their cycles on the road. They offer affordable repairs and are always happy to help get your bike sorted.

other group rides

The Glow Ride only takes place annually, but there are plenty of other group rides taking place in Norwich throughout the year.

Boudicca Bikers

Social cycling group open to women and gender-diverse people offering regular rides around Norwich and the surrounding area.

Critical Mass Norwich

Every last Friday of the month, cyclists come together to ride through the city and celebrate cycling.

Kidical Mass Norwich

Family-friendly group rides designed to make cycling fun and accessible for children and their families.

From the Glow Ride to the Audit

The Glow Ride inspired the Women’s Cycling Safety Audit. After organising the ride, we wanted to go beyond a single event and do something more substantial to address the issues that make cycling unsafe or inaccessible for women.

The Audit was created to do exactly that: to gather women’s experiences of cycling in Norwich, identify the barriers they face, and use that evidence to push for change.

Have you taken the Women’s Cycling Safety Survey yet? Your experiences can help make cycling in Norwich safer. Survey ends September 30th 2026.

Take the survey

Why the Glow Ride?

The Glow Ride is part of a wider movement for safer, more accessible and more inclusive cycling. These resources explore women’s experiences of cycling, the barriers that can prevent women from riding, and the work being done to create safer streets and better cycling infrastructure.

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