VOA慢速英语--肯尼亚的一个组织旨在让更多的妇女骑摩托车

Group in Kenya Aims to Get More Women on Motorbikes

A new organization in Kenya wants more women to ride motorcycles on the streets of the capital, Nairobi.

The club is called Piki Dada, which means “motorbike sisters” in Swahili. The group started in June and now has 40 members.

Patience Mehta is a farmer and administrator¹ in Nairobi. She started the club to give women a way to share their experiences on motorbikes.

“We like to motivate each other,” she said. “We come together. We talk together. We live together. We ride together.”

Interest in motorbikes is increasing in Kenya. The desire for a more efficient means of transportation has pushed that growth.

“Bikes are special in every way," Metha said. "The fact that they don't stop in traffic. The fact that they give you that rush, the adrenaline rush — it just makes you feel, ‘Wow!’”

Kenya’s National Bureau of Statistics said that the number of registered motorbikes went from 16,300 in 2007 to 191,000 in 2017.

The growing interest in bikes among women has led to changes in the marketplace, too.

Bike dealers² have begun selling riding gear especially made for women, Mehta said. They have also begun importing motorbikes that are sized for women.

Mehta wants to change the way people think in the East African nation.

“People (are) thinking it’s just a man’s sport,” Mehta said of motorbiking.

“…We believe that everyone who sees us, everyone who speaks to us, everyone who knows us also will get encouraged,” she added.

The club teaches defensive³ riding methods to its members. Car drivers can present safety risks to riders.

Dmenaris Mainis is an internet technology security analyst⁴. She has ridden motorbikes for three years and has learned defensive skills to try to avoid accidents.

She said, “We find that in some areas where bikes are not very common, they’re not very cautious about us…You find someone who’s just coming into your lane.”

Piki Dada is not the only women’s motorbike group. Throttle⁵ Queens, the Inked Sisterhood and Heels of Steel support female motorbikers through talks and training. Club members work to educate the public and mentor⁶ girls and women. They also go into schools to offer social support and plan weekend rides outside of the city.

Some of the club members see riding a motorbike as a get-away.

“It’s a way to set yourself free,” Mainis said. “Every time I ride, I feel like I am able to put everything aside and just concentrate on the road and to have a good time. It’s just very special to me.”

Piki Dada is open to all women. They must have a registered bike, Mehta said. She added that enthusiasm also is required.

“If you don’t have that energy, then you will not be able to keep up,” she added.

I’m Ashley Thompson.

Words in This Story

gear –n. supplies, tools, or clothing used for a special purpose

cautious –adj. careful, not acting⁷ to quickly

mentor –v. to teach and give advice to a less experienced and often younger person

concentrate –v. to give your full attention to something

enthusiasm –n. strong excitement about somthing

adrenaline –n. a substance, released by the body, which causes the heart to beat faster and provides a burst of energy

1 administrator   

n.经营管理者，行政官员

参考例句：

• The role of administrator absorbed much of Ben's energy.行政职务耗掉本很多精力。
• He has proved himself capable as administrator.他表现出管理才能。

2 dealers   

n.商人( dealer的名词复数 )；贩毒者；毒品贩子；发牌者

参考例句：

• There was fast bidding between private collectors and dealers. 私人收藏家和交易商急速竞相喊价。
• The police were corrupt and were operating in collusion with the drug dealers. 警察腐败，与那伙毒品贩子内外勾结。

3 defensive   

adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的

参考例句：

• Their questions about the money put her on the defensive.他们问到钱的问题，使她警觉起来。
• The Government hastily organized defensive measures against the raids.政府急忙布置了防卫措施抵御空袭。

4 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

5 throttle   

n.节流阀，节气阀，喉咙；v.扼喉咙，使窒息，压

参考例句：

• These government restrictions are going to throttle our trade.这些政府的限制将要扼杀我们的贸易。
• High tariffs throttle trade between countries.高的关税抑制了国与国之间的贸易。

6 mentor   

n.指导者，良师益友；v.指导

参考例句：

• He fed on the great ideas of his mentor.他以他导师的伟大思想为支撑。
• He had mentored scores of younger doctors.他指导过许多更年轻的医生。

7 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。