Problem Solving in the Middle East

What do you do when your autocratic religious beliefs prevent the female half of you population from doing something as mundane as riding a bike in public? Do you reconsider your dogma in light of it's unworkability in a modern world? No - you fix the bike:

The Islamic Republic of Iran has devised an 'Islamic bicycle.' This new vehicle comes fully equipped with a cabin to conceal parts of a female cyclist's body.

The new technology is less about the bike and more about suppressing women. Iran, unlike Saudi Arabia, allows women to drive cars. In fact, Iran's top race car driver, Laleh Seddigh, is a woman. Women also ride motorcycles, although they must be accompanied by a man (and must sit behind him).

But Iran forbids women from riding bicycles (thus, the newly designed bike). The belief is that sexuality is easily stimulated in both sexes. The country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, announced in 1999 that 'women must avoid anything that attracts strangers, so riding bicycles or motorcycles by women in public places causes corruption and is thus forbidden.'

I know it's not very culturally sensitive but that's just silly. On the other hand, interesting note about Iran's top racer. Here's some more about her.