Female popularity in motorcycles on the rise in Regina

The Women in the Wind Highway Hunnies celebrated International Women in the Wind ride day by taking their motorcycles out to Davidson, Sask.

The group is Regina’s first and only organized female motorcycle group that aims to promote female ridership and empowerment.

“Motorcyclists come in all shapes and sizes.”

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“All 100+ chapters of women in the wind will be gathering to do a ride,” Shelly-Anne McKay, Highway Hunnies chapter president said.

The group explained they’re seeing a large increase in popularity.

“It is so empowering riding motorcycles, and especially with a whole bunch of women. I just will never forget our first ride, going down the highway,” McKay recalled.

According to the Motorcycle Industry Council, female motorcycle ridership is at an all time high.

As well, the Motorcyclists Confederation of Canada estimated roughly 10 – 14 per cent of motorcycle owners are now women.

It’s an increase in trend Highway Hunnies have been seeing.

“It’s such a sisterhood.”

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“We have the same kinds of problems whether it’s kids, families, jobs, husbands. It’s just so nice to have a group that has time together to enjoy some wind therapy,” veteran motorcyclist Lauri McQuade explained.

McQuade has been riding for over 38 years, and over 300,000 kms later, she said the motorcycle scene has changed dramatically.

“I used to be a real rare bird, and I am not anymore,” McQuade said.

“It’s nice to be in control of your own destiny a little bit, and just once you’ve experienced the thrill of doing the driving, you don’t want to be a passenger anymore.”

Tricia Andersen and her seven-year-old daughter Ava are taking part in the day’s ride celebrations. She said she hopes to change the negative stigma associated with motorcycles.

“I just want people to know that people that ride motorcycles are families too. I’m proud, I ride by myself quite a bit, take my daughter with me all the time,” Andersen expalined.

For Ava, the colours of her motorcycle have already been picked out. But until she’s old enough, she rides with her mother and the Highway Hunnies.

“I was thinking pink or purple,” Ava said.