Why these Indian women bikers have made motorcycles their lifeline

On most Mumbai mornings the day begins with crowded platforms impatient horns and ridehailing apps For 27yearold Serina Oguh the solution has been consistent for the last eight years She straps on her helmet mounts her 2018 Suzuki Gixxer 155cc and rides at the break of dawnldquoI just put in the petrol and then I am on the gordquo she says ldquoI donrsquot have to wait for anybodyrdquo Oguh works with The Souled Store and has been living in Mumbai for nearly a decade owning a bike was never a novelty purchase ldquoItrsquos not a toy thing for merdquo she explains ldquoIt was a passionrdquo That passion began long before she moved to the city When she was younger shersquod sneak out to ride a friendrsquos bike whenever she could ldquoI used to hide from people and ride my friendrsquos bikerdquo she laughs ldquoThatrsquos what gave me the urge to get a bike as soon as possiblerdquoWhen Serina Oguh moved to Mumbai from Awalpur near Chandrapur district eight years ago and encountered the daily crush of traffic and local trains bikes became practical PICSAYYED SAMEER ABEDIWhen she moved to Mumbai from Awalpur near Chandrapur district and encountered the daily crush of traffic and local trains the decision became practical ldquoSeeing the rush in the locals I prefer to ride a bike because itrsquos more convenient for me to reach from one place to anotherrdquo she says Oguh taught herself to ride A friend gave her basic instructions on shifting gears and the rest she learned through practice ldquoAnything else I did it on my ownrdquo she saysHer mother supported her decision even contributing financially towards the purchase In daily life she says a geared bike makes more sense than a scooter or public transport ldquoWith a scooter I used to just keep ramming the throttlerdquo she explains ldquoWith a bike the speed is distributed It depends on which gear you are inrdquo The structure of a geared motorcycle she says makes her more patient and controlled on the roadCost is another factor Regular cabs or autos do not make financial sense in the long run With a bike expenses are largely limited to fuel and maintenance ldquoI donrsquot have to book a ticket I donrsquot have to wait for a busrdquo she says ldquoI just put petrol in and I startrdquoReactions on the road have been mixed but largely uneventful Dressed in riding gear she is often mistaken for a male rider until she removes her helmet ldquoOnly when I remove the helmet do they get to knowrdquo she says She adds that Mumbai riders generally ldquomind their own businessrdquo though fellow bikers occasionally acknowledge her with a nod of approvalWhile Oguh represents a younger generation of daily riders 50yearold Mayuree Tayyadeyrsquos journey with motorcycles took a different pathA hair and makeup artist Tayyadey recently purchased a Royal Enfield after years of putting it off She owned an Avenger 16 years ago but stopped riding after a minor accident shook her confidence The desire however remained ldquoThe itch to buy and ride a bike never leftrdquo she says ldquoI realised I have the time right now I am financially set and whatever is on my bucket list I want to slowly start ticking them off I donrsquot want to wait anymorerdquoConcerned initially about handling the weight and height of the Enfield she trained with Royal Enfield instructors and practised on empty roads early in the morning ldquoThrough practice my patience and confidence increased That fear has completely left my mind nowrdquo she saysHaving always had it on her bucket list Mayuree Tayyadey finally bought a Royal Enfield recentlyEncouragement came from home Her 72yearold motherinlaw urged her to go ahead with the purchase and her husband supported the decision Today she uses the bike even for short distances ldquoTherersquos an attachment to itrdquo she says ldquoI go to my bike early in the morning and just caress it like I would a childrdquoFor Payyadey the Enfield is not necessarily the most economical option but practicality was not the only consideration ldquoIf you are able to buy a bike you will find a way for the petrol laterrdquo she says with a laugh She now hopes to ride to Goa for an annual bikersrsquo event later this yearIn Lonavla Vaishnavi Bhangare rides for a different set of reasons A ceramic crockery entrepreneur who also works with the Shivdurga Mitra team on rescue operations across Maharashtra she initially bought her 160cc bike for travel and long rides Riding was always a part of her travel and adventure Gradually it became her primary mode of daily transport ldquoIt just became my default mode of getting aroundrdquo she saysIn a town that sees heavy tourist traffic especially on weekends a bike offers flexibility ldquoLonavla gets very crowded especially on weekends and a bike helps me move around quickly for work errands and site visits It saves a lot of time parking is easy and my 160cc bike is very economical so itrsquos also a big money saverrdquo she says Compared to cabs or a car she finds it more reliable and costeffective ldquoWith a bike I can avoid traffic reach places faster and most importantly I donrsquot have to depend on anyone or anything I have complete control over my time and movementrdquoAll three women come from different age groups and professional backgrounds but their reasons converge around convenience time management and financial sense None describe their choice primarily as a statement Instead it is a solution For these riders the motorcycle is not a symbol It is a tool that saves time reduces dependency and increasingly feels entirely ordinary