International Female Ride Day, or (IFRD) is an annual worldwide celebration held on the first Saturday of May. This year, it will be held on May 1, 2021. The entire motorcycle community comes together that day to recognize and celebrate women motorcycle riders. The event is not country-, group- or organization-specific.
The one-day event started in 2007 in Canada. It was the brainchild of Vicki Gray, the founder of the online magazine Motoress.com Ms. Gray is an avid motorcyclist, and road and race instructor. She started IFRD with the purpose of profiling and highlighting the many diverse women who enjoy riding the motorcycle. It aims to build awareness of female motorcyclists all over the world while also encouraging other women to take up the sport. Ms. Gray’s business platform manages the event.
The IFRD, or the “movement” as some participants call it, asks women to be on their motorcycles, scooters, or trikes to “Just Ride!” on the first Saturday of May each year to:
- Highlight the number of women riders.
- Encourage other women to ride a motorcycle.
- Raise awareness about gender equality in motorsports.
- Honor women’s achievements in motorsports and power sports.
- Support gender equality.
The first event was much smaller than what it has become a decade and a half later, but it has crossed borders and overcame language and cultural barriers since. Women from different countries, including North America, Greece, the Netherlands, Australia, Russia, and even India, have joined the event. Every woman joining the event becomes a role model for the kind of passion women share for riding motorcycles and doing other power sports.
WHO CAN JOIN THE INTERNATIONAL FEMALE RIDE DAY?
Anyone and everyone can join the International Female Ride Day. The event is not exclusive to any manufacturer, power sports brand, corporation, government, NGO, charity, school, or women’s group. The event is for every woman who is a motorsport enthusiast.
Several organizations, brands, and manufacturers declare the IFRD theme of “JUST RIDE!” to lend their support to the movement.
Since it was launched in 2007, IFRD instantly became a global event. It was warmly welcomed by thousands of women riders. The event continues to advance today and has become permanently etched in every woman rider’s yearly agenda.
The movement has rapidly grown because of how easy it is to participate. The only requirements are:
- You have to be a woman; and
- You need to ride your motorcycle around your community on the first Saturday in May.
There are no invitations or registrations needed. You also don’t need to buy anything nor be part of a specific organization. You can ride solo or with a group. You just need to be a woman and get on your bike and ride.
But many women choose to ride in groups. But if you don’t want to join a group, that shouldn’t stop you from riding participating in the event.
What’s most important is to ride safely. Krazy Katz Moto Gear encourages safe riding practices, like wearing appropriate safety gear, doing pre-ride vehicle checks, and following local and CDC guidelines against the spread of COVID-19.
Feel free to post photos on social media with the hashtags #internationalfemalerideday and #ifrd to display your pride and inspire other women to try the sport. It will also be a great way to connect with other women riders near you.
