00:00Women riders are trying to prove something or seek attention.
00:03While you're even riding a bike, you should go with scooty.
00:09She has bought it from someone else's money.
00:12These are some of the things women bikers say they've heard.
00:15It is simply because we love it, we genuinely enjoy it and we are passionate about it.
00:20Biking has long been seen as a man's hobby.
00:22But across India, more and more women are getting on two wheels,
00:25not to prove a point, but because they genuinely love riding.
00:28More spoke to women riders from across the country about how their journeys began,
00:32the stereotypes they face and what riding really means to them.
00:35Have you ever seen a woman ride a bike?
00:38And I was like, wait, is that a challenge?
00:40When I was 14 years old, little girl, I rode my first motorcycle back then.
00:44My father is my inspiration to become a biker.
00:47He used to take me on bike rides often.
00:50What was once seen as a man's pace is slowly changing.
00:53Between 2023 and 2025, the number of solo women bikers in India grew by 160%.
00:59Today, women account for 68% of all new long-distance riders.
01:03I have felt that people think we are competing with men.
01:06She should stick to scooters because bikes make her look masculine.
01:10People sometimes assume that we women do not know much about bikes.
01:13The road has brought unwanted attention, uncomfortable encounters and moments of fear.
01:17Some men used to chase me.
01:19Some men used to say that, hey, stop, I want to talk to you.
01:22Not all the men, some of the men who used to be drunk.
01:26There is also this alien stare where people lock their eyes on you and twist their neck until you are
01:32out of their sight.
01:33One day, I'm coming back from my ride and my bike got punctured in a national highway.
01:39Then a group of men just came to me.
01:41They asked me, what happened to you?
01:42Why are you being so nervous now?
01:45And they just said to me that, okay, stay calm, we'll help you.
01:49If they see you struggling to reverse the motorcycle, they immediately come and help you pull the motorcycle, even if
01:55you have not asked for it.
01:56For these women, riding isn't about challenging anyone.
01:59Motorcycle actually gave us something that nobody can offer us.
02:03Like there is this picture of me at three years old sitting on my dad's motorcycle, looking like I completely
02:09owned it.
02:10When I come, me and my husband used to go on lots of bike rides while I'm on pregnant.
02:17I wish my doctor also will become a biker.
02:22No.
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