What was it like to be a Ride Assistant (marshal)?

“So much fun last Sunday at the Women’s Freedom Ride in London!”

Over 300 women assembled at the South Bank for a fun ride with a serious purpose. The ride was organised by members of the LCC Women’s Network. It was planned and led by Gonul, experienced Ride Leader, who expertly co-ordinated a team of 35 all-women Ride Assistants (also known as marshals). The ride was to empower women and show that we need Freedom to Ride. That requires us to be confident and get out there, but the number one concern that stops more women riding is safety. Most cyclists chose routes that reduce the chance of a vehicle collision, but women in addition want routes that are socially safe. Neither a deserted park nor a canal towpath with a low bridge (where you can’t see past the bridge) would not present a viable weekday evening route for most women.

This was the largest ride I have helped with. There were three marshalling groups: who dealt with the Front, the Middle and Back of the ride. All ride assistants had advance details of the route and instructions for handling conditions at various locations. There were 3 different teams, for the front , the middle and the back portions of the procession, each led by an experienced ride leader. I was allocated to the Back team, lead by the wonderful Veronica, chair of Harrow Cycle Hub. It was really nice to catch up with friends from Harrow Cyclists and Harrow Wheels For All.

To save disruption to motorists and to keep the whole whole column of riders safe, it is necessary to keep the column together, making progress at a safe speed and passing through all junctions in one block. The front team were there to guide the whole column into the best position at each junction, wait for the whole group to gather before passing through major junctions particularly those with traffic lights. The Front marshals then engage with helpful drivers and position themselves to secure all incoming lanes to prevent impatient drivers form entering the junction and breaking the column. On the Ride Leader’s signal, the columm of riders then proceeds through the junction escorted by the Middle marshals, who relieve the Front marshals at their positions. The front marshals then scoot up to the front ready for the next major junction, while the Middle marshals hold the junctions and side roads before handing on to the Back marshals.

The Back marshals escort the third portion of the riders, taking care that slower riders are not left behind. It’s safest to encourage slower riders who can continue to go to the front of the ride if possible. The Back team assists riders who are falling behind with mechanical difficulties or health issues. We liaise with first aiders and mechanics as necessary, and get messages to the Ride Leader if the whole ride needs to slow down or wait at the next junction.

There’s a genuinely festive feeling as other road users pause to watch the riders go by – a lot of love and encouragement coming from the drivers, many of whom totally get the whole idea of an organised ride moving large numbers of people with much less disruption than a load of people in cars sight-seeing or struggling to navigate individually on their own. You also get some of the pedestrians clapping and waving, who can resist waving back?

Next time come and try it!

Thanks to LCC Women’s Network, Gonul, Veronica and the other Team leaders, ride assistants, first aiders and mechanics, the sound bike riders, leaders of feeder rides from other boroughs, all those who shared the event on social media and of course those who give their time to lead other rides through LCC, Breeze or any other group, and anyone who campaigns for cycling or indeed for women’s freedom anywhere!

Thanks to Philippa for the photo.