Iran Officially Allows Women To Ride Motorcycle

Women in Iran can now formally obtain licences to ride motorcycles, local media reported on Wednesday, ending years of legal ambiguity surrounding women’s use of two-wheelers in the country.

Although Iranian law had not explicitly prohibited women from riding motorbikes and scooters, authorities had, in practice, refused to issue licences to female riders. The legal grey area also meant that women were often held liable in accidents, even when they were victims.

Iran’s First Vice President, Mohammad Reza Aref, signed a resolution on Tuesday clarifying the traffic code. The measure, approved by Iran’s cabinet in late January, was reported by the country’s Ilna news agency.

Under the new resolution, traffic police are required to “provide practical training to female applicants, organise an exam under the direct supervision of the police, and issue motorcycle driver’s licences to women,” Ilna said.

The policy shift comes amid heightened social tensions in Iran, following waves of protests that initially began over economic grievances and later expanded into nationwide anti-government demonstrations. Authorities have acknowledged that more than 3,000 people died during the unrest, insisting most were members of the security forces and bystanders.

Since Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, women have faced a range of societal restrictions, with dress codes posing particular challenges for female motorcyclists. Women are required to cover their hair with a headscarf in public and wear modest, loose-fitting clothing.

Despite these rules, the number of women riding motorcycles has risen sharply in recent years, as many openly defy dress restrictions. The trend intensified after the 2022 death in custody of Mahsa Amini, who was arrested for allegedly violating Iran’s dress code.

Amini’s death sparked widespread protests led by women demanding greater freedoms, with the growing visibility oFemale motorcyclists are becoming one of the symbols of resistance against long-standing restrictions.