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Group in Kenya Aims to Get More Women on Motorbikes
A new organization in Kenya wants more women to ride motorcycles on the streets of the capital, Nairobi.
The club is called Piki Dada, which means "motorbike sisters" in Swahili. The group started in June and now has 40 members.
Patience Mehta is a farmer and administrator in Nairobi. She started the club to give women a way to share their experiences on motorbikes.
"We like to motivate each other," she said. "We come together. We talk together. We live together. We ride together."
Interest in motorbikes is increasing in Kenya. The desire for a more efficient means of transportation has pushed that growth.
"Bikes are special in every way," Metha said. "The fact that they don't stop in traffic. The fact that they give you that rush, the adrenaline rush — it just makes you feel, ‘Wow!'"
Kenya's National Bureau of Statistics said that the number of registered motorbikes went from 16,300 in 2007 to 191,000 in 2017.
The growing interest in bikes among women has led to changes in the marketplace, too.
Bike dealers have begun selling riding gear especially made for women, Mehta said. They have also begun importing motorbikes that are sized for women.
Mehta wants to change the way people think in the East African nation.
"People (are) thinking it's just a man's sport," Mehta said of motorbiking.
"...We believe that everyone who sees us, everyone who speaks to us, everyone who knows us also will get encouraged," she added.
The club teaches defensive riding methods to its members. Car drivers can present safety risks to riders.
Dmenaris Mainis is an internet technology security analyst. She has ridden motorbikes for three years and has learned defensive skills to try to avoid accidents.
She said, "We find that in some areas where bikes are not very common, they're not very cautious about us...You find someone who's just coming into your lane."
Piki Dada is not the only women's motorbike group. Throttle Queens, the Inked Sisterhood and Heels of Steel support female motorbikers through talks and training. Club members work to educate the public and mentor girls and women. They also go into schools to offer social support and plan weekend rides outside of the city.
Some of the club members see riding a motorbike as a get-away.
"It's a way to set yourself free," Mainis said. "Every time I ride, I feel like I am able to put everything aside and just concentrate on the road and to have a good time. It's just very special to me."
Piki Dada is open to all women. They must have a registered bike, Mehta said. She added that enthusiasm also is required.
"If you don't have that energy, then you will not be able to keep up," she added.
