Nepurko Keiwua uses her Honda CBR 250R motorcycle for daily commute. On average, she spends about Sh2,000 a month on fuel but she says cost-cutting was not her number one motivation for opting to ride.
Being a freelance journalist and part-time farmer, her bike enables her to manoeuvre the city snarl-ups faster.‘‘On a bike, it is easy to ride out of town and tour places that cars have difficulty accessing,’’ says Nepurko whose first bike was an Apache 160.
While the rest of us keep wondering if we will make it to our destination on time, Nepurko wonders what she will do with the spare time.
“I have to plan my time well now that I’ve got a lot of it since the traffic jams are a thing of the past,” she says.For women who would opt to ride, their greatest challenge would be where to store the many things hidden in handbags.
Occasionally, Nepurko carries a backpack when riding which she says replaces the need to carry a handbag.“There is also the option of sling bags and specialised bike luggage boxes available if you are so inclined. However, I’m more interested in travelling light, so I have learned to adjust,” she says.
The rider who is in her 30s says she values her comfort and safety hence she wears a DOT/ECE certified helmet which is different from regular helmets that are available locally.
Her leather jacket and gloves are CE approved with padding and back protection.
Sometimes she wears riding boots or shoes that cover the ankle and provide maximum protection as well as riding jeans that are padded in the knee and hip areas. “Most riders choose to wear knee pads over their regular jeans or pants but I don’t have the patience to keep unstrapping and strapping every time I get on the bike,” she says.
Nepurko Keiwua, the female rider who rides to work. Photo www.businessdailyafrica.com