I have written several articles about the influence of women riders in motorcycling. I have written articles about the Harley Million Mile Ride and Ride to Work Day, but move over fellows; there’s a new rider in town and that rider is 4.3 million strong, equating to eighteen percent of all motorcyclists. She’s exciting, sophisticated, and most of all, female. She is probably about 42 years young, has a fifty-six percent chance of being married, twenty-eight percent chance of possessing a college degree, and a thirty-five percent chance of holding a technical or professional position. If you want to learn more about female rider facts and figures, read my previous article, “Women Motorcycle Riders”.

With eighteen percent of all riders being female, is it any wonder that finally someone got it right and decided to designate a day on the road for the “female” rider? One of the most exciting things to happen for women all over the world is a day dedicated specifically to women and their riding machines entitled, “International Female Ride Day”. The second annual, International Female Ride Day officially begins on May 2nd of 2008 in Canada to show the world that women love to ride and to encourage other female riders to ride. Now on the first Friday in May of each year, women will be riding the highways and back roads to show their love of motorcycling. With 4.3 million female motorcyclists on the road today and great events like this, the number will only continue to increase.

International Female Ride Day was organized by a female rider racer, Vicki Gray, who will go down in history not only for great racing but for starting something that is worldwide. Vicki is an innovator and leader with her own website entitled Motoress. Motoress educates, informs and provides an atmosphere of support for female riders. Her website is a good read and a good place to find out about females in the sport of motorcycling.

But guys, don’t feel left out. With the interest and publicity in females riding, that just means that your better half may want to get more interested in riding, that is if they are not already. I know many women who decided to ride on their own after riding two up with their significant others. Be supportive of female riders by giving her a big smile and thumbs up!

Until next week, ride, ride, ride.
Nancy