Hit the gas and chase the horizon – is the mantra for most bikers. But wait a minute, say the term biker and it’s an image of a guy, all geared up with gloves and a helmet, on a powerful machine. Sounds tough, feels tough, right? But this is not the case anymore.
If you see a woman on a mean machine, you’ll turn your head twice to look at her. And this has been the case for a long time now. Women, however, are gradually breaking the barriers in male-dominated fields, challenging societal norms and expectations and biking is one of them. But amidst that bravery, women still feel unsafe and try to take protective measures.
I usually have my location shared on Google maps, so some of my close friends can track me, especially when I'm travelling or riding solo.Flexcia D'Souza, motorcyclist and social media influencer
TRUST INSTINCTS AND SHARE LOCATIONS
Motorcyclist and social media influencer Flexcia D’Souza had always wanted to buy a bike and a year ago she saw her dream come true when she signed the papers at Royal Enfield showroom. She gifted herself a Hunter 350 and has since been traveling fearlessly.
She says, “I have ridden in the Western Ghats, but I’m yet to ride in extremely cold weather conditions or treacherous roads.” She plans to ride in the Himalayas someday soon.
Talking about how she plans her rides, she says, she prefers to plan her trip well and most of all trust her instincts. “During my rides I ensure I trust my instincts, avoid stopping at deserted places or dhabas and try to find some spot with a decent washroom. I usually have my location shared on Google maps, so some of my close friends can track me, especially when I’m travelling or riding solo. I try to make sure I time my journeys in a way that I ride during the day, and reach my destination max by sunset.”
CARRY YOUR OWN EQUIPMENT
Another bike rider, Salma Banu from Margao purchased a Royal Enfield Himalayan 411, and plans to ride to Mumbai and later to Kashmir in May this year. But as bikers, they too panic about their safety.
“Thankfully I haven’t experienced anything like what the Spanish bikers faced. But there are times when men try to be over-friendly, especially when I take pit-stops for water and food. This makes me feel weird.”
Salma also takes adequate precautions on her travels. “Emergencies can happen anywhere, and to be prepared is most important, so I carry air inflators to fix punctures,” says Salma, for whom it’s the destination that matters.
ADEQUATE SAFETY MEASURES
Aarti Gedam, a biker from Panaji, loves to take her Jawa 42 Bobber out on rides and lately she travelled to Sindhudurg, Pune and back, carrying self-defence items with her on all her travels. “Being a woman rider can be tricky, but if you are confident, you can pull it off and planning is important,” she says.
“I always plan my route very well. I don’t stop at lonely places and if I have to make a pit-stop – it’s in public spaces like markets. I always carry pepper spray and I also have a small steel rod with me, in case I have to face any unwanted situations,” she adds.
Women bikers are not just on roads, but recently, a movie on four women from diverse backgrounds ride their motorbikes on a lady bikers’ trip from Delhi to Leh. It featured actors Ratna Pathak Shah, Dia Mirza, Sanjana Sanghi and Fatima Sana Shaikh who found their passion and bonding over biking and the feeling of joy, achievement and freedom it bring. Here is to women who choose to find independence on their rides.