International female ride day to empower Canadian women
Taking action for change doesn’t have to be complicated or boring, International Female Ride Day is an example of a fun motion that thousands of women around the world take part in to change the perception of female motorcyclists; both for themselves and for the people around them.
With a mission to prove the normality behind female riders, Vicky Gray – Founder of MOTORESS and IFRD – took it in her own hands to start a motion by inviting women to grab their bikes and “Just ride” to work, with friends or alone to showcase the numbers of female riders.
“In the beginning a lot of women were asking well where are we going? what are we doing? and I said we’ll just do. Just ride,” said Gray.
On the first week of every May since 2007, women have been coming together to ride their bikes, showing strength and empowerment in numbers and starting friendships with one another.
At first the event was on the first Friday of May but then Gray shifted it to Saturday so women all over the world have time to go out and enjoy the empowering ride.
“We are often objectified, exploited, the industry likes to show us in a certain way or not show us at all,” said Gray.
Every year this day has been gaining more recognition worldwide, so far 120 countries have been taking part in this aspiring movement.
IFRD has also gained the recognition of female ride groups like the Chrome Divas. Kate Gallant, a Niagara Falls Chrome Diva member, says they have been participating in the ride since the start but this year they are the ones organizing the 13th annual ride which will take place on May 4.
“We decided since there isn’t anything in Niagara for women that we would get involved and making it our own,” said Gallant.
Chrome Divas is a female-only motorcycle organization that strives to empower women and support breast cancer research. The club includes riders and passengers that come together once a month to have fun and plan fundraisers.
In past years, the Chrome Divas have donated more than $50,000 to the Canadian Cancer Society.
Niagara Falls Divas has 14 active members and it’s only one chapter of 28, the organization was founded 15 years ago. However, majority of chapters are located in the US.
The beauty in those groups doesn’t stop on the impact and message behind the rides, but in the diversity of the women in them. Women get to be themselves, free of judgement, riding whatever motorcycle they feel most comfortable in, whether it’s scooters or sports bikes. Age, size, culture and clothing don’t matter either.
“We do come from all walks of life, but we do have in common that passion, that freedom, maybe that little bit of rebellion and we tend to look for other people like us because we love riding motorcycles,” said Gallant.
The annual ride by the Chrome Divas will be 90- minutes long, starting at 10 a.m. from Tons of Bike Gear, West Lincoln and ending in Niagara-on-the-lake.
First 30 women to arrive will receive swag bags filled with coupons, Gallant says it’s a fun way to encourage more women to come no matter the level of experience with bikes they have.
Different sponsors are also supporting the event by giving out prizes to participants.
IFRD founder is also holding a photo contest where two winners can win a jacket or a TomTom GPS. Long as the photo captures a fun symbol that includes ‘the essence of motorcycles.’
Entries to the contest are by adding #IFRD, #internationalfemalerideday or #IFRD2019 to the group photo or selfie.
The photos then will be filtered through Gray then going to judge panel.