Had Never Faced This Kind Of Street Harassment Before, Say Female Cyclists

In August, when the little people in Dadar’s traffic lights swap-ped their straight-legged trousers for a triangular frock, Mumbai became the first Indian city to install female figures in its pedestrian signal as a step towards greater inclusivity. But a symbolic move to dispel the notion that only men should step out may not be enough unless there is a rethink on women’s safety in public.

- Mohua Das & Nitasha Natu

As the country started opening up, more and more people took to cycling through the city’s usually gridlocked streets. Women’s participation in this change, though, has been fraught with barriers.

Mumbai, despite its longstanding sense of safety compared to several other cities, is seeing a significant number of women—especially female cyclists—complain that deserted stretches during the lockdown made them an easy target of bikers swerving dangerously close, suggestive honking, standard catcalling to lewd comments about clothing, especially if it involves lycra, and even outright assault.

Aparna D’Souza, a 48-year-old from Mahim, had never felt so grateful for her bicycle that allowed her to ride out into the morning sun after months of being locked down. “Until three Sundays ago, when somewhere around Haji Ali three boys on a bike came zipping extremely close. One of them managed a sweeping brush on my back and sped off before I could slow down or take any action,” she recalls. “Street harassment is something we’re all used to but I’ve been running for six years and cycling since February, and it’s never been so drastic. I almost lost my balance in the midst of passing traffic.”