Panaji: When they set their beasts free on the road, everyone stopped for a moment and kept gazing in awe.
Experiencing stray cattle as a cause of traffic hazards has long been known in Goa. But on Saturday morning, every pedestrian,
biker
and driver, irrespective of their gender, came to a halt when over 100
women
let their beastly bikes burn the city roads in the Goa women Bike
Rally
to mark the International Women’s Week.
The bike rally for women, first in Goa’s history, organized by The Times of India in association with Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, was a grand success. After the flag-off at the hands of Priyanka Kashyap, SP, Special Branch, the hoots and the honks never died for a moment as the girl gang followed their designated route, from SAG Campal ground to Shyama Prasad Mukherjee stadium, Bambolim, and back.
After a 40-minute ride, as the women settled down at the venue, each participant was presented with certificates. Vilma Fernandes, a 52-year-old mother, who was riding a Royal Enfield Thunderbird, won the host’s favourite rider award.
“I don’t have a bike of my own. This is my son’s bike. I love riding and I keep riding his bike as he does not stay in Goa. But my husband has promised that he would gift me a Harley Davidson soon,” said Vilma, a Mala resident.
Harley Davidson is a dream bike for every rider. Sandra Rodrigues was lucky to have one as the crowd admired her bike. Riding a Harley 883, Sandra set a standard for women riders in the state. “I started riding at the age of 13. My first bike was a Yamaha. The Harley was gifted by my husband in 2014. We have a Harley group and I ride with men every Sunday. I can’t express what riding means to me. I forget all my sorrows when I start riding,” the 36-year-old said.
It’s not only Vilma or Sandra who celebrated womenhood on Saturday. Each rider contributed to the concept of women’s liberation and inspired many of those who were still mulling over riding as an option for mobility. Shelve your fears and set your foot on the gears. Let’s expect life will be smoother than ever before.
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