Research into women’s travel experiences has reinforced the case for better lighting and safer cycling connections, an issue Pedal Power supported MLA Tom Emerson in bringing before the ACT Legislative Assembly last year.
Published in October in Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, the study examined the experiences of 642 women across Australia and New Zealand who regularly walked, cycled or used public transport for work or education.
The researchers reported that only 34.4% felt safe cycling after dark. Infrastructure also influenced perceptions: around 72% felt safe in dedicated bicycle lanes, compared with 16.3% on shared roads. These findings concern people’s sense of safety, a factor that can shape whether they ride, when they travel and which routes they choose.
In Canberra, those concerns have already prompted advocacy around Lake Burley Griffin. In June 2025, independent Kurrajong MLA Tom Emerson brought a motion to the Assembly seeking measures to improve women’s safety, including better lighting at popular exercise locations and action on lighting around Commonwealth-managed lake paths.
Pedal Power supported the motion, with ED Cecily Michaels drawing on her own experience.
“As a woman who often rides at night, I know firsthand how unsafe it can feel in areas with poor lighting or broken paths,” she said at the time.
In December 2025, the Australian Government committed $10 million to improve safety and accessibility around Lake Burley Griffin. Pedal Power welcomed the investment and its potential to help more people feel confident riding early in the morning and after dark.
Work has since progressed. The National Capital Authority reports that 319 additional lights have been installed around the Central Basin as interim improvements. Detailed design for a permanent lighting system is underway, with construction expected to begin in 2027. The NCA acknowledges that the interim installations do not yet provide the consistency intended through the permanent system.
The next step is ensuring this investment improves the experience of the whole journey. Connections between suburbs, the lake, and adjoining paths deserve attention alongside the foreshore itself.
Women’s experiences should inform those priorities, including the experiences of people who currently avoid riding after dark. Their decisions can help identify where lighting, maintenance or a better connection would make a practical difference.
Does your usual route feel different after dark?
