A surefire way of arriving at work with a smile on your face

INTERNATIONAL RIDE TO WORK DAY – MONDAY 17 JUNE 2013

Ride to Work Day by numbers:

£7,000,000 the value of the UK motorcycle industry

3,500,000 motorcycle licence holders in the UK

130,000 average miles a British commuter will travel to work in their lifetime

£50,000 average commuter spend (if they don’t capitalise on cost-savings by travelling by motorcycle or scooter)

1,708 hours stuck in traffic or delayed on public transport (motorcycles and scooters cut through traffic jams, ease congestion and avoid delays)

120mpg or more when using a lightweight motorcycle or scooter

£16 road tax (1 year) for 125cc vehicles

1 smiling face – yours – when you enjoy the freedom of riding to work

Those who rise scooters and motorcycles right across the nation are being encouraged to take to the roads for Ride to Work day on Monday the 17th June. This is being held to highlight the many benefits of commuting on two wheels as opposed to four and to demonstrate how easy and convenient it is to travel in this way.

The benefits include savings in both cost and time, with the latter coming from less hold ups and traffic congestion in rush hour. An added bonus is the fun factor experienced by the rider. Are there any other modes of transport you can think of that will result in people saying that they really enjoyed the ride to work and that they took the longer route to extend their journey a bit.

A stressful commute is no small problem in today’s world. With more and more of us travelling further for work, commuting can take up a sizeable chunk of the day – so why not enjoy it? Rising fuel prices and rail fares, increasing traffic congestion, public transport delays and parking nightmares can mean that many workers feel they have done a day’s work before they even step foot in the office.

Riding a motorcycle or scooter offers a very real solution for commuters and there is a whole raft of benefits that come with it – probably the most important being the time-savings. Shave time off your commute at both ends of the day. Forget about sitting in traffic jams, riding a motorcycle or scooter means that you keep moving when traffic comes to a standstill.

The ever-increasing price of fuel along with other costs like road tax, mean that switching to a motorcycle or scooter can also save you money. With road tax starting at just £16 a year for a 125cc machine and lightweight bikes and scooters offering frugal fuel consumption with manufacturers quoting 120 mpg on some models, then switching to powered two wheels makes sense. Another benefit over public transport is that the bike is yours and in the evenings and weekends you can go wherever you want, the gym, supermarket, visiting friends, it’s all within easy reach with your own motorbike or scooter and you will have fun doing it!

On Ride to Work Day the whole biking community comes together with events taking place at venues all over the UK, including at motorcycle dealerships, biker cafes and associated companies. It’s a great time to visit a showroom and see for yourself the bikes that are on offer. Why not call in for a coffee and a chat and meet fellow commuters who can help you decide that this easy and convenient, personal and fun, mode of travel is for you. For details of your nearest Ride to Work Day event visit www.ridetoworkday.co.uk

It’s easy to see if commuting by motorbike or scooter is for you, anyone aged 16 years and over can have a FREE taster ride, with experienced trainers away from busy roads, with the bike and riding gear supplied, by going to www.geton.co.uk. The Get On team have already given over 20,000 people a trial ride and you don’t need a driving licence or motorcycle licence to give it a go.

You can keep up-to-date with all things Ride to Work Day by liking them on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RidetoWorkDayUK) or following on Twitter (@RidetoWorkDayUK)