The Truth About Female Motorcyclists

As Seen in Midwest Motorcyclist Magazine

 

 

Everyone knows May is Motorcycle Awareness Month, but did you know that July is Women's Motorcycle Month? If you didn't, that's ok… Harley-Davidson may not have known either! 

 

Back in 2008, several organizations including the Motorcycle Hall of Fame got together and declared that July should be Women's Motorcycle Month, a time to celebrate female motorcyclists and help promote motorcycle awareness among motor vehicle drivers. Events were planned around the world to recognize female riders, but ultimately the movement didn't gain as much traction as organizers had hoped. The following year, Harley-Davidson declared May to be Women Riders Month, and staged female-focused events to celebrate women motorcyclists and promote the sport to non-riding women everywhere. 

 

My team and I believe that anything that promotes motorcycle awareness to drivers is a good thing, and my regular readers will know that we are always looking for ways to give back to the biker community, help injured motorcyclists, and promote motorcycle awareness. With that in mind, this month's article is dedicated to shedding light on the truth about women motorcyclists, and why we think they deserve to have their own month of celebration and recognition… in July!

 

FALSE: There are not that many female motorcyclists out there; most women prefer riding on the back of the bike.

 

TRUE: The latest Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) owner's survey found that about 14% of motorcycle owners are women, and about 25% of motorcycle riders are women. Interestingly, the fastest growing group of female riders is also the youngest: Among motorcycle owners aged 18-35, about 18% are women. Among owners aged 36-50, about 17% are women. And, among owners aged 51+, only about 9% are women. Overall, motorcycle ownership among women has almost doubled since 1998.

 

FALSE: Women prefer sport bikes over cruisers.

 

TRUE: In fact, only 10% of the women surveyed by the MIC rode sport bikes; the rest had cruisers. Additionally, more women buy new bikes (57%) instead of used (43%). There is probably a good reason for this: Manufacturers are finally beginning to recognize the increase in female riders, and have started designing motorcycles with women in mind. 

 

FALSE: Women are safer motorcyclists than men.

 

TRUE: There is no way to prove that women riders are "safer" than their male counterparts. However, female motorcyclists do seem to be more safety-conscious, as the MIC survey found that in some states, more than one-third of registered students in motorcycle safety training courses were women. The survey also found that at least 60% of women riders had taken a certified motorcycle training course, where only about 42% of male riders had taken the course. In addition to taking a safety class, female motorcyclists are also more likely to wear a crash helmet while riding, according to an observational study by Wayne State University in 2013, one year after the universal helmet law was repealed in Michigan. About 60% of women motorcyclists observed in the Wayne State study wore crash helmets, compared to 55% of male riders.

 

FALSE: Women motorcyclists are less likely to be injured or killed in a crash because they are safer riders.

 

TRUE: Women motorcyclists are less likely to be injured or killed in a crash because there are fewer of them on the road. It is true: in general, male motorcyclists are injured or killed in crashes more often than female motorcyclists, according to a 2014 study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). In fact, 92% of motorcycle drivers killed in crashes that year were male, and 8% were female. That said, 93% of motorcycle passengers killed in 2014 crashes were female, while 7% were male. 

 

FALSE: There is no international recognition of women motorcyclists. 

 

TRUE: On the first Saturday in May, women around the world took part in the tenth annual International Female Ride Day (IFRD). Female riders from Canada, the United States, Australia, the Caribbean, India, the United Kingdom, The Netherlands, and many others took part in a variety of rides and motorcycling events. The goal of IFRD is to bring female motorcyclists together to celebrate the sport and to act as role models for both riders and non-riders alike. Vicki Gray, creator of Motoress.com, is the founder of IFRD. We sent Debbie Parinello, our Marketing Director, to an IFRD event in Michigan; see photos at Facebook.com/TheMotorcycleLawyer or MotorcycleLawyerMichigan.com

 

FALSE: Women and men have different reasons for riding motorcycles. 

 

TRUE: About 53% of women surveyed in a Kelton study commissioned by Harley-Davidson said riding a motorcycle is a "key source" of their overall happiness. In fact, nearly three-quarters of women asked by Kelton think their lives have noticeably improved since they started riding a motorcycle. About 49% of female motorcyclists are married, according to the MIC study, and the Kelton study found that 50% of women motorcyclists surveyed rated themselves "extremely happy" with their relationships. To summarize the findings of these studies and others: women ride motorcycles because they love it. What better reason could there be?

 

Now you know the truth: Female motorcyclists are out there in growing numbers, riding because they love to ride. The more motorcyclists on the road, the more vehicle drivers will have to start paying attention and really watching for bikers. So, this July, let's celebrate the female motorcyclists in our lives! Get on social media and remind drivers that July is Women's Motorcycle Month, and while you're at it, remind everyone to be motorcycle-aware and watch out for female (and male!) motorcyclists this season. 

 

If you participated in a women's motorcycle event this July, or even back in May, we want to hear about it. Send your story to reception@lawyerforlife.com, or share it with us at Facebook.com/TheMotorcycleLawyer. While you're there, take a minute to share some of our motorcycle awareness pictures and posters, to help spread the word that motorcycles are everywhere.

 

We're also looking for YOUR photos! Did you see our truck at an event or swap meet? Snap a pic and send it to reception@lawyerforlife.com, share it on Facebook.com/TheMotorcycleLawyer, or post it to your own account using #TheMotorcycleLawyer. 

 

Source(s):

Motorcycle Industry Council survey  data for 2014: www.mic.org

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety survey data for 2014:  www.iihs.org

Wayne State University's helmet observation study data for 2013:  www.michigan.gov

Kelton study (commissioned by Harley-Davidson) survey data for 2013:  www.harley-davidson.com 

 

Attorney Jason A. Waechter is a national attorney specializing in the areas of motorcycle and motor vehicle injury litigation. Mr. Waechter has collected millions of dollars in settlements, awards and verdicts for his motorcycle clients over the past 20 years.  Jason feels a duty to give back to his community. A portion of each case settled goes to educational resources for bikers, funds to help bikers while their cases are being litigated and our motorcycle accident prevention campaign.  Call Attorney Jason Waechter toll free at 1-877-BIKER LAW. Or visit www.TheMotorcycleLawyer.com