Riding high - Female motorcyclists shifting gears

More women are shattering stereotypes and claiming their place in spaces once dominated by men -- motorcycling is no exception. Among these trailblazing women are police corporal Morata Murdock, broadcaster and educator Paula-Anne Porter-Jones, and entrepreneur Laurie Radlin-Walker.

These women safely navigate the open road with confidence, skill, and undeniable style. They say that being a female motorcyclist comes with unique challenges. On the road, they often sense the astonishment from male riders when they realise a woman is keeping up with them.

"For some, it's intimidating, and in some ways it affects their egos," Radlin-Walker remarked, reflecting on her experiences.

Porter-Jones shared how she enjoys the double take from male riders when she removes her helmet, revealing that they had been riding alongside a woman all along.

"I kinda like when you ride up, stop, take off the helmet, and they realise it's a woman!" she said with a chuckle.

Murdock has had similar experiences, noting that some male riders react competitively when they become aware that she is a woman.

"They start revving up their engines, especially if I'm on a bigger bike than they are," she said, shaking her head.

For Radlin-Walker, riding a motorcycle does not mean sacrificing femininity. With beautifully painted, long, acrylic nails, she embraces her 'hot girl' appearance while commanding her machine.

"Some men can't believe I ride with long nails, but that's just their opinion. It doesn't affect me at all," she said.

BALANCE BOTH WORLDS

She pointed out that women generally are fascinated by her ability to balance both worlds, proving that being a rider does not mean losing the essence of being a woman.

For all three women, one of the greatest joys of motorcycling is the sense of freedom it provides.

"When you're on the motorcycle, it's like you're in a different world," related Murdock.

Radlin-Walker described it as "tunnel vision", where it is just her and the bike moving as one.

Beyond the thrill, they acknowledged the misconceptions surrounding motorcyclists. Many people view them as reckless and irresponsible, and Porter-Jones noted that some are even outright rude to riders.

"But they're not gonna be rude to you as a police officer," she quipped at Murdock.

One undeniable reality of motorcycling is the high number of male fatalities, many of which could be prevented by wearing proper safety gears, particularly a certified helmet.

"When we are the ones driving the motorcycle, we are usually wearing helmets," Porter-Jones pointed out.

Murdock emphasised that for women, safety is instinctive.

"Automatically, as women, we are protectors. We want to keep ourselves safe and ensure that others are safe as well."

Radlin-Walker was direct in her stance on helmets.

"Yuh not a rider if yuh doh have on yuh helmet," she said firmly.

She described how dangerous it is to ride without head protection, highlighting the risk of debris hitting your face at high speeds and the potential for severe head injury in the event of a crash.

Porter-Jones added that ensuring a helmet is certified is just as important as wearing one.

"Not all helmets are created equal. Some may look safe, but if they're not certified, they won't protect you the way they should."