The (Surprisingly Long) History of Women Riding - International Women's Day

Not Such a New Concept...

Lately, it seems there's a HUGE focus on Women Riding - and not as passengers.  But a quick look at some history will show you, it's not such a new phenomenon after all...

For example, take the story of Effie N. Hotchkiss and mother Avis, the first women to ride cross-country on a motorcycle from NY to San Francisco.  There was a picture posted on a 1915 issue of The Harley-Davidson Dealer.

Or perhaps read the story of Linda Dugeau, the co-founder of the Motor Maids, the oldest Women's Motorcycle organization founded in 1940, with 51 charter members.  Her husband had taught her to ride on an old Harley-Davidson when she was 19 years old.  She actually moved from Boston to LA so she could ride year round.  She once took a trip that covered 3,500 miles in 2 weeks - talk about one of the original Iron Butts!  She was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2004.

The other co-founder of the Motor Maids was Dot Robinson, who, in 1939, rode all over the country looking for members to join her.  There's a great little story on the Motor Maids Website, related by "Hap:"

He tells of how he "chased that woman for two days, through mud and trees" and never caught her. At the end of the race, all the guys tramped into the local bar, but not Dot. She went to her room and got cleaned up first. "I'll never forget the picture: Dot walking into the bar in a black sheath dress and a pill box hat." Dot was always a lady.

Another great Women Rider story is that of the Van Buren sisters - the first women ever to ride up Pike's Peak.  In 1914, they set out on a cross-country trek from Brooklyn to LA.   Keep in mind, back then, women hadn't even earned the vote yet in most states.  They were often arrested for "wearing men's clothing".

Bessie Stringfield was the first African American woman to ride cross-country.  She served as a civilian courier for the US Army during WWII, carrying documents between domestic army bases. During the four years she worked for the Army she crossed the United States eight times.  Because of her skin color, she was often denied accommodations during her rides, and slept on her motorcycle at gas stations.  Once, she disguised herself as a man, and won a flat-track race.  When she took off her helmet and they saw she was a woman, they refused to give her the prize money!

As they say, we've come a long way, baby.  Let the stories of these women, and many more, inspire YOU.   If you've never ridden a motorcycle, maybe it's your time.  If you already ride, why not share your spark with some friends, and help them to see how it feels.  Because you can't really explain it with words.

Visit www.libertyharley.com/women for upcoming events.  And visit the Harley-Davidson women's site also for lots of information, links, and inspiration.

Just for fun - check out this link to "Don'ts for women riders from 1895."  Yes, I know, it's about bicycling, but some of the advice is just as useful (or completely non-useful) as it probably was back then.  I find this one to be particularly apt today:  Don’t contest the right of way with cable cars.