Iran Women Win Right To Ride Motorcycles After Decades Of Bans

Iran has officially allowed women to obtain licences to ride motorcycles, marking a notable change in the country’s traffic regulations and gender norms. Local media reported on Wednesday that the move ends years of legal ambiguity during which women were effectively barred from riding two-wheelers despite no explicit legal ban. The decision is being viewed as a rare step toward easing restrictions on women.

Although Iranian law never formally prohibited women from riding motorcycles or scooters, authorities routinely refused to issue licences. As a result, women riders were left vulnerable to legal consequences and were often held responsible in accidents, even when they were victims. The new clarification is expected to address these long-standing inconsistencies in enforcement.

The change follows a resolution signed on Tuesday by Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref, after approval by the cabinet in late January. According to the Ilna news agency, the resolution directs traffic police to provide training to female applicants, conduct examinations under official supervision, and issue motorcycle driving licences to women.

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The policy shift comes amid heightened social and political tensions in Iran, following waves of protests triggered by economic grievances and broader demands for political reform. Authorities have acknowledged that more than 3,000 people were killed during the unrest, maintaining that many were security personnel or bystanders caught in the violence.

Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iranian women have faced strict societal regulations, including mandatory dress codes that complicate riding motorcycles in public. Despite these restrictions, the number of women riding motorbikes has increased in recent years, often in defiance of enforcement practices.

This trend accelerated after the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini while in custody for allegedly violating dress code rules, an incident that sparked nationwide protests led by women. While the new licensing policy does not remove broader social restrictions, it represents a symbolic and practical shift in women’s mobility and public presence in Iran.

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