For generations, women have fought for their space in every field, whether education, business, or leadership. Yet, something as fundamental as driving has often been seen as a male domain. When Amruta Mane first struggled with a geared motorcycle on the streets of Mumbai, people mocked her, saying, “Girls shouldn’t drive.” But instead of letting those words stop her, she decided to challenge the norm.

In 2018, she founded Women on Wheels, Mumbai’s first all-women driving school, to help women take control of their mobility. Initially, she faced many backlashes as many doubted women’s ability to drive. Even authorities hesitated to support her. But Amruta stood firm. With the power of social media and the trust of her students, she pushed forward. Today, Amruta has come a long way by teaching two-wheeler driving to her neighbours and establishing a driving institute of her own.

The Story Behind Love for Riding

Amruta loved motorcycles and cars since she was a child. Her first chance to ride a geared motorcycle came in Class 8 when her cousin taught her the basics.

At home, her father bought a Honda Activa for her mother’s daily travel. Since Amruta already knew how to handle a two-wheeler, riding Activa was not at all challenging for her. However, her heart always desired to ride a motorcycle.

On one fortunate day, a neighbour offered her a geared bike, and she excitedly took it for a ride. When she rode it on the street, it turned out to be a good experience.

In 2018, just before starting her MBA, Amruta Mane had three months of free time. Instead of spending it idly, she decided to make these days productive. Thus, she decided to teach her neighbour how to ride a two-wheeler. What started as a small favour soon turned into a bigger idea.

When A Simple Idea Turned Into A Movement

Amruta soon realised that many women wanted to learn how to ride but due to proper training opportunities, they couldn’t. That’s when she decided to start a small driving school by the name- Amruta Driving School, which she later rebranded to Women on Wheels when more women came forward to learn riding.

She received an overwhelming response from women. Within just two months, she started receiving many inquiries. The demand kept growing with each passing day. What began as a simple initiative turned into a movement to empower women. Today, Women on Wheels has trained over 3,500 women, with 15 female instructors earning a steady income.

Challenges Faced During Covid-19

Just as Women on Wheels gained momentum, the COVID-19 pandemic brought everything to a standstill. In just three months, Amruta had to shut down her office after setting it up in December 2019. Worried about her employees, she pivoted to the brilliant idea of launching Wow Deliveries which helped deliver essentials like medicines and groceries to people’s homes. For a year, she along with other trainers, worked tirelessly to support the community.

A Vision for the Future

Amruta Mane dreams of taking Women on Wheels beyond Mumbai and plans to expand its reach across India. She envisions a future where women everywhere have access to safe and supportive two-wheeler training. By training more female instructors and opening new centres, she hopes to create more and more employment opportunities for women.