[ad_1]
Sameera Dahiya, Maral Yazarloo-Patrick, and Urvashi Patole Photo credit: Special Arrangement
When Maral Yazerloo-Patrick wanted to ride a motorbike for the first time at the age of 23, she went with long nails and high heels and was told, “It’s not for women.” A fellow student, a PhD in Marketing at Pune University, was not allowed to sit on his motorbike as she was not a rider.
Thirteen years later, in 2018, she completed a solo world tour spanning seven continents and covering over 1,00,000 kilometers. And, she did this while pregnant.
“In a world dominated by men, when a woman wants to ride a motorbike, the first reaction is that they can’t do it,” says Maral. “That’s what I faced. But I did it, and most men didn’t. It says that only women can do what men can do; women can do things that men can’t even think about.”
Maral will be among the many bikers at India Bike Week, the annual motorcycle festival, whose eighth edition will be held in Goa on December 2 and 3. Although most of the festival attendees are men, their numbers are increasing. Women at the festival, a remarkable development for the Indian motorbiking community.
According to Martin da Costa, festival director and CEO of 70 EMG, the number of women riding India Bike Week has grown by over 250% in the last five years. “We estimate that the number of female leisure biker riders in India has more than doubled since 2018,” he said.
Breaking myths
The statistics dispel the notion that motorbikes are all about man. Motorcycle ads almost always feature men. Women, if featured in an ad, are used as objects of glamour. They are usually in awe of a hunky man driving a well-built vehicle.
“Motorbike brands focus more on men because they believe that men know more about vehicles than women. Because men are more exposed to automobiles from childhood,” said Sameera Dahiya, who traveled 16,300 kilometers in 24 days, covering 28 states and six Union Territories. “But now things are slowly changing. . Nowadays, the popularity of women on motorbikes is increasing. For example, you see more women in motorsports. I think women riding bikes are gradually being normalized.
Sameera, who has traveled across India twice in six years, says it is not entirely safe for a woman to go on long rides in the country. “Whenever a woman rides a motorbike – whether for commuting or long rides – certain things are said about their safety. Most of them are myths. But some of them can be followed by practical advice. For example, it is best to avoid secluded areas at night, especially in some parts of the country,” she adds.
Urvashi Patole, co-founder of Biker, an all-women motorcycle association, agrees with Sameera. “I’ve been to remote areas in the North East or the South and it’s always safe. Rather than carrying pepper spray or a knife, the best thing to do to ensure your safety is to be aware of your surroundings. You should not stop at isolated places. Have a spare phone with you. Research your destination.
More than motorbikes
At India Bike Week, Maral, Sameera and Urvashi interact with fellow riders about their experiences of traveling far and wide.
“Motorbiking is not a simple activity like going to the gym to get fit,” says Maral. “Many commuter bikers are looking for answers beyond their daily lives. They want to know their life goals. They want to help society in any way they can because they understand the value of life.
Born in Iran, Maral is now campaigning to allow women there to drive motorbikes. She says that just being able to ride a motorbike is not just about them. “They should be able to decide for themselves. If they want to ride a motorbike, nothing should stop them. It’s about their right to life and freedom.
For more information about India Bike Week, visit indiabikeweek.in
[ad_2]
Source link