On Indian Roads, Women Riders Face a Hidden Toll

For a growing number of Indian women, motorcycling represents freedom and passion. Yet recent incidents in Gurugram, Bhopal and Raipur have exposed a persistent reality: on the road, women riders are often treated as intruders rather than equals.

Abida Rana, a 22-year-old IELTS trainer in Bhopal, recounted a harrowing episode from August 2. While riding in Navi Bagh, a car emerged from a lane and blocked her path. When she asked the driver to let her pass, he challenged her instead. She squeezed through a narrow gap, but the driver pursued her through the streets, overtaking and blocking her twice before she neared a police station. "I was scared and in tears on the way back home," she said.

Two days later, Abida reported the incident. Police warned the accused and made them issue an apology letter, but she chose not to pursue an FIR, fearing legal hassles and retaliation. She now rides mostly in groups and carries a small knife, pepper spray and a camera for evidence. "We have to be cautious of not hurting male egos," she said. "Safety should not have to be demanded; it should be a norm."

In Gurugram, rider Aisha described a similar pattern. A car pulled dangerously close to her on the Delhi-Gurugram route, and when she shouted at the driver to back off, a passenger made rude gestures. Three months ago, a cab swerved in front of her near Ambience Mall late at night, causing a crash that left her injured. The driver fled, and bystanders later said he appeared drunk. Aisha now keeps her hair tucked inside her helmet to avoid drawing attention.

The hostility extends beyond everyday commutes. Tanisha Arora, a Castrol brand ambassador who organises rides in India and abroad, said women have come to accept harassment as normal. She advised riders not to escalate situations and to draw bystanders' attention if things get out of hand.

Tanisha also raised questions about the death of Riddhi Thakkar, a 24-year-old Mumbai rider who died in August after a crash during a group ride on National Highway-30 near Markatola Ghat in Chhattisgarh's Dhamtari district. She asked how Riddhi was allowed to ride with a malfunctioning brake, how an ambulance arrived within five minutes in a remote area, and who was accountable. She alleged that the organisers were politically connected and that two women in the group were held captive under the pretext of safety. Tanisha said she helped arrange their exit and later received fake legal notices after posting clips online.

These accounts point to a broader pattern: as more women take to two wheels, visibility has brought vulnerability. For many, the road remains a space where freedom is weighed down by the constant tax of navigating fragile male egos.