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Most people who own a motorcycle still drive a car to work. It’s easy to see why.
The argument against bikes includes everything from helmet hair to bad weather. A car simply offers more comfort and convenience. It’s the cold hard truth: There are numerous reasons not to ride. However, there are just as many reasons to take two wheels instead. Ride to Work Day reminds motorcyclists of those reasons on an annual basis.
Observed on the second Tuesday of every June, RTW implores riders to commute on their motorcycle. The non-profit believes the annual event demonstrates that motorcyclists hail “from all occupations and all walks of life” and “can reduce traffic congestion in large cities.” While RTW aims to improve the public perception of riders, riding to the office also benefits the riders themselves. Here are four reasons it’s worth swinging a leg over the ol’ iron steed this upcoming Tuesday.
Beat the clock
Not all motorcycles are considered fast motorcycles, but when compared to the power-to-weight ratio of a car, nearly all motorcycles are fast. That doesn’t just come down to horsepower, either. Motorcycles are allowed in the carpool/high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane, which helps shorten commute times thanks to fewer vehicles and faster-flowing traffic.
The time savings are even more evident if you live in one of the six states where lane filtering is legal (California, Utah, Arizona, Montana, Colorado, and Minnesota). Zack and Ari proved as much in a recent Common Tread XP episode. You can’t argue with science, now, can you?
Camaraderie
There are only so many motorcyclists on the roadways. That’s especially true on the weekdays, when riders are fewer and farther between. At the same time, that makes those who ride to work a part of an exclusive club. Being part of that exclusive club can help strike up conversations with fellow coworkers who ride, everyone from the security guard to the CEO. Motorcycling tends to bring people together, even if you’re riding into the office individually.
The old RevZilla video below, shot on a Ride to Work Day years ago, was an idea born of that camaraderie.
One with the elements
Today’s office worker spends far too many hours in front of a screen and not enough time outdoors. What better way to become one with the elements than to do so on a motorcycle? There’s nothing like taking your bike out on the first afternoon of the ride season or going for a joy ride on a warm summer night. Yes, plummeting temps pose problems come winter, but where there’s a will (plus heated gear and a disciplined throttle hand), there’s a way. The video below is proof positive.
It’s fun
The work week can become monotonous. That’s why bookending your days with a motorcycle ride only enlivens your weekday routine. After all, that’s what Zack does in every Daily Rider episode. Why not turn every stop sign into a balancing act? Why not find the nearest dirt-road detour on the way to work? Who doesn’t want to giggle in their helmet while hucking up a wheelie or backing it into the employee parking lot?
Life’s short, my two-wheeled compadres. Take the bike instead.
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