The Pink Panthers motorcycle club in Monrovia, Liberia is made up of women who make their living riding motorcycles as taxis. After several assaults, (one rider was guided into an ambush by potential passengers, beaten and had her bike stolen) the women motorcycle taxis of Monrovia decided to band together and established a motorcycle club by wearing bright pink and riding together.
The weather Gods were kind to The Throttle Dolls on an April Sunday morning in Sydney, just before we got some unusually violent weather, it was perfect riding through the northern suburbs of the City through some of our prettiest coastal roads. The Dolls coordinated another big ride for all male and female riders alike and was the first time they felt confident to be able to start taking on members.
After two successful crowdfunding campaigns to produce a film about their story in 2012 and 2014, the final film about Speed Sisters Noor, Marah, Mona, Maysoon and Betty is being premiered in Toronto at Hot Docs Canadian International Film Festival on April 29 – May 2.
The emergence of all-women social groups (who aren't afraid of sharing their moto exploits) is not showing any signs of slowing down. Sydney locals The Throttle Dolls formalised their friendship-cum-riding posse less than eighteen months ago having been having a great time. IVV invited the Dolls to tell us, in their own words, the journey thus far and where it all started.
The Lady Mechanic Initiative was founded by Nigeria's first female mechanic over a decade ago to give women who face many discriminations in Nigeria a chance at a profession. Their mission is to empower women and girls who are labelled indigent, victims of human trafficking, a widow or a any women who want to learn a profession within the automotive industry through the technical and mechanic skills they teach.
