MORE AND MORE WOMEN RIDERS

Of course women gain as much enjoyment out of riding as men do, even if some men may consider such to be a blasphemous encroachment into a sacred and hallowed realm.

One thing I wonder: As a group, will women prove to be safer riders than men?

In other words, from a purely statistical perspective, will we see less motorcycle crashes and fatalities, as a percentage, among female riders, as compared to male riders?

The thought is prompted by a mature woman rider whom I do not know, and who was part of a group ride we shared.  After the ride’s conclusion, she made a passing comment about my “professional” riding technique (which I understood to mean “safe” riding nuances, as we certainly were not racing or even riding aggressively), and it occurred to me that the subtleties she would have referred to could not have been noticed by someone who was not cognizant of the same.  In other words, she was in all likelihood an experienced and educated rider.

I wished I asked her how long she had been riding, as I recognized that I had presumed she was among the many brand-new women riders taking to the trails and roads in the past years.

WOMEN HAVE BEEN RIDING MOTORCYCLES FOR A LONG TIME

Now, of course, I am not so old and quite so foolish to be unaware that women have been riding a LONG time.  I have met a rider who told me his grandmother did some long-distance riding in the 30’s.

The point is, that whether one is a male or female, if one doesn’t already presume they know all there is to know about riding, they have the mindset to learn more.

Compare that to someone who doesn’t even believe there is anything to know about safely operating a motorcycle and you can see how one such rider would be at a disadvantage in terms of increasing his or her riding skill.

Of course I’m not sure which is worse, someone who believes they know it all, or someone who doesn’t believe there is anything to know.  Regardless, neither viewpoints would make for a good riding buddy.

STEREOTYPE: WOMEN NOT AS CRAZY ON A MOTORBIKE?

Although, I must say, I’m still getting acquainted with this era of such a rising number of women riders. 

I imagine I hold some stereotypical concept that women will not be as inclined to do as many of the unnecessary (stupid) things that I, and other male riders, have (or had in the past) demonstrated on motorbikes.

DANGER OF COMPETENT WOMEN BIKERS

It’s also worth noting that there is a danger of competent female riders on the road, especially for less experienced male riders who might already have a hard time maintaining personal discipline to stay within their skill level when around more experienced and/or aggressive riders.

I have personally been party to a newer motorcyclist who missed a turn and crashed because he was going faster than he could handle while trying to keep up.

Can you imagine the propensity of such a male rider finding himself not only trying to keep up with another male rider, but a more experienced female rider to boot?

Well, I for one can say that if there are any virtues of getting older as a motorcyclist, it’s no longer being compelled to prove myself.  There will always be a few better and faster riders, and it matters not to me whether such be a man or woman.

Hence, I welcome women to the motorcycle brotherhood.  However, it’s that matter of women having the right to vote that I have an issue with….

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