National Ride to Work Day 2011

It mystifies me why so many people still persevere with our expensive, dirty, unreliable, time-consuming and thoroughly depressing public transport system (did I mention expensive?). Thousands upon thousands of people file into central London each day by train, tube, bus etc - many still even drive in. All looking thoroughly miserable and stressed by the whole experience. And they pay through the nose for it too. It's madness. Utter, utter madness.

So this is a timely plug for National Ride to Work Day, which this year is set for Monday 20 June. This campaign is a way of getting the message across that motorcycles are the best form of transport for the daily commute. The day is an occasion when people unite to promote motorcycling, simply by taking their bike out of the garage and using it to get to work. More bikes on the road would benefit everyone - there would be less congestion, less pollution and less overcrowding for those who choose (or have no choice but) to remain on public transport. If you have a scooter or motorbike but don’t usually use it to go to work, this is your chance to find out just how much time and hassle you could save, as well as how good it feels to be free of timetables, traffic and ticket office queues and the regimented manner and herding that we have come to accept from our transport systems.
   

For me, riding to work is a complete no-brainer. I love riding bikes and only snow and ice would ever stop me - so I organise myself around the bike, keeping jacket, ties etc at work. Journeys into Central London take a fraction of the time (35 minutes door to door by bike vs 1hr 20+ via bus/tube), it's far far cheaper than a Oyster season ticket and it's FUN.

The question for me is why anyone wouldn't do it - and let's face it, during the Olympics next year bikes will be the only sensible choice in London. So if you have a bike or scooter, why keep it in the garage? Get out on it and use the damn thing!
  
The Motorcycle Industry’s Get On campaign will also be using the day to encourage new riders to make motorcycling part of their daily routine, and to show non-riders what they’re missing. So overall, this is a campaign that gets my complete support. Check out the campaign pages on Facebook and Twitter and get involved.

Let's make it happen on 20 June folks....