Women scooter riders in Lahore report harassment, road bullying

LAHORE: Women riding scooters across Lahore are becoming a more visible part of the city’s workforce and daily mobility, but a growing number of harassment incidents, aggressive driving behaviour, and road safety risks are raising serious concerns, according to a special investigative report.

Compiled using data from multiple Punjab institutions, the report highlights that despite increasing participation of women in urban commuting, road conditions remain challenging and often unsafe.

Figures from the Punjab Safe Cities Authority’s Virtual Women Police Station show that more than 82,000 women contacted emergency helplines over the past year to report issues faced on roads. Nearly 45% of these complaints were linked to stalking and road-related bullying.

Police records cited in the report indicate over 800 registered cases of serious harassment in Lahore, while around 2,500 incidents involving women riders being secretly filmed or targeted for online trolling were reported in 2025.

The report identifies aggressive driving behaviour by male motorists as a key contributing factor, noting repeated patterns where women riders are subjected to dangerous overtaking, pressure tactics, and intimidation on busy roads.

Survey findings included in the report suggest that nearly 90% of women riders experience situations where male drivers deliberately ride close to their scooters in an attempt to intimidate them.

Experts quoted in the report say the issue goes beyond driving skills and reflects a broader behavioural problem on the roads. Psychologist Dr Tahira Malik noted that continuous honking and close vehicle movement can significantly affect focus and increase stress for women riders.

Women commuters also shared experiences of being targeted while overtaking or riding independently, with some describing incidents of reckless behaviour from other motorists triggered by gender bias on the road.

Interestingly, Rescue 1122 data cited in the report shows that women account for only 19.4% of injuries in Punjab’s annual traffic accidents, suggesting they are not disproportionately responsible for road incidents.

The report also notes that many cases remain unreported due to fear of family restrictions and social consequences, with some women avoiding complaints to prevent being discouraged from riding altogether.

It concludes that while women’s participation in urban transport is increasing, road safety challenges remain deeply tied to traffic discipline, public behaviour, and enforcement gaps rather than driving ability alone.