Ride To Work – Monday 18th June is the International Motorcycle and Scooter Ride To Work Day which is now in its 27th year to promote the use of motorcycles and scooters for personal transport.
First started in the United States as a non-profit advocacy organization, Ride To Work has expanded in recent years to the United Kingdom as a motorcycle industry campaign, initiated by the Motorcycle Industry Association. A whole week of riding to work – Ride To Work Week – and with the Federation of European Motorcyclists’ Associations (FEMA) managing their International Motorcycle and Scooter Ride To Work Day in Europe.
For the first time last year we reported on Ride To Work and not much has changed in the advantages of riding to work. Whether you commute by motorcycle or scooter every day or only occasionally:
For those that ride to work or commute regularly, you will already know the benefits and the disadvantages that this brings, while being congestion beating you will still be riding in congested traffic but with the ability to filter – in the UK at least. Though not in some American states, with Australia waking up recently to the advantage that filtering (Lane Splitting) brings.
Parking in some cities is better that others, some places of work have better parking facilities that others and some cities do too.
Weather can be an issue depending where you live and there is the inconvenience of changing out of riding clothes and back into them then there is the issue of where to safely store that clothing and helmet whilst working.
In London in particular and other “hotspot” cities throughout the world, motorcycle theft seems to be on the increase, to the degree that riders have formed pro-active groups against this apparent scourge of theft and fear of violent bike-jacking.
However, as the whole Ride To Work “ethos” focuses on and the promotion of benefits to riders who do not regularly commute, it is primarily to raise awareness of motorcycling among the wider public in order to encourage people to move to using PTWs (Motorcycles – Scooters – Mopeds) as a choice of transport. To encourage employers and we would say political decision makers to promote this form of transport.
In the past Ride To Work has promoted the concept of a cheap and affordable means to get to work, in business for getting to city centre meetings or getting out to rural locations for work, not forgetting about for leisure as well as beating weekend and bank holiday traffic congestion.
Or just plain enjoyment in a ride to nowhere in particular!
International Motorcycle and Scooter Ride To Work Day
Ride your motorcycle or scooter on this day to highlight:
- The number of motorcyclists to the general public and to politicians.
- That motorcyclists are from all occupations and all walks of life.
- That motorcyclists can reduce traffic and parking congestion in large cities.
- That motorcycles are for transportation as well as recreation.
“Riding to work on this day is fun and highlights the positive value of motorcycling. For many people, riding is a socially responsible form of mobility that saves energy, helps the environment and provides a broad range of other public benefits.” Source Ride to Work US.
Website – ridetowork.org
Facebook – www.facebook.com/RideToWorkDay
Twitter – twitter.com/RideToWork
International Motorcycle and Scooter Ride To Work Day EU
Benefits – Riding to work will save you time and money while helping to reduce congestion. Riding normally uses less fuel than driving a car and is is less polluting than commuting in a larger vehicle. Most of all, riding to work demonstrates motorcycling has a social benefit for all road users.
Trade – It’s good for riders, good for our towns and cities, helps to raise awareness of bikes and helps the motorcycle sector to grow and develop in line with the wider economy.
Just do it – In general, International Ride to Work Day is marked by individual riders making a conscious effort to use their motorcycle, scooter or moped to get to work. However, we recognise that not everyone has ‘work’ to go to, and lots of riders organize informal gatherings, meeting up for breakfast or just for a cuppa and a chat.
Employers – Staff commuting by motorcycle, scooter or moped will not only be saving time and money, they will be actively avoiding the stress of commuting by car or on unreliable public transport. A happier and less stressed employee means better productivity and lower absenteeism. Riders generally find it easier to be on time too!
Supporting staff who use a motorcycle, scooter or moped to commute will reduce traffic congestion and pollution on the roads. That means better journey times for everyone.
Website – www.ridetowork.eu
Facebook – www.facebook.com/ridetoworkday.eu
Twitter – twitter.com/RideToWork_eu
Ride To Work Week UK
Starts on Monday 18th June and continues until Sunday 24th.
- Save time in traffic – More time in bed
- Save money – Get a new bike for the price of a season ticket
- It’s just more fun – Riders rate their journey to work as more enjoyable
- Easier parking – It’s cheaper of free and you can get closer to your end destination
- Road Skills improve – Riders make better car drivers
There is also the added benefit that riders help reduce congestion for all road users!
View the Ride To Work Week – Commute Happy – infographic below which asks and gives the answer to the question – What would happen if 10% of drivers switched to a motorcycle?
Website – www.ridetoworkweek.co.uk
Facebook – www.facebook.com/RideToWorkWeekUK
Twitter – twitter.com/ridetoworkweek
UK – Motorcycle Action Group
MAG encourages all bikers to ride to work
The reality in the UK is that many riders reserve their riding for days off work. Motorcycling is a fun, fulfilling hobby, but many riders then miss out on the benefits that their hobby could bring to their daily commute. You are likely to significantly reduce your journey time, save money, and arrive far less stressed than your non-riding colleagues.
Perhaps more importantly, by riding your motorcycle to work you will be helping to reduce congestion for all road users and playing a significant role in reducing air pollution. Studies show that a 10% modal shift from single occupancy cars to powered two wheelers will yield a 40% reduction in congestion for all road users and a 6% reduction in overall emissions. These are benefits that all road users reap from us extending our passion and hobby into a regular transport option.
Director of Campaigns & Political Engagement, Colin Brown, comments “There are many reasons why motorcycles are not the first choice for some of us when it comes to commuting. Ride to Work Week gives us an opportunity to explore those barriers and see how we can help to make motorcycling a natural choice for more people. Whether it be concerns over safety, security, convenience, or anything else, give it some thought and let us know the issues that put you off. We all love riding our bikes, so let’s do more of it and save the planet at the same time!”
If you can only make it onto your bike for one day during the week, make it Thursday. Colin points out: “Thursday 21st June is also Clean Air Day. A typical 125cc commuter bike emits virtually no emissions, and the reduction in congestion will also help reduce secondary pollution from other vehicles on the road. Riding to work on a scooter or motorcycle will greatly reduce your exposure to particulate matter in comparison with taking the tube in London. If you want to go clean, get on your motorbike and #CommuteHappy”
MAG will be running polls and asking for feedback throughout the week on social media, and asks all riders and potential riders to let us know their thoughts, and to share their experiences and ideas for ways to encourage more road users to switch to powered two wheelers.
Find out more about the MCIA campaign at: http://www.ridetoworkweek.co.uk/
Let us know your opinions and ideas at: http://www.facebook.com/motorcycleactiongroup/
Ride To Work Day From The United States
Motorcycle Riders Foundation – MRF
According to the Motorcycle Industry Council, an estimated 150,000 commuters ride their motorcycle to work. While this is a very minor portion of all commuters, figures show these numbers are on the rise. It may be surprising that the numbers are not higher given data that supports that traveling by motorcycle can shorten journey times by as much as 33 minutes of every hour for city travel. Additional benefits can include more parking options, fuel savings and the undeniable advantage of enjoying the environment and the open air preparing yourself for a long day of work, or better yet, decompressing post-work!
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation encourages its members and partners to participate in this year’s event on June 18th to help demonstrate support for riders across the nation and spur recognition that the use of motorcycles as an alternative to commuting can help alleviate traffic and parking congestion.
Another important message that the event sends is that, despite a sometimes less than flattering portrayal of motorcyclists by Hollywood and even the media and naysayers, motorcyclists are our neighbors, teachers, family, lawyers, servicemen and women and friends and they have a rightful place on our nation’s highways.
For more information, visit: http://www.ridetowork.org
If you have photos of yourself participating in Ride to Work Day, send them to mrfoffice@mrf.org or text them to 202-546-0983
http://www.mrf.org
American Motorcyclist Association – AMA
The event is intended to draw attention to the benefits of motorcycles as everyday transportation.
“Ride To Work Day calls attention to the motorcycling way of life and gives riders a chance to share our enthusiasm with non-riders,” said AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman. “Commuting to work, especially on a designated day of rider unity, highlights the positive aspects of motorcycling.”
More motorcycles than usual on the road and in the parking lot at work can arouse the curiosity of coworkers and others, giving riders a chance to share how much fun it is to ride and how easy motorcycles and scooters are to maneuver in traffic and to park.
International Motorcycle and Scooter Ride to Work Day also provides an opportunity for motorcyclists to highlight important issues, such as distracted driving, unsafe fuels, motorcyclist profiling, motorcycle-only checkpoints, parking restrictions, the rush to get autonomous vehicles to consumers without ensuring motorcyclist safety and the benefits of legal lane splitting.
Event organizers expect more than triple the number of riders on some roads Monday.
Adding motorcycles and scooters helps traffic flow better, according to Ride to Work, the nonprofit advocacy organization behind the event. Most motorcycles and scooters also consume fewer resources per mile than automobiles.
“Riding to work on this day is fun and highlights the value of motorcycling,” said Andy Goldfine, event organizer. “Riding is a form of personal mobility that saves energy, helps the environment and provides a broad range of public benefits.”
The event is always the third Monday in June. More information is available at http://www.ridetowork.org
http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com