This Wednesday, July 21, 2004, is the 13th annual Worldwide Motorcycle Ride to Work Day, when all motorcyclists with street-legal bikes are encouraged to ride their motorcycles to work to promote awareness of motorcycles, their efficiency as personal transportation devices, and the positive contributions they make to the environment and traffic issues such as congestion and parking.
A fact sheet highlighting the reasons for Ride to Work Day is included here after the press release.
The Ride to Work Organization issued the release that follows:
Worldwide Motorcycle Ride to Work Day is Wednesday
Sometimes, commuting by motorcycle means that you get a lane all to yourself.
Motorcycle riders 13th annual commuting Ride to Work day is Wednesday, July 21st. Participation in the yearly demonstration is estimated to triple the number of riders on the road, and help reveal to the public that motorcyclists come from all walks of life, work in all occupations, and range in age from teenagers to grandparents. Motorcycle clubs and organizations worldwide actively encourage members to ride their cycles to work on this day.
Each week day in the United States, more than eighty million cars and light trucks commute on American roads, but only about 200,000 of the over six million registered cycles are regularly used for such daily transportation. Adding more motorcycles to the mix can help make urban parking easier and traffic flow better, according to Ride to Work, a non-profit advocacy organization. Studies have also shown that urban motorcyclists reach their destinations faster than those using automobiles, and that most motorcycles consume less resources per mile than typical automobiles.
"Riding to work on this day shows the positive value of motorcycling for transportation. For many people, riding is a socially responsible form of personal mobility that saves energy, helps the environment and provides a broad range of other public benefits," stated Andy Goldfine, this year's event organizer.
On Wednesday's 13th annual Ride to Work Day, motorcyclists worldwide seek: Employer recognition and support for motorcycling Public and government awareness of the positive value of motorcycling.
Motorcycles are much more efficient than cars in heavy traffic.
For more information about Ride to Work Day visit www.ridetowork.org or call 218.722.9806.
MOTORCYCLE TRANSPORTATION FACT SHEET
NUMBER OF MOTORCYCLES COMMUTING
Out of a total 120,000,000 commuters in this country (USA) 158,059 of them ride motorcycles to work regularly. That's only 0.12 percent. US Department of Census
Of all the motorcycles registered in the USA, (6,567,197 ) 4.3% of them are used for year-round primary transportation, with an additional 9.9 used seasonally for this purpose. Motorcycle Industry Council
NUMBER OF MOTORCYCLES ON THE ROAD
As of 2001, there were 4,903,056 motorcycles in use in the United States. US Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics As of 2001, these 4,903,056 motorcycles traveled an average of 1,943 miles a year. US Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics
TRAFFIC CONGESTION
The average roadway delay per person in 1999 was 17 hours per year and in 2001 it was 26 hours per year, an increase of 53%. Texas Transportation Institute
JOURNEY TIMES
The average United States driver travels 29 miles per day and is driving a total of 55 minutes per day. (This is an average vehicle speed of 32 mph.) US Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics
Tests comparing car and motorcycle performance on real journeys suggest that traveling by motorcycle can shorten journey times by as much as 33 minutes of every hour for town centre and city travel, and 20 minutes of every hour for travel through a mixture of built-up and non built-up areas. Motorcycle Industry Association (UK)
POTENTIAL AGGREGATE BENEFIT
Motorcycles cover 1-2% of the total distance traveled by road, and cars cover 86%. If 2% of car commuters switched to motorcycles or scooters, the current level of motorcycle utility use would effectively double. Motorcycle Industry Association (UK)
Average 2002 annual household private vehicle expense is $7,371. This is divided into $3,665 for vehicle purchases, $1,235 for gas and oil and $2,471 for insurance and misc. US Department of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditure Survey
PRACTICALITY
Most commutes are between 5 and 25 miles long, whilst the average journey length by car is around 8 miles. Motorcycles represent alternative to car use for many people for such journeys. Motorcycle Industry Association (UK)
PARKING SPACES
3 - 5 motorcycles fit per automobile parking space. Ride to Work
FUEL CONSUMPTION
Average mid-size Motorcycle 35-40 mpg (est) (250 est gal for 10,000 mi) Average Passenger Car 21.51 mpg (465 gal for 10,000 mi) Average Light Truck/SUV 17.22 mpg (581 gal for 10,000 mi) US Dept of Transportation, Bajaj USA, and Ride to Work
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