Motorists - look out for extra motorcyclists on the road this week

National Ride to Work Week begins Monday 20th June to Sunday 26th June

Motorists are reminded that this week is national Ride to Work Week, which means the number of regular motorcycle and scooter commuters on the roads across the UK is likely to swell.

According to insurance quote data, only a third of riders insure their motorbikes for commuting, but this is likely to change over the next few days, as four motorcycle insurance providers are making commuter cover free for existing policy holders for Ride to Work Week.

The Ride to Work campaign highlights the benefits of commuting via motorcycle or scooter, which include saving time, money, easy parking, improved road skills and the fun factor!

This year, the campaign is also highlighting the work of Northamptonshire County Council, which is the first local authority in the UK to actively encourage a modal shift from cars to motorcycles, through its Motorcycle Northants project.

More motorcycles and scooters would help reduce congestion for all road users, according to a European study. It found that when just 10% of car drivers swapped to a motorcycle or scooter, congestion was reduced for all road users by 40%. When 25% swapped, it was eliminated altogether.

Steve Kenward, CEO of the Motorcycle Industry Association, which leads the industry-wide Ride to Work Campaign, says including motorcycles in mainstream transport planning would benefit both the economy and rider safety:

“Park the biker stereotype and think ahead to the contribution that small motorcycles and scooters could make as an efficient and sustainable form of personal commuter transport.  We are heartened by the example of Northamptonshire County Council, which has made good use of ‘Realising the motorcycling opportunity’; a policy document written by the MCIA and the National Police Chiefs’ Council.

“This explores a growing body of evidence that more motorcycles on the road would lift productivity by reducing congestion, while at the same time boosting motorcycle safety. Concern about rider safety is often cited as a reason not to encourage motorcycle use, but the strength in numbers argument is a valid one, backed by statistics from countries where powered-two-wheeler use is greater, but the ratio of accidents significantly less.  It is also the same argument being used by the cycling lobby.”  

Motorcyclists also enjoy their commute more.  A one-off survey by the Office for National Statistics found that those who rode a motorcycle, scooter or moped didn’t experience any negative affect on well-being on journeys up to half an hour and after that it was negligible.  In contrast, those who cycled, walked, took the bus or drove, all experienced a negative affect after just 15 minutes.  This is why the campaign uses the hashtag #commutehappy.

ENDS

Please contact Stevie Muir for additional information or high resolution images via press@mcia.co.uk or call 07989 378597 or see downloads on the Ride to Work Week website.

Notes for editor

• Insurers who have made commuter cover available free for existing policy holders during Ride to Work Week include Ageas, Carole Nash, ERS (this will be added for the period Monday 20th to Friday 24th) and Principal Insurance (this will be added for the first day of the campaign - Monday 20th).

• Ride to Work Week activity will also take place across the UK at a series of ‘biker breakfasts’ and on social media, where regular motorcycle and scooter commuters post updates about their journey into work and can take part in competitions and giveaways.  Motorcycle businesses also use the campaign as a way to reward staff, with company ride-outs, chances to ride new models and putting on free motorcycle training courses for non riding staff.

• Insurance quote data was drawn from over 700,000 unique rider quotes.

• Throughout the week, many riders across the UK will be sporting special Ride to Work day high-viz jackets, which feature these slogans reflecting the benefits of riding to work:

         -Less time in traffic, more time in bed
         -Riders get into the smallest space
         -I’ll be there before you
         -Save on petrol, spend more on you
         -It’s just more fun!

Try for free

Get On is the motorcycle industry’s free motorcycle ‘try out’ programme and throughout the summer and autumn it will be taking free ride opportunities to towns and events across the UK.  When over 4000 people were surveyed by Get On after their free ride, only 2.5% didn’t enjoy the experience. Booking is via the website www.geton.co.uk

Websites to check out

• www.ridetoworkweek.co.uk 
• www.mcia.co.uk
• www.geton.co.uk

ENDS ALL

Contact Stevie Muir via press@mcia.co.uk or call 07989 378597

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