<p>HEART CITY (Pajhwok): Mahria Rahmani is the first woman in western Herat province who has been using her own motorcycle to reach local destinations since many years.</p>
<p>Despite social problems, Mahria would go to university on bike. “Riding motorcycle is cost effective compared to taxis or cars,” she said, recalling she used bicycle for going to university. “But now I use motorcycle for taking my kids to kindergarten,” she said.</p>
<p>However, she said as the Afghan <a href="/en/society" class="glossify-link">society</a> riding motorcycles were not liked by men.</p>
<p>“In a traditional society, people laugh at women who ride bicycle or motorcycle and men think only they should ride them,” she said. Mahria asked other women not to bow social challenges.</p>
<p>She said she was interested in bike riding from childhood and was encouraged by her family to commute in Heart city using her motorcycle.</p>
<p>She said she was trying to institutionalize women motorcycle riding in Herat province.</p>
<p>“It is not the culture in <a href="/en/afghanistan" class="glossify-link">Afghanistan</a> that women ride bicycle or motorcycle but it is also not a bad thing, we women should put an end to this tradition,” she added.</p>
<p>She asked local officials to promote the culture of women motorcycle riding in the province.</p>
<p>Some women in <a href="/en/afganistan/kabul" class="glossify-link">Kabul</a> also drive cars and motorcycles for daily local travel.</p>
<p>Mds/ma</p>
