Ride To Work Day

The Motor Cycle Industry (MCI) has reminded us that from the 18 to 24 July is National Motorcycle Week (NMW) which features Ride To Work day on Wednesday 21 July.

This year’s NMW is being supported by Get On, the nationwide campaign by the Motor Cycle Industry (MCI) to get more people on two wheels, and as a result both new and existing riders are being encouraged to get out on two wheels and enjoy the huge range of benefits that life on a motorbike or scooter can bring.

NMW provides the perfect opportunity for people to try life on two wheels and book a free one-hour taster session with Get On.

The campaign offers anyone aged 16 or over the chance to try riding a scooter or geared 125cc motorcycle absolutely free and with no commitment at any one of over 150 centres around the country. To book a free ride the public simply register at www.geton.co.uk and their nearest training centre will contact them to make the arrangements.

NMW also encourages existing and lapsed bikers to get out and about on their bikes and enjoy the great sense of fun and freedom which biking offers, while also encouraging their friends to give biking a go.

As an added incentive during July Get On are running a prize promotion which allows any biker who introduces a friend at a Get On dealer the chance to win a huge range of prizes including biking holidays, Weise kit, Arai helmets and Pirelli tyres. Non-bikers won’t miss out either as they will be entered into the draw for iPads, iPod nanos and digital cameras. The competition can be entered at one of 450 participating Get On dealers across the country which can be located on the website www.geton.co.uk

Check the website for Northern Ireland – Get On participating dealers.

Ride to Work Day (21 July) is part of the event and the aim is to promote the fact that as well as an enjoyable leisure pursuit riding a bike or scooter has many practical benefits. Powered two-wheelers can help

Reduce congestion
Reduce journey times
Reduce the cost of commuting
Reduce pollution

Suzi Perry, is calling on people to take the opportunity to get out and about and enjoy life on two wheels and said, “Bikes have been a huge part of my life and are just such a fantastic way to get around. Not only do they help you get ahead of the traffic but they’re also more economical, greener and a huge amount of fun.”

Anyone can get involved in National Motorcycle Week and people who are interested in running their own events can think about planning a bikers BBQ, a local charity fundraiser, getting some extra training or going on a group ride – out to celebrate all that is positive about life on two-wheels.

More information and an event pack is online in the campaigns section of the industry website – Click Here

Smile to the Motorcycle Riders

Our friend Hans Petter from Minutes of a Motorcycle Addict writes an article about commuting in Norway and his view of why motorcycles are a part of the transport solution – especially when “normal” transport system breaks down.

I had to take my car to work today.

The commute became a strong reminder of why motorcycles are a part of the transport solution in most cities of the world.

The railway service into downtown Oslo collapsed today.

A small error made all the trains transporting commuters on their way to work stand still for 12 hours.

A bad start on a Monday morning.

Already overloaded roads leading into the city became a non-moving river of cars as commuters chose to take their car to work.

It was as asphyxiating as only a traffic congestion can be.

And I live in Norway – I can’t even imagine how it is in the really, really big cities.

In between the cars and in the bus lane, some got through though: The motorcyclists.

My riding friends at work where at work after their ordinary 30 minutes commute.

I have the same distance to ride every morning, but today I had to take the car.

It took me close to two hours.

It goes without saying that mopeds, scooters and motorcycles are important and decisive parts to solve the congestion problems that are plaguing our cities.

We cannot all rely on trains and buses – some need a personal means of transport to get us there and back.

If more used two wheelers, we would solve great problems with regard to traffic flow, parking, road building and pollution.

Practical tests in my small city have proven that by scooting to and from work you easily save 50-60% of the time you’d use in ordinary traffic jam on a Monday morning.

The time saving and the fact that the motorcycles use less fuel than cars are in themselves important contributions to a cleaner and greener commute.

Then you have the parking problem.

You can easily park four to five motorcycles on the same place that one car will occupy. And finally, you don’t need expensive, large scale road building to accommodate riders.

We’re fine with the roads we already have.

Just keep them in good order.

Some cities around Europe, e.g. Rome, Paris and London, have a progressive and positive attitude towards motorcycles because the city traffic administrators and planners see that the motorcycle commuters are important parts of the traffic solutions.

Norway has still to see that point.

Even if the climate can be somewhat challenging in the winter, you can still use the bike at least 10 months a year here in the south.

In the west and further south you can use it practically all year round.

So why doesn’t more road authorities – in particular my own in Norway – contribute to give motorcycles a more prominent place in the solution picture by stimulating people to buy and use them?

Beats me.

But the next time you’re stuck in traffic in your car, remember to wave to the riders that pass you and give them a warm thought because they make the traffic run smoother by choosing two instead of four wheels.

Hans Petter – © HansP 2009

Read the Article on – Minutes of a Motorcycle Addict – Tool Box Blog Click Here

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