July is Women’s Motorcycle Month
Southfield, MI (PRWEB) July 11, 2013 -- Over the last few years, women motorcycle riders have been on the rise. According to the Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC), women riders increased by 34% between 1998 and 2003. The Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) also says women make up nearly 30% of participants in the Basic Rider Courses program.
The Motorcycle Accident Attorney Jason Waechter, in an article in the July issue of Thunder Roads Magazine wrote, “Many riders, myself included, have noticed a change on the roads in the last few years. There have always been women that ride and ride well, but more and more women are taking control and grabbing the handlebars. The Motorcycle Industry Council's (MIC) 2008 Owner Survey shows that women riders made up 23 percent of the 25 million motorcyclists in America that year; that means 5.7 million women saddled up to ride the open road.”
According to an article on motorcycle.com MIC estimates about one out of every ten riders is a woman and that number is growing. “These women tend to be affluent, mature and well educated, having taken the motorcycle safety course with a better completion rate than men.”
An article on southaustionmotorcycles.com states, “Today’s women who ride continue to break down the old 'biker chick' stereotypes. One-third of women motorcycle riders are college graduates, and are more likely to work in a professional or managerial occupation than their male counterparts. In addition, women motorcycle riders are safety-conscious and educated about their motorcycles.“
The motorcycle market has taken notice of this rise in female riders as well. Harley Davidson has created campaigns specifically geared towards women including offering female only “Garage Party” events and pamphlets to educate current women riders and encourage new ones.
“It's interesting to see the way the industry is reacting to this growing demographic,” said Waechter. “It's true there have been women riders all along, but the spike in uptake over the last ten years has definitely changed the way bike and gear manufacturers are making and marketing their products.”
Women’s Motorcycle Month is a combined effort by The Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum and Nationwide Insurance to honor and celebrate women riders of the past, present and future.
Beth Hazen, a motorcyclist and Nationwide Insurance agent, in an article on motorcycle.com said, “Motorcycle Month celebrates the pioneers who broke down gender and racial barriers in the early days of motorcycling, and we hope their stories inspire even more women to consider getting out on bikes or scooters this summer,”
In honor of Women’s Motorcycle Month, here is a look at a few famous female motorcyclists. Be sure to check out THE Motorcycle Lawyer’s blog for an in-depth story of these women each week throughout July:
Avis and Effie Hotchkiss: A mother-daughter team to be the first females to ride cross-country on a motorcycle in 1915.
Adeline and Augusta Van Buren: Sisters, who were the first women to ride across the continent in 1916.
Dorothy “Dot” Robinson: The “First Lady of Motorcycling,” competed in endurance runs and was president of Motor Maids for 25 years.
Bessie Stringfield: Known as the “Motorcycle Queen of Miami,” was the first African-American female to ride solo on a motorcycle cross-country.
Vivian Bales: Known as the “Enthusiast Girl,” in 1929 she completed a 5,000-mile road trip on her Harley-Davidson. She also was the first motorcycle magazine cover girl.
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Jason Waechter has spent two decades cementing his reputation for results. Jason's four lawyer law firm can assist in any personal injury case but over the years he has specialized his practice to motor vehicle accidents. Jason has won millions for auto accident victims and contributed significantly to safety education and accident prevention. He has entrenched himself as one of the nation's premier lawyers, recently being named to the Michigan Super Lawyers and Michigan's Best Lawyers & Law Firms. For more information on Jason visit http://www.themotorcyclelawyer.com
Kelly Weaver, Law Offices of Jason Waechter, http://www.michigan-no-fault-auto-accident.com, 248-355-4701, [email protected]
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