Saudi Women, On Ya Bikes!

Still trapped...

A Saudi Arabian religious authority has condescended to allow women to ride buggies and bikes in public!
The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice says women can now use parks, esplanades and desert areas to enjoy themselves, as long as they're dressed in the full Islamic head-to-toe abaya.
Oh BTW, a male relative must be present at all times. Why? Um...er... to provide prompt assistance in case of falls, of course.

Going nowhere fast

It adds that women on buggies or bikes should avoid assemblies of *gasp* young men, to protect themselves from harassment and possible theft.
Women can use the bikes and buggies only for recreation, not as permanent means of transport: "Our concern is the positive traffic culture, and full compliance with traffic rules by all drivers and riders. Wearing abayas and erratic driving could result in terrible accidents." (Well, here's an obvious solution - ban the damn things!)
So in other words, Saudi women can't use bikes to go shopping, to go for a job, to drive anywhere without a controlling male present...just round and round in little recreational circles. Oh, such FREEDOM!!
The Commission says it's never barred foreign women from riding buggies or bicycles..oooh goody!

So THIS won't be seen in Saudi Arabia any time soon...!