The InfraSisters bike revolution

INFRASISTERS - a group of women campaigning for night-time cycling

infrastructure that’s safe for women and girls - led their third mass protest ride through the Old Town recently. The ride attracted around 130 people, with many women saying they would never cycle the route on their own as it is simply too dangerous. With a carnival atmosphere, bikes lit up with colourful fairy lights, and cheered on by friendly drivers and pedestrians, their message is however a serious one.

Cycling should be a cheap, fast, fun way of getting around, but for many women and girls, cycling in the dark isn’t an option. They face a dilemma trying to select a safe route. There are some limited sections of protected on-road infrastructure in the city, but most are shared with drivers, particularly at busy junctions.

VERBAL ABUSE

Women and girls are often close-passed by

drivers, left-hooked at junctions, and verbally abused just for being on the road. The off-road paths, usually well-lit, are isolated with few escape routes. On the Innocent Path, the canal, and the North Edinburgh Path Network, there have been reports of anti-social behaviour, assault

and harassment.

The InfraSisters, through their Our Streets Our Nights protest rides, are calling on all councillors, irrespective of their political party, to support their campaign.

They want the Council to:

• Prioritise safe and comfortable on-road cycle infrastructure, protected from traffic, on well-lit direct routes

• Provide well-signed routes which are permeable and always have a way out, not fenced/ walled on both sides, and with good connections to other streets

• Provide routes which use natural surveillance where possible, for example

streets with high footfall

Creating safe cycling infrastructure for women and girls will reduce inequalities and benefit everyone. In a cost of living crisis, and a climate crisis, it’s essential that women have a cheap easy travel option for moving around the city at all times of day

and night.

The InfraSisters are likely to have smaller, more regular rides in future, highlighting specific streets and routes that women find intimidating or dangerous.

Sign up to the InfraSisters’ mailing list at: www.infrasisters.org.uk/contact