Row over posture may throw ‘Women on Wheels’ off balance

Rights activists say motorcycles do not offer ‘decent’ riding position

LAHORE: The government’s decision to replace scooters with locally-manufactured motorcycles may jeopardise the entire Women on Wheels project as the latter mode of transport does not offer a “decent seating posture”.

These views were expressed by Aurat Foundation Lahore Region Director Mumtaz Mughal as she explained her reasons for thinking that motorcycles were not suitable for women.

With funds released to the Transport Department, the Strategic Reforms Unit expects that balloting for 3,026 locally-manufactured motorcycles for the Woman on Wheels project will take place by September of 2017.

According to experts on women’s affairs, a society that has yet to accept women on scooters may find it impossible to swallow seeing them riding motorcycles. They added any incident could prove to be a great setback for the cause.



The concept of providing women with scooters was reconsidered due to its financial implications, said Strategic Reforms Unit Director General and Woman Protection Authority Acting DG Salman Sufi. “The cost of imported scooters would double the price of locally manufactured motorcycles and then there are issues of related to expensive repairs and poor resale,” he said.

Considering these matters, the authorities have to look for a better and more feasible alternative. “Keeping in view the above mentioned issues, a committee formed by the chief minister and headed by Khawaja Ahmad Hasan decided to replace scooters with locally-manufactured motorcycles.”

He said the bikes would have a thinner fuel tank, more comfortable seat and distinct colours. “These motorcycles will also have a three-year warranty and the beneficiary of the project will get a 37% subsidy on the lease.”

He said any criticism of this decision was uncalled for as it was based on a successful trial. “We have trained some 3,000 women on motorcycles who were completely comfortable with the ride,” he remarked.

Aurat Foundation’s Mumtaz said the idea of giving scooters in 2014 was finally about to materialise in 2017 and this was a good omen. “However, changing scooters with motorcycles made the entire concept completely pointless.” In her view, motorcycles were already available in the local market and they were not used by women for a reason. She said the government brought this project back in 2014 for two reasons; one was to change the mindset of the people and the second was to bring in scooters for women. “Motorcycles have a very ‘inappropriate sitting posture’, not fit for women, especially in our part of the world,” she said.



She said scooters were the preferred ride of women around the world and not motorcycles. “This will completely jeopardise a very good project. The project is very important, socially as well as economically, and unnecessary risks should be avoided.”

She urged the government to look for other means of making the scooter project viable. Mumtaz added that riding motorcycles may also cause medical complications for women.

Dr Yasim Rashid, a PTI leader and a gynecologist by profession, rejected the idea of motorcycles presenting risks to women’s health. She, however, agreed motorcycles do not offer a “descent sitting position for females”. “Scooters have a much more dignified driving posture and should be the preferred choice—as it is around the world.”

Punjab Commission on the Status of Woman Chairperson Dr Fauzia Waqar, who also sounded sceptical of the concept, said selling the concept of motorcycles instead of scooters may be an uphill task, but hoped it would eventually prove successful.

“We have to look for a viable alternative to a scooter,” she said.

Though she declared that motorcycles do not provide women with the best possible seating, she said it was a viable project. Dr Fauzia said she was against a distinct color regime as it would draw unnecessary attention to the woman rider.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 17^th, 2017.