aAh! Magazine X Lights Up Exhibition
Manchester Central Library, Wolfson Reading Room
03 March 2025 – 29 Mar 2025
Monday – Thursday 9am-8pm;
Friday & Saturday 9am-5pm (not open Sundays and Bank Holidays)
As part of International Women’s Day 2025, aAh! Magazine is proud to present the aAh! Magazine X Lights Up Exhibition at Manchester Central Library. Running from 03 March to 29 March 2025, the exhibition celebrates women in cycling, exploring themes of empowerment, safety, and visibility – both on the road and in public spaces.
Following the success of the Lights Up night-time bike ride and exhibition in November, which saw 180 women take to the streets to advocate for safer cycling, this new showcase continues the conversation, amplifying the voices of women reclaiming urban spaces. This exhibition highlights the achievements of women in cycling and explores themes of inclusivity, community, independence and representation.
Created by aAh! Magazine, Manchester Metropolitan University’s arts and culture student magazine, the exhibition features powerful storytelling and visual art from student writers, journalists, designers, illustrators, and photographers.
The Lights Up initiative, led by Belinda Everett, the Bicycle Mayor of Manchester, has been instrumental in raising awareness of the challenges women face while cycling after dark. In collaboration with partners including Manchester Metropolitan University, Bee Pedal Ready, Station South, We Are Cycling UK, MCRActive, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), and Starling Bikes, Lights Up encourages safer and more inclusive cycling environments across the city.
Natalie Carragher, senior lecturer in Multimedia Journalism and exhibition lead, said: “This exhibition showcases the creativity and talent of our students, using storytelling and visual art to explore women’s experiences in cycling. Hosting this work at Manchester Central Library – an iconic space for learning and community – reinforces the power of creativity and community in advocacy. As we celebrate International Women’s Day, we aim to spark conversations about representation, safety, and reclaiming public spaces, highlighting how cycling can be a vehicle for empowerment and connection and should be accessible to all.”
Laura Hickman-Sparkes, Head of Business Engagement and Partnerships at the Institute of Sport, said: “The student involvement in [Lights Up] has been fantastic. Hopefully, this ride has created an opportunity for students to be involved in a meaningful way in what we’re doing – to raise awareness of cycling, to bring lots of new viewpoints, and to think about the challenges that women and different communities face.
“Almost three-quarters (72%) of women in the UK change their outdoor activity routines during winter* so it’s fantastic to see so many students and colleagues from across our University community engaged in raising awareness of this important issue.”
Lights Up is organised in partnership with Bee Pedal Ready, Station South, Manchester Metropolitan University, We are Cycling UK, MCRActive, TfGM and Starling Bikes. The ride aims to highlight the importance of women’s safety while cycling, especially as the dark winter months approach and the number of women on the roads significantly drops.
The aAh! Magazine Lights Up Exhibition will run at Manchester Central Library from 03 March – 29 March, 2025. Free – please drop in.
*Source: This Girl Can, Sport England
Bee Pedal Ready is part of the change to diversify the cycling industry, in particular, providing a space for women and girls to learn, repair and ride bikes.
Get involved and join one of their rides or workshops.