Mark June 20th on your calendar as a big day for bikers – it’s the 20th Annual Ride to Work Day.
“Riding on this day showcases the positive value of motorcycles and scooters for transportation,” says event organizer Andy Goldfine. “It is an economical, efficient and socially responsible form of mobility that saves energy, helps the environment and provides a broad range of other public benefits.”
According to Goldfine, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Transportation say 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 becomes more visible as a large number of America’s 8,000,000 motorcycles are ridden to work, Goldfine says.
Here are some other facts compiled by Goldfine:
- Only .11 percent of commuters in the U.S. ride a motorcycle to work, the Census Bureau reports.
- As of 2003, there were 5,370,000 motorcycles regularly in use in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Those motorcycles traveled an average of 1,800 miles a year per motorcycle.
- Goldfine calculates that three to five motorcycles fit in each automobile parking space.
The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) always encourages motorcyclists to help demonstrate the tangible benefits of commuting to work on a motorcycle.
“Ride to Work Day is a great way to show that motorcycles are fun to ride as well as an economical way to transport yourself from one point to another,” AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman said last year. “With so many more riders on the road at this time of year, it’s also a good opportunity to extend a note of caution to riders and motorists alike as part of the I AMAware campaign, which emphasizes safety on the road through enhanced awareness of fellow road users.
“I AMAware is a national program that encourages both defensive riding by motorcyclists and alertness by fellow road users,” Dingman said. “In most car-motorcycle crashes, the driver claims he or she never saw the motorcyclist. By increasing awareness of motorcyclists on the road, crashes can be avoided, and lives can be saved.”
While June 20th is the official ride to work day this year (it is always the 3rd Monday in June), don’t wait until then to ride to work. The thrill we get from riding for pleasure can liven up that ride to and from work, and it even helps melt away some of that stress we normally feel after a long day at work. No matter what your profession, the ride to work can be comfortable and practical with the right equipment. Trust me – I rode to the TV studio today to record a segment with my tie and jacket flapping the breeze!
I’ll be riding on June 20th and every other day I can. I hope to see you out as well!
Thanks for reading.
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ZiffLaw Attorney, Esq.
NY and PA Injury and Accident Attorney
The Ziff Law Firm, LLP
303 William Street
Elmira, NY 14901
Phone: (607)733-8866
Fax: (607)732-6062
Email: info@zifflaw.com
www.zifflaw.com
