to move up and down
Indonesia province moves to ban women from straddling motorcycles, says it shows ‘curves of a woman’s body’
Authorities in Indonesia’s Aceh province are pressing ahead with a proposed Islamic law that would ban female passengers from straddling motorbikes despite reported opposition from the central government.
Aceh introduced a version of Shariah, or Islamic law, in 2009, after it gained autonomy from the government in a 2005 peace deal to end a long-running separatist war there. The Aceh laws regulate women’s dress and public morality, require shops and other places to close at prayer time, and are enforced by a special unit. Punishments can include public caning.
On Monday, authorities in northern Aceh distributed a notice to government offices and villages informing residents of the proposed law, which would apply to adolescent girls and women. It states that women are not allowed to straddle motorbikes unless it’s an “emergency,” and are not allowed to hold onto the driver. (AP Photo/Rahmat Yahya)
Japanese man’s Harley-Davidson turns up in B.C. after being swept away by tsunami
The owner of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle that washed up on B.C.’s Haida Gwaii — a rusty remnant of the devastating tsunami that struck Japan a year ago — has been identified.
Japanese media has identified the owner of the bike as 29-year-old Ikuo Yokoyama.
“I’m very thankful that it came back,” he told local broadcaster NHK in Japanese. “I would like to thank the man who found my bike in person, but because it’s hard to do that, I’d like to thank him here right now.” (Photo: Screengrab from NHK World News)
Stacey Nesbitt, 14, first woman to reach podium in Honda CBR125R Challenge
The most amazing thing about Stacey Nesbitt isn’t that she’s a young woman riding a motorcycle. It’s not that she’s a wee wisp of a thing, barely 45 kilograms soaking wet on a 5-foot-5 frame. Nor is it that she’s only 14-years-old, a mere babe in the woods when it comes to motorcycle racing. It’s not even that she won the 2011 Honda CBR125R Challenge (although that is why I am writing this column), the first woman to win a fully accredited national road racing series in Canada (and, some have contended, the world).
No, the most amazing thing about Stacey Nesbitt is that she’s been riding a motorcycle for only two years. No riding of minibikes since she was a toddler in diapers, no father pushing her into junior motocross when she could barely walk nor even a whole bunch of time playing pillion behind Dad on his Harley. (Photo: Philippe Champoux/Moto123)
Vladimir Putin rides a massive motorcycle for some reason
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin kicked off an election campaign on Monday revving up his three-wheeled Harley Davidson at the head of a bikers motorcade — the latest in a series of macho stunts that have punctuated his political career.
Black-clad Putin, 58, called the “Night Wolves” biker club his “brothers” as he joined a festival aboard a Soviet-era warship in the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, held to mark the city’s liberation during World War Two.
“I want to talk to you, brothers. It is cool that you do not forget the heroes of the past,” said Putin. “Boys, girls you are great. Not only are you having fun while riding your bikes but you are also combining it with patriotic deeds.” (Photo: Ivan Sekretarev/AFP/Getty Images)
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Alvaro Bautista of Spain and Rizla Suzuki MotoGP rides during a warm up for the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on July 24. Jeff Gross/Getty Images
Maybe don’t sit there. Or there. A worker checks the finishing on a motorcycle made from recycled materials of spare parts from cars and bicycles at a workshop owned by Roongrojna Sangwongprisarn in Bangkok July 27, 2011. Roongrojna, 54, creates his artworks from recycled spare parts from used cars, motorcycles as well as bicycles. With four shops in Bangkok named “Ko Art Shop”, Roongrojna also exports his artworks to clients all over the world.(REUTERS/Sukree Sukplang) For more of today’s best photos
Sarah Palin rides on a motorcycle before participating in the “Rolling Thunder” rally May 29, 2011 in Arlington, Virginia.
