From Stigma to Strength: The Rise of Female Scooty Riders and the Need for Supportive Policies

Traveling has always been a challenge for women in Pakistan. Traditionally, they relied on cramped public vans, often facing harassment and other issues. Over time, public transport improved, and women began gaining more independence. However, the cultural norm of prioritizing boys for driving lessons left many girls behind. Slowly, these barriers started to crumble, and today, women driving cars has become more commonplace.

But mobility goes beyond cars. The emergence of female scooty riders and bike drivers represents a significant shift in how women navigate their lives, signalling a need for supportive policies to sustain this momentum.

Mobility Beyond Cars: The Rise of Female Scooty Riders

Travel is a necessity for all women whether they are professionals, students, or from lower-income groups. Today, women are increasingly learning to ride bikes and e-scooters to meet their commuting needs. This change not only promotes independence but also has broader societal benefits, including reduced traffic congestion and environmental advantages.

To encourage this trend, there is an urgent need for policies that enable easier access to e-scooters through affordable instalment plans and hassle-free registration. Additionally, safety measures for female riders should be a priority to ensure their well-being on the roads.

Key Issues and Barriers

Despite progress, cultural stigmas and gender biases persist. Female drivers, whether in cars or on scotty, are often unfairly blamed for accidents. Moreover, female scooty riders face heightened risks of harassment, and the lack of specialized training programs exacerbates their challenges.

Programs like “Women on Wheels,” which train women to ride bikes, are a step in the right direction, but more extensive initiatives are needed. Repairing bikes and e-scooters also poses a challenge, as repair shops are typically male-dominated spaces where women may feel uncomfortable.

In addition to cultural barriers, broader concerns such as traffic congestion and environmental issues like smog are pressing problems in cities like Lahore. E-scooters, being fuel-efficient and eco-friendly, can address these concerns effectively. However, the legal framework must evolve to address the unique challenges of female riders, such as harassment on the roads and roadside emergencies. Initiatives like Safe City apps and the 15 traffic police booths are promising, but their scope should be expanded to include scooty riders.

What Needs to Be Done

To support the growing number of female e-scooty riders, several steps can be taken:

• Establish female-only fuel stations, charging spots, and repair shops to ensure safety and convenience.
• Allocate female-only lanes on wider roads where feasible and create dedicated parking spaces for female riders in public and restricted areas.
• Launch large-scale campaigns to foster acceptance and positive attitudes toward female riders.
• Introduce low-interest or interest-free instalment plans for e-scooters, like the student-focused scheme launched by the CM of Punjab.
• Integrate existing harassment prevention initiatives, like Safe City apps, with features tailored to female scooty riders.

Conclusion: A Path to Progress

Supporting female e-scooty riders is more than just a mobility issue—it is a step toward gender equality, environmental sustainability, and improved public transport efficiency. Like developed nations, Pakistan must prioritize public transport improvements alongside policies that empower women through independent mobility.

By promoting e-scooter use and creating a supportive ecosystem for female riders, Pakistan can address multiple societal challenges, including traffic congestion, environmental concerns, and gender disparity. This approach aligns with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and paves the way for a more progressive and equitable society.