On July 16th, riders from all over the world are encouraged to commute together for Ride to Work Day. The event is intended to showcase the number of motorcyclists to the general public and to politicians, to demonstrate that motorcyclists are from all occupations and all walks of life, that motorcyclists can reduce traffic and parking congestion in large cities and that motorcycles are for transportation as well as recreation. Simply put, motorcycling is a social good.
With the number of riders on the rise it is anticipated that this year will be the largest ever participation in Ride To Work Day. Motorcycles and scooters generally consume fewer resources per mile than automobiles, so it makes sense that more commuters are turning to this form of transportation to save money. New owners are finding riding to be an economical, efficient and enjoyable way to get to work and around town.
According to the United States Census Bureau and the Department of Transportation, more than 80 million cars and light trucks are used for daily commuting on American roads, and about 200,000 motorcycles and scooters are a regular part of this mix. On Ride To Work Day, the practical side of riding will become more visible as a larger number of Americas 8,000,000 cycles are ridden to work.
The program is international. Affiliated countries include Germany, Philippines, England, Germany, France, Israel, Turkey, Ecuador, United States, and many others.
Check out the web site at RideToWork.org for more information and new interactive forums on topics ranging from lane sharing to insurance and health care issues.