Delhi’s women bikers ride to celebrate sisterhood on International Female Ride Day

A ride for women, by women, celebrating ‘unity in individuality’, takes to Delhi roads on May 6 — this is a first-of-its-kind event for the Capital, being organised to encourage even solo women bike riders.

On International Female Ride Day, May 6 (Saturday), a 20-km bike ride is being organised in the Capital by two residents of Delhi, Anita Krishnan, 35, a biker by passion, and entrepreneur Vidhi Malla, 33. This is part of a global campaign for women motorcyclists who own, ride or have access to a motorcycle. The Delhi ride is open to all female motorcycle enthusiasts — even the ones owning scooties.

On International Female Ride Day, a motorcycle ride is being organised in the Capital as a symbol of empowerment and togetherness.

Anita Krishnan, one of the organisers of the event.

“This ride will see female bikers, irrespective of groups they ride with. We are riding to show sisterhood across the world. There are no set rules, norms, except for the safety, of course,” says Krishnan. More than 30 women bikers are expected to attend the ride, that will start from Indraprastha Park at 6am, and culminate at Chhatarpur Metro station.

Krishnan believes that the sight of a woman on a bike is not a taboo anymore, “with enough women bikers [around], who ride to explore and even ride to their workplace”. But she is quick to add, “People do go wow seeing eight to ten women riding motorcycles.”

Malla, who has been riding for the past ten years, adds, “This rally is a symbol of empowerment, a symbol of togetherness. Generally, a female biker is known by her group, but this time, we are inviting riders individually. They can participate through our Facebook page.”

One of the participants, 19-year-old Delhi University student Riya Yadav, says, “I have been riding my friend’s bike for the past one year, but my dad recently gifted me a bike on my birthday. This ride for me is the best opportunity to participate as an individual rider.”

The women, having ridden to Shimla, Amritsar, Leh and Corbett, have international place names to tick off their list, too. “We all want to do a ride outside India someday,” Krishnan signs off.