A week-long campaign, which aims to highlight the benefits of commuting by motorcycle or scooter, will take place between 20-26 June.
Ride to Work Week 2016 has been organised by the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA), who are adopting the campaign slogan #commutehappy.
The MCIA points to a report by the Office for National Statistics which shows that travelling to work via motorcycle, scooter and moped was found to have no negative impact on wellbeing on journeys up to 30 minutes long.
This was in contrast to those using the bus, cycling, driving or walking, who all experienced a negative impact after just 15 minutes.
Ride to Work Week will also be used to highlight other benefits including reducing congestion for all road users and saving time and money.
In the lead up to the event, the MCIA and the National Police Chiefs’ Council have produced a framework of actions considering the idea that more powered two wheelers on the roads would increase awareness and reduce accidents.
During the week, riders will be able share their Ride to Work Week photos via the campaign’s Facebook and Twitter pages to show why their mode of transport is so enjoyable.
Events will be held across the UK for the public and for employees at motorcycle friendly businesses. These range from ‘bikers breakfasts’ to VIP parking and free CBTs for non-riding staff.
The Ride to Work Week team will also put on a programme of events and ‘Get On’ free ride opportunities in Northamptonshire, where the county council is the first in the UK to actively encourage a modal shift towards motorcycling.
BikeSafe is holding a special ‘Bridging the Gap’ weekend workshop on 18-19 June, while the IAM is offering free ‘buddy’ advanced taster rides for licence holders who want to check out their commute with a local advanced observer.
Special hi-viz vests and t-shirts are available for those organising events. For more information contact Stevie Muir on 07989 378597.
The motive is admirable, but there are still a number of concerns:
1) Motorcycle is currently terrible and getting worse (up 44% in London 2012 to 2014). We need more secure parking, bays with ground anchors etc. Things will only get worse in 2020 when all the old cheap commuters hacks are will be too costly to ride into the ULEZ, all the newer 2007+ bikes will be rich pickings for thieves. 🙁
2) London’s roads have been getting narrower and filled with ever more street furniture and islands, making riding a bike even more dangerous. Primarily to make way for cyclists who clearly have stronger lobbies behind them…
3) There’s still no consistency on motorcycles in bus lanes, leading to confusion, unnecessary fines, unused road space and forcing bikes to share congested lanes with other vehicles. All despite TFL’s conclusion there is no detrimental reason to prevent motorcycles using bus lanes.
As already highlighted, the number of riders with no more than a CBT is worrying, but at least plans to change the CBT and campaigns to encourage further rider training are attempting to tackle this. It’s still no worse than the folk on electric bicycles, maybe with a helmet at best, zero training, no insurance and many doing more than the legal 15mph they should!
Arthur (London)
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How many bikes can you fit moving on the road in the space of a car? Only… One. How many bikes can you fit in the parking space for a car? Maybe 3 or 4. Are there enough parking spaces for motorcycles in our towns and cities? No.
Does every car park private or public have provision for motorcycle parking as required by legislation? Not yet. With the ease for criminals to steal motorcycles how many would feel confident enough to park one up? Not many. How many businesses would pay out the cost for changing rooms etc? Not many.
There seems a long way to go before we have acceptable systems in place and the motorcyclist would have to fight for each and every one of them. Where are the organisations that would fight on behalf of motorcyclists. There are so many organisations and charities supporting the ordinary cyclists, motorcyclists seem to be somewhat less represented in general.
R.Craven Blackpool
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The report of the Office for National Statistics that is referred to may be found here:-
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20160105160709/http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171766_351954.pdf
The report is useful but I would suggest that the MCIA interpretation is rather simplistic.
Rod King, Cheshire, 20’s Plenty for Us
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Surely having more motorcycles can only be beneficial? The more motorcycles there are on the road, the more car drivers ‘should’ look out for them? I seem to recall a similar comment was made by ACPO quite some time ago?
Also, Robert has a very good point, well thought out designated parking for ptws is also key.
Ian, Gloucestershire
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On the continent, especially in congested ancient cities like Florence, commuting by motorbike is the norm and there are vast areas marked off for parking the bikes. We need adequate bike parking spaces before motorcycling commuting can really take off.
Robert Bolt, St Albans
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We have just seen an increase of some 13% on sales of motorised two wheeled vehicles this April on last. So with more motorcyclists on the road what can we expect. Will these new to biking bikers go in for further training… doubtful. Many will not even take the DSA test. Other than the legally required CBT they will learn nothing more with regards to road safety. We will see greater dangers, more KSIs, more smidsys and greater suffering.
Motorcycling a decade ago was about set to be included in the vision for transport for the future, however reluctantly, but with the advent of the increased popularity in cycling that has now been abandoned and cyclists are now seen as the way forward. Thus motorcycling has once again been sidelined. Poor relation once more to a new sibling. The cyclist.
R.Craven Blackpool
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