First Woman To Ride Across America On A Motorcycle
Riding across America on a motorcycle is an adventure that many people dream of. It takes a lot of courage, determination, and physical strength to embark on such a journey. This is why it is so impressive that in 1916, a woman named Adeline Van Buren became the first woman to ride across America on a motorcycle. Her journey was a groundbreaking achievement in the history of women’s rights and motorcycle riding.
Who Was Adeline Van Buren?
Adeline Van Buren was born in 1889 in New York City. She was the daughter of a wealthy family and grew up with a love of adventure and a desire to challenge gender norms. In 1916, she and her sister Augusta decided to ride across the country on motorcycles to prove that women were capable of undertaking such a journey.
The Journey Across America
Adeline and Augusta set off from Brooklyn, New York, on July 4, 1916. They rode two Indian Powerplus motorcycles, which were state-of-the-art at the time. The sisters planned to ride to San Francisco, California, a journey of over 5,000 miles. They faced many challenges along the way, including rough roads, mechanical problems with their bikes, and hostile attitudes towards women riders. However, they persevered and arrived in San Francisco on September 8, 1916, after a journey of 60 days.
The Legacy of Adeline Van Buren
Adeline Van Buren’s journey across America was a significant achievement for women’s rights and motorcycle riding. She showed that women were capable of undertaking long-distance journeys on motorcycles and challenged gender norms in the process. Her journey paved the way for future generations of women riders and helped to break down barriers to women’s participation in male-dominated sports.
In 2002, Adeline Van Buren was inducted into the American Motorcyclist Association Hall of Fame. In 2016, a statue of her was erected in her hometown of Fishkill, New York, to commemorate her journey across America.
Conclusion
Adeline Van Buren’s journey across America on a motorcycle was a groundbreaking achievement that challenged gender norms and paved the way for future generations of women riders. Her courage and determination to undertake such a journey in a time when women were not encouraged to participate in male-dominated sports is an inspiration to us all. Her legacy lives on in the many women riders who continue to challenge gender norms and push the boundaries of what is possible.
