Gurgaon incident brings women riders’ safety into focus
New Delhi, September 17: An alleged hit-and-run incident in Gurgaon involving Delhi biker Sia has once again raised concerns about the safety of women riding motorcycles on Indian roads. Sia, who was riding an Aprilia RS 457, was injured in the incident. After the car driver reportedly expressed regret over the accident, she questioned why he did not stop after the collision. “The collision could have killed me,” Sia said, according to the report.
The challenge goes beyond road accidents
For many women riders, safety concerns are not limited to crashes. Risky overtaking, sudden lane changes and careless driving can make riding more difficult. Jagmeet, a Chandigarh-based rider who has been riding for four years, said women motorcyclists often attract unwanted attention on the road. She said she has faced stares, unsolicited comments and assumptions that the motorcycle belongs to a husband or brother rather than the woman riding it. According to Jagmeet, such experiences show that women riders are still not always viewed as an ordinary part of road traffic.
Long-distance riding brings additional challenges
Women travelling long distances face other practical difficulties as well. Jagmeet pointed to the shortage of clean washrooms and the additional caution required when riding alone after dark. At the same time, she believes greater visibility of women riders could gradually change attitudes and help make their presence on motorcycles more normal on Indian roads. The Gurgaon incident has therefore opened a wider conversation—not just about hit-and-run cases, but also about how road users treat and respond to women who ride motorcycles.
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