‘It could have killed me’: Sia’s Gurgaon crash raises a bigger question – how safe are women bikers on roads?

On their journey from Chandigarh to Leh, women riders recounted being ignored, stared at, underestimated and put at risk while navigating the roads. The recent on-camera hit-and-run incident in Gurgaon, which left Delhi biker Sia injured, has sparked outrage among citizens, but also reminded women riders of the safety concerns they face. Sia, riding an Aprilia RS 457, expressed her fear of being killed in the collision, questioning why the driver did not stop if he felt remorseful.

Women bikers in Chandigarh and other regions grapple with this issue, as the danger often lies not only in crashes but also in the behavior of other road users. Jagmeet, a four-year veteran rider, shared that she often encounters stares and unsolicited comments, and the assumption that her motorcycle belongs to her husband or brother. This makes her realize that women riders are not yet fully accepted as ordinary road traffic participants.

Long-distance riding comes with its own set of challenges, including finding clean washrooms and riding alone after dark, which requires extra caution. However, Jagmeet believes that increased visibility can eventually work in women riders' favor. She advises fellow riders to be prepared with proper gear, traffic awareness, and confidence in handling their motorcycles.

Kunjlata Nath, who has completed rides to Leh and Arunachal Pradesh and regularly travels in Chandigarh, believes that the challenge can sometimes be as much about attitudes as traffic. She has faced situations where women riders are not taken seriously by mechanics, traffic police, and fellow riders. To cope with these challenges, she takes precautions such as sharing her live location with family, avoiding deserted stretches, and keeping her fuel tank full. For her, confidence and caution go hand in hand, and she insists on wearing proper riding gear.

62-year-old Shruti Nandkeolyar, who has ridden through various regions of India, had a mostly positive experience on the road. She found the road welcoming and received encouragement, especially from women around her age. Nandkeolyar also recounted instances of help from dhaba owners, petrol pump workers, shopkeepers, and villagers when assistance was needed with punctures or breakdowns.

However, she acknowledges that dangerous moments still occurred during her journeys, such as a speeding Thar attempting to overtake her group and a vehicle grazing the back of her motorcycle.

Nandkeolyar emphasizes that experience on the road does not eliminate risk, and this strong connection exists between Sia's experience and that of women riders across the region. The women interviewed by The Indian Express do not consider themselves seeking special treatment because of their gender; instead, they stress that motorists should recognize that women riders deserve space, attention, and respect on the road.

Nutrition, fitness, staying aware of one's body, and wearing appropriate safety gear are crucial for women riders.

Parwinder Sandhu, a woman rider, expressed his distress over incidents like Sia's accident in Gurgaon, stating that riding is supposed to provide a sense of freedom, confidence, and independence, and should not make women feel unsafe. He believes that safer roads require better policing, proper lighting, functioning CCTV, quicker response systems, and most importantly, accountability.

Sandhu encourages fellow women riders to not let fear take away their freedom and to ride smart, stay connected, look out for each other, and speak up when something doesn't feel right. He believes that women deserve to ride without constantly looking over their shoulders.