audi, autos, cars, autos news, saudi women rev up motorbikes as end to driving ban nears

Saudi Noura preparing for a training session at the Bikers Skills Institute, a motorcycle driving school, on the outskirts of Riyadh. — AFP

RIYADH: Even a year ago, it would have been hard to imagine — Saudi women clad in skinny jeans and Harley-Davidson T-shirts, revving motorbikes at a Riyadh sports circuit.

But ahead of the historic lifting of a decades-long ban on female drivers on June 24, women gather weekly at the privately owned Bikers Skills Institute, to learn how to ride bikes.

“Biking has been a passion ever since I was a kid,” said 31-year-old Noura, who declined to give her real name as she weighs public reactions in the ultra-conservative Islamic kingdom.

Overturning the world’s only ban on female drivers, long a symbol of repression against women, is the most striking reform yet launched by powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

But it has been overshadowed by a wave of arrests of female activists — including veteran campaigners who long resisted the ban.

None of the women at the floodlit motoring circuit wanted to talk about the crackdown, a deeply sensitive issue, focusing instead on securing a basic freedom long denied to them.

“I grew up watching my family riding bikes,” Noura said as she mounted a Yamaha Virago.

“Now I hope… to have enough skills to ride on the street.”

Next to her, revving a Suzuki, sat Leen Tinawi, a 19-year-old Saudi-born Jordanian.

For both women, biking is not just an adrenalin-fuelled passion, but also a form of empowerment.

“I can summarise the whole experience of riding a bike in one word — freedom,” Tinawi said.

Both bikers follow their Ukrainian instructor, 39-year-old Elena Bukaryeva, who rides a Harley-Davidson.

Most days the circuit is the domain of drag racers and bike enthusiasts — all men.

But since offering courses to women in February on the basics of bike riding, four female enthusiasts have enrolled, most of them Saudis, Bukaryeva said.

“They always wanted to learn how to ride a motorcycle. And now they are saying ‘it’s my time’,” said Bukaryeva.

She echoed a catchphrase printed on the institute’s promotional material: “It’s your turn to ride.”

Asked why more women had not enrolled for the course, which costs 1,500 riyals (around RM1,600), Bukaryeva said: “Maybe their families stop them.”

Tinawi echoed the sentiment, saying she faced strong reservations from her family.

“My parents said: ‘You on a bike? You are a girl. It’s dangerous’,” she said.

In Saudi Arabia, taking the wheel has long been a man’s prerogative.

For decades, hardliners cited austere interpretations of Islam as they sought to justify the ban, with many asserting that allowing them to drive would promote promiscuity.

Many women fear they are still easy prey for conservatives in a nation where male “guardians” — their fathers, husbands or other relatives — can exercise arbitrary authority to make decisions on their behalf.

“Expect more accidents” because of women is a common refrain in an avalanche of sexist comments on Twitter.

The government has preemptively addressed concerns of abuse by outlawing sexual harassment with a prison term of up to five years and a maximum penalty of 300,000 riyals.

The most immediate practical worry for female motorists is the dress code.

Inside the private institute, the bikers wear skinny jeans, with abrasion-proof knee pads wrapped outside — but that is still unthinkable in public.

Body-shrouding abaya robes — mandatory public wear for women — are impractical while riding as their flowing hems could get caught up in the wheels.

Many women also complain that female instructors are in short supply and that classes are expensive.

But topping all concerns is the crackdown on women activists — while the kingdom trumpets women’s rights.

Saudi Arabia this month said it detained 17 people for “undermining” the kingdom’s security.

State-backed media published pictures of veteran driving activists, the word “traitor” stamped across them in red.

“It’s a complete contradiction for the government to proclaim it is in favour of new freedoms for women and then target and detain women for demanding those freedoms,” Samah Hadid, Amnesty International’s Middle East director of campaigns, told AFP.

The arrests have unleashed a torrent of global criticism — including from vocal supporters of Prince Mohammed’s reform drive, such as Bernard Haykel, a professor at Princeton University.

Calling the crackdown “a mistake”, he has urged the government to “apply due process and the rule of law” in handling jailed activists’ cases.

Observers say the arrests seem calculated by the crown prince to placate clerics incensed by the modernisation drive and to send a clear signal that the pace of reform will be driven by him alone, not the activists.

Back at the institute, as the floodlights dimmed and the women bikers donned their abayas to leave, the crackdown was not a topic of discussion.

“A climate of fear is now evident in Saudi Arabia,” Hadid said.

Keyword: Saudi women rev up motorbikes as end to driving ban nears

CAR'S NEWS RELATED

What’s the correct tyre pressure for your Audi A3

We take you through the recommended tyre pressures for all Audi A3 models produced from 2003 until 2022. Effects of incorrect tyre pressure Under-inflated tyres will cause excess wear and tear on the inside and outside edges of the tread. Over-inflated tyres have a much narrower contact patch with the road ...

View more: What’s the correct tyre pressure for your Audi A3

Audi Elevates A4 and S4 Sedan Appeal With Black Edition Offshoot

Image: Audi Image: Audi Image: Audi NewsBy: Ryan De Villiers Audi has emboldened its A4 and S4 sedan model’s appeal by debuting the Black Edition offshoots, which offers greater visual appeal and improved convenience features. Image: Audi Pricing:  Audi A4 35 TFSI S tronic Black Edition: R900 000 Audi ...

View more: Audi Elevates A4 and S4 Sedan Appeal With Black Edition Offshoot

The Audi TT Is Dead. This Is The Last Car Built

After 662,762 vehicles assembled, the Tourist Trophy is no more.

View more: The Audi TT Is Dead. This Is The Last Car Built

New Audi cars and SUVs coming to South Africa in 2024

Audi will expand its South African portfolio in 2024 with a number of special-edition models for its most popular vehicles. In no particular order, the German automaker confirmed that, next year, it will bring the following vehicles to our shores: A3 and S3 Black Edition A3 Sportback 35TFSI Urban ...

View more: New Audi cars and SUVs coming to South Africa in 2024

Limited-edition Audi A4 Black Edition for South Africa – Only 100 up for grabs

Black Edition specifications Price Audi A4 Black Edition The Audi A4 Black Edition is launching in South Africa soon in four specifications starting at R900,000. The popular four-door has been on sale in its current form since 2020 in Standard, Advanced, and S Line trims, with the Black Edition ...

View more: Limited-edition Audi A4 Black Edition for South Africa – Only 100 up for grabs

834-HP Honda Civic Wagon Vs. Stock Audi RS5 Drag Proves Power Isn't Everything

This battle is between an all-wheel-drive Honda Civic wagon making 834 hp against a stock Audi RS5 shows that grip is just as important as power numbers.

View more: 834-HP Honda Civic Wagon Vs. Stock Audi RS5 Drag Proves Power Isn't Everything

Audi e-tron GT caught with a sporty facelift for the first time

Audi’s high-performance EV is getting an upgrade. The Audi e-tron GT was caught testing for the first time, revealing the electric car’s sporty new facelift. Audi, Porshe upgrade to rival Tesla Like the Porsche Taycan, Audi’s e-tron GT was one of the first fully electric models to take on ...

View more: Audi e-tron GT caught with a sporty facelift for the first time

We Spied The Next-Gen Audi S5 Sportback

Photo: Daniel Golson/Jalopnik One of my favorite car-related things about living in Los Angeles is the frequency with which I see camouflaged test vehicles. Automakers from America, Europe, Japan, Korea and more have design centers or R&D facilities in Southern California, and others will just ship cars out here ...

View more: We Spied The Next-Gen Audi S5 Sportback

This Is Audi's New A5 Wagon Before You're Supposed To See It

Audi S3 And RS3 Sedans Are Getting New Lights And Bumpers

Audi SQ8 e-tron first drive: This tri-motor EV drives nimbly for its size, but sacrifices a lot of range

The Tri-Motor SQ8 E-Tron Is The First Audi That’s So Fun It Made Me Giggle

2024 Audi SQ8 Sportback E-Tron First Drive: Maybe The Best-Handling Electric SUV Right Now

30 lakh budget: Exploring options for a preowned German petrol sedan

Most affordable crossover from every brand in South Africa

What is the Audi RS3 top speed?

Tesla, Audi, And Nissan EVs Have Minimal Winter Range Loss

Tesla releases update with new way to activate Autopilot/FSD and separate backseat audio

Here's An Early Look At The Next-Generation Audi Q7

Audi Waves Goodbye To The R8 With An Emotional 'The Last Lap' Video

OTHER CAR NEWS

; Top List in the World https://www.pinterest.com/newstopcar/pins/
Top Best Sushi Restaurants in SeoulTop Best Caribbean HoneymoonsTop Most Beautiful Islands in PeruTop Best Outdoor Grill BrandsTop Best Global Seafood RestaurantsTop Foods to Boost Your Immune SystemTop Best Foods to Fight HemorrhoidsTop Foods That Pack More Potassium Than a BananaTop Best Healthy Foods to Gain Weight FastTop Best Cosmetic Brands in the U.STop Best Destinations for Food Lovers in EuropeTop Best Foods High in Vitamin ATop Best Foods to Lower Your Blood SugarTop Best Things to Do in LouisianaTop Best Cities to Visit in New YorkTop Best Makeup Addresses In PennsylvaniaTop Reasons to Visit NorwayTop Most Beautiful Islands In The WorldTop Best Law Universities in the WorldTop Richest Sportsmen In The WorldTop Biggest Aquariums In The WorldTop Best Peruvian Restaurants In MiamiTop Best Road Trips From MiamiTop Best Places to Visit in MarylandTop Best Places to Visit in North CarolinaTop Best Electric Cars For KidsTop Best Swedish Brands in The USTop Best Skincare Brands in AmericaTop Best American Lipstick BrandsTop Michelin-starred Restaurants in MiamiTop Best Secluded Getaways From MiamiTop Best Things To Do On A Rainy Day In MiamiTop Most Instagrammable Places In MiamiTop Interesting Facts about FlorenceTop Facts About The First Roman Emperor - AugustusTop Best Japanese FoodsTop Most Beautiful Historical Sites in IsraelTop Best Places To Visit In Holy SeeTop Best Hawaiian IslandsTop Reasons to Visit PortugalTop Best Hotels In L.A. With Free Wi-FiTop Best Scenic Drives in MiamiTop Best Vegan Restaurants in BerlinTop Most Interesting Attractions In WalesTop Health Benefits of a Vegan DietTop Best Thai Restaurant in Las VegasTop Most Beautiful Forests in SwitzerlandTop Best Global Universities in GermanyTop Most Beautiful Lakes in GuyanaTop Best Things To Do in IdahoTop Things to Know Before Traveling to North MacedoniaTop Best German Sunglasses BrandsTop Highest Mountains In FranceTop Biggest Hydroelectric Plants in AmericaTop Best Spa Hotels in NYCTop The World's Scariest BridgeTop Largest Hotels In AmericaTop Most Famous Festivals in JordanTop Best European Restaurants in MunichTop Best Japanese Hiking Boot BrandsTop Best Universities in PolandTop Best Tips for Surfing the Web Safely and AnonymouslyTop Most Valuable Football Clubs in EuropeTop Highest Mountains In ColombiaTop Real-Life Characters of Texas RisingTop Best Beaches in GuatelamaTop Things About DR Congo You Should KnowTop Best Korean Reality & Variety ShowsTop Best RockstarsTop Most Beautiful Waterfalls in GermanyTop Best Fountain Pen Ink BrandsTop Best European Restaurants in ChicagoTop Best Fighter Jets in the WorldTop Best Three-Wheel MotorcyclesTop Most Beautiful Lakes in ManitobaTop Best Dive Sites in VenezuelaTop Best Websites For Art StudentsTop Best Japanese Instant Noodle BrandsTop Best Comedy Manhwa (Webtoons)Top Best Japanese Sunglasses BrandsTop Most Expensive Air Jordan SneakersTop Health Benefits of CucumberTop Famous Universities in SwedenTop Most Popular Films Starring Jo Jung-sukTop Interesting Facts about CougarsTop Best Hospitals for Hip Replacement in the USATop Most Expensive DefendersTop Health Benefits of GooseberriesTop Health Benefits of ParsnipsTop Best Foods and Drinks in LondonTop Health Benefits of Rosehip TeaTop Best Air Fryers for Low-fat CookingTop Most Asked Teacher Interview Questions with AnswersTop Best Shopping Malls in ZurichTop The Most Beautiful Botanical Gardens In L.A.Top Best Mexican Restaurants in Miami for Carb-loading rightTop Best Energy Companies in GermanyTop Best Garage HeatersTop Largest Banks in IrelandTop Leading Provider - Audit and Assurance In The USTop Best Jewelry Brands in IndiaTop Prettiest Streets in the UKTop Best Lakes to Visit in TunisiaTop Highest Mountains in Israel