Women Riders in Iran Push Boundaries: Instructor Trains Hundreds Amid Licensing Grey Area

When Maryam Ghelich first learned to ride a motorcycle she practised on Tehran's empty streets at night to avoid attention over her clothing and the absence of a licence. Fifteen years later, Ghelich is a certified instructor who has trained hundreds of women to navigate the capital's congested roads while confronting social and legal obstacles that have long limited female riders in the Islamic Republic.

In recent months she has seen a sharp rise in demand for lessons, both for city commuting and for racing. Sitting at a training centre in northern Tehran, Ghelich described motorcycling as a passion she long fought to prove was not only for men.

Growing Presence on the Streets

Across Tehran and other Iranian cities, women on mopeds and motorcycles wearing colourful helmets have become a more familiar sight at intersections and on main roads. For many riders and instructors, that visibility signals a subtle yet meaningful shift in social attitudes, driven in part by women asserting broader rights and freedoms.

"People's perspectives in our society have really changed. It wasn't accepted at all before," Ghelich said, remembering more than a decade when she was one of only a few women riders.

Licensing: A Legal Grey Area

Although traffic laws do not explicitly ban women from riding motorcycles, in practice authorities have not issued motorcycle licences to women. That gap creates a serious legal vulnerability: unlicensed riders risk being blamed if they are involved in accidents, even when they are not at fault.

Niloufar, a 43-year-old fashion designer who recently joined Ghelich's urban-riding course, said the lack of licences is a constant concern. Without formal documentation, she said, women face legal and financial exposure if they suffer a crash.

Publicly, government spokespeople insist there is no legal prohibition. Traffic police officials have said officers cannot create their own interpretation of the law on religious or other grounds and must enforce what is formally issued. Yet conservative figures continue to cite the country's strict dress code as a deterrent, arguing that some forms of riding conflict with Islamic principles of modesty.

Abdolhossein Khosropanah of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution warned that improper covering while riding could be seen as a violation of Sharia, while ultraconservative lawmakers have called women riding motorcycles culturally inappropriate.

Changing Enforcement and Social Acceptance

Riders and instructors say enforcement has eased over time. Ghelich recalled past race regulations that forced women to wear long overalls over their protective suits, a requirement that limited performance. Today, she says, police are more likely to return seized bikes quickly and to move on without prolonged confrontation.

Women across Iran have been pushing social boundaries more visibly since the September 2022 death in custody of Mahsa Amini, who was detained over an alleged hijab violation. That movement has helped accelerate changes in behaviour and public attitudes, including greater acceptance of women riding motorbikes.

Mona Nasehi, a 33-year-old salon owner who began riding this year, recalled being too afraid to stop when police tried to pull her over. Many women still worry about harassment or confiscation, even as they take to the roads. Nayereh Chitsazian, 53, who recently bought a motorcycle, said licensing remains the last obstacle for her: the bike is registered and insured, and she sees no reason for police to object.

Outlook: The growing visibility of women riders reflects both practical demand for mobility and a wider social shift. While legal ambiguity over licensing persists and conservative opposition remains vocal, many riders and trainers see steady, incremental progress toward greater acceptance and safer conditions for women on two wheels.

Source: AFP