International Female Ride Day is May 2

Update May 4, 2015: Please visit the Women Riders Now Facebook page to post your photos from International Female Ride Day and to see others.

International Female Ride Day (IFRD) happens every year on the first Saturday in May, and this year its May 2.

international female ride day is may 2 women riding — International Female Ride Day is a globally synchronized ride day for women motorcycle riders to get out and just ride.

International Female Ride Day asks women to be on their motorcycles, scooters or trikes with the purpose of highlighting and profiling women who enjoy the activity of motorcycling. IFRD kicked off in Canada its first year in 2007 and immediately became an international movement. Because of this event and its influence other womens motorcycling events began being organized in May over the last nine years, such that May has evolved into Women Riders Month in the motorcycle industry.

This year for IFRD, event founder Vicki Gray, of Motoress.com, will journey to India and join the “Bikerni Association of Female Bikers India” to celebrate the globally synchronized ride day.

international female ride day is may 2 vicki gray — Vicki Gray is the founder of Motoress.com, a resource for female motorcyclists, based in Toronto, Canada. She came up with the idea for International Female Ride Day back in 2007. Thanks to her and her team, IFRD has become a global movement.

The Bikerni is India’s largest women’s motorcycle club with more than 700 members. The festivities will take place over two days beginning with a ride from Mumbai, Maharashtra, to Daman and Diu, Gujarat. “We have been celebrating IFRD religiously since 2011 when the Bikerni was first formed,” says Urvashi Patole, Bikerni Founder. “I first got in touch with Vicki in 2011 through Facebook; she sent me an IFRD t-shirt and since then our alliance has continued to grow. Every year women bikers across India celebrate IFRD with aplomb. This year, Vicki is going to be in India with us! What more could we ask for? We are super excited!”

Bikerni board member and west zone moderator Sheetal Bidaye adds, “The number of female motorcyclists in India has been on a consistent rise and IFRD has been celebrated across states as if it were a religion of women bikers. This year it’s even more special as founder, Vicki Gray, shall be joining the celebrations herself, which is so inspiring and shall motivate the countrys female riders even more!”

Leading up to and following the Bikerni IFRD celebrations, Vicki will continue to explore India’s beauty and culture by motorcycle. She has partnered with Bikerni board member, long distance endurance rider and India tour expert, Chithra Priya, for the program. Chithra and Vicki met in Toronto during Chithra’s visit to Canada on IFRD 2012. “I’m delighted to be under Chithra’s expert assistance! I’m further thrilled with the anticipation of joining Bikerni friends and to experience the adventurous, fascinating motorcycling culture of India,” says Vicki.

international female ride day is may 2 graphic

Each year, more and more women across the globe find out about IFRD and organize their own rides. Even if you don’t have a group to ride with, women are encouraged to get out and enjoy the day on their motorcycle.

Tell us what you are planning on doing on May 2 in the comments below. And if you’d like to connect with other riders, join the WRN Forumand network online in the International Female Ride Day thread we’ve started.

For more information and resources to mobilize an IFRD in your area, visit Motoress.com. You can follow other riders that day on the International Female Ride Day Facebook page, and follow Vicki and her new friends in India at Bikernis Facebook page.

And to know more about whats going for Women Riders Month, visit the WRN Calendar of Events. Additionally, Harley-Davidson has a complete calendar listing of Ladies Garage Parties going on at dealerships all over the country. There are more than 50 Garage Parties during the month of May. Visit Harley-Davidson.com/womenriders to learn more.

11 thoughts on International Female Ride Day is May 2

LC

I was riding from Tennessee to Mississippi on the Trans American Trail (dirt and local roads, 1200 miles total) on my dualsport bike.
m.m.

Our Women On Wheels chapter took to the road and had a delightful ride to Pour Girls restaurant for lunch. Though a small group, we enjoyed being out on the road in full female force!
Bonnie Cousins

I received this too late, however I posted it to my site anyway.
Karen Talamantez

I rode on the second but was unaware it was International Female Ride Day. There are women in the Harley Owners Group to which I belong, but only a couple ride, and the Women of Harley do not plan women’s rides. I just joined the AMA and hope to bring women-specific activities back to my club.
SJ

I took to the dirt roads of the Pisgah National Forest. Made a friend along the way; came back toward home on beautiful Route 9. It was a great day to ride here!
Superglide

Going on a 200-mile ride round trip to bloody lake rendezvous. It’s gonna be epic weather here finally!
Kelly Presley

I’ll be out there somewhere, in the lovely Texas Hill Country (Luckenbach? Willow City?), celebrating the day, and honing my skills. Enjoy, ladies – see you on the road!
Mary Noel

I’ve been riding pretty much all my life since I was a kid swiping my brothers dirt bike. I am now 56. Every day I can get out and away if it’s not pouring down rain or snowing is a ride day for me!It’s about time though that women get recognized! Years ago I was told women belonged on the back. Well those words made me try even harder. I encouraged many other women along the way to straddle that front seat and they too can do it. Thumbs up!
Ana Wittleder

Where can I get a shirt with above logo with May 2, 2015 date?
1. Genevieve Schmitt, Editor
  
  You can visit the International Female Ride Day page of Motoress.com to find out if shirts are being offered this year.
AvoBeckyC

I just started to ride two years ago – at age 60! I will be riding around town, and old town, during Arts Alive, with my State of Jefferson flag on the back of my motorcycle. When not riding, it will be parked next to the SoJ table in Old Town. Not planning to join any rides – I am not highway/freeway ready yet.