We don’t need surveys to tell us we are happy, but a British survey has found people who ride motorcycles or scooters to work arrive calmer and therefore make better employees.
The survey of 1000 commuters commissioned by motorcycle insurance firm Bennetts found 87.9% of motorcycle and scooter commuters believe they are happier than their colleagues. Some 67.8% also said they believed commuting to work had a positive effect on their enthusiasm and ability to tackle work.
It doesn’t say why they are happier, but it could be several factors. I now work from home and haven’t commuted for two years, but I remember how much fun it was, the challenges of weaving through the traffic the camaraderie of ackno
wledging my fellow riders and the comforting knowledge that it was quicker and cheaper than taking public transport or a car.
Although it took a lot of concentration to carve through the traffic, I felt less stressed when I arrived at work and was ready for the day, rather than the frazzled commuters who took their car or squashed on to a train and needed a coffee before they could function enough to make a valuable contribution to the office.
Bennetts managing director, Vince Chaney, says the data supports their figures that show an increase in people buying insurance policies for motorcycles and scooters for commuting purposes.
Interestingly, the survey also found that a third of motorcycle and scooter commuters spend more money every month on their beloved motorcycle than on their partner.
Are you a happy bike commuter and why?