July is Women's Motorcycle Month! Every week for the month of July, visit our blog to read about some of the pioneers of women's motorcycling.

Augusta and Adeline Van Buren

Augusta and Adeline Van Buren were born in the 1880s, and grew up in New York City. These “society girls” enjoyed many freedoms not typical for women of the time. The Van Buren girls were very active and accomplished athletes; along with their brother, Albert, they tried their hands at many sports including swimming, running, and even wrestling, to name a few. The limitations place on other women by the society of the time did not apply to the Van Buren sisters, so it's not a huge surprise they ended up riding motorcycles.

In 1916, Augusta and Adeline set off on a cross-country motorcycle trek with a very specific goal in mind: they wanted to prove that women could serve as dispatch riders for the military. There were two reasons for doing this. First, because it would allow women to contribute directly to the war effort and free up men for combat duties. Second, women were not allowed to vote because they did not participate directly in war efforts; by serving as dispatch riders for the military, the Van Burens hoped to help convince society that it was time for women to have a say in political life.

They set off from Brooklyn, New York, on Independence Day on a pair of Indian Motorcycles, travelling more than 5,500 miles to San Francisco. The journey was challenging at the best of times, and downright impossible at the worst. Road conditions were unpredictable (when there were roads at all), and the women were arrested several times along the way for wearing pants.

That's right. They were arrested. Several times.For wearing pants.

Ultimately, the Van Buren sisters did not succeed in their goal to become dispatch riders for the military. In fact, media coverage of their accomplishment was sparse, and their incredible achievement was referred to as a “vacation” rather than the pioneering ride that it was. A prominent magazine at the time praised their bikes, but not the sisters themselves. It took 85 years, but the women were inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2002.

What do you think? Did the Van Buren sisters help pave the way for women motorcyclists of the future? Share your opinion below, or join the conversation on Facebook!

Source(s):
http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/halloffame/detail.aspx?RacerID=285