A Women’s Cycling Safety Audit is a structured, community-led process in which women assess the cycling environment in their city. Through an audit we can:
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Observe conditions on the ground
including lighting, visibility, traffic, surfaces and connectivity to key destinations.
Bring in lived
experience
in order to understand where women avoid cycling, take detours or feel unsafe, and what helps them feel secure.
Focus on specific routes and locations
such as the Pedalways network, parks, paths and commonly used commuting or leisure routes.
Produce practical outputs
including reports, maps and recommendations for councils and community groups to improve routes, plan infrastructure and support funding bids.
An audit enables us to explore key questions, including:
An audit enables us to explore key questions, including:
Where do women feel unsafe or uncomfortable cycling, and why?
Which types of journeys are most difficult or avoided, and under what circumstances?
What specific changes or improvements would make cycling safer, easier or more enjoyable for women?
Why is a Women’s Cycling Safety Audit important?
Why is a Women’s Cycling Safety Audit important?
Even though cycling is becoming more popular across the UK, bike culture still reflects a bias towards a particular type of rider — typically male, white and economically privileged. As a result, the experiences and needs of people who don’t fit this demographic — including women, gender-diverse people, people of colour, immigrants and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds are often overlooked or dismissed. This means the specific barriers they face in accessing, owning and using a bicycle are rarely considered in transport policy and planning.
An audit helps to correct this imbalance. In this case, applying a gendered lens to Norwich’s cycling infrastructure gives women a platform and brings their experiences into focus. It enables us to highlight not only where physical infrastructure falls short, but also to identify cultural, societal and perceptual barriers that shape how safe, welcome or empowered women feel when cycling.
It’s also essential to recognise that “women” is not a single, disadvantaged group: many experience overlapping forms of discrimination related to race, disability, class and more. Acknowledging these intersecting layers is critical if we want to build a cycling culture that is genuinely inclusive, equitable and welcoming to everyone.
Similarly, “women” should be understood inclusively, covering women, girls and non-binary and gender non-conforming people. Gender-diverse people also experience sexism, discrimination and harassment. Supporting gender equality in cycling means considering this wide range of experiences and ensuring that all who face barriers are recognised, represented and empowered to ride safely.
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