The RACQ is supporting the first annual Ride to Work Day today (March 1, 2017) organised by the Motorcycle Riders Association of Queensland.
RACQ technical and safety officer Steve Spalding, a Suzuki Bandit owner and frequent motorcycle commuter, says he hopes the ride will alert motorists to the number of riders on the road.
“These Ride to Work days also help raise awareness of motorcycles on the road and remind other road users to think about their safety and give them a safe space in city traffic,” he says.
“It’s also an opportunity to raise awareness of motorcycles as an option for commuting where parking cost savings can be made.”
RACQ spokesman Steve Spalding takes Road Safety Minister Mark Bailey for a ride on his BanditMotorcycle Riders Association of Queensland president Chris Mearns says riders are “often overlooked or ignored” when it comes to seeking solutions to transport issues.
“For every motorcycle or scooter that is used instead of a car there is a space saving on the road and a fuel use reduction of approximately 50% which results in a considerable positive outcome for the issues of congestion and pollution,” he says.
He hopes that message will be delivered to the authorities by establishing Ride to Work Day as a major event in coming years.
Several other states have Ride to Work days and the MRAQ used to organise an event more than a decade ago. Now Chris wants to resurrect the event.
MRAQ president Chris MearnsHe says this year will be a “soft start”, but he hopes it will be “bigger and better in coming years”.
Chris says now is a good time to kickstart Ride to Work Day as Queensland recently celebrated the second anniversary of the introduction of lane filtering.
He says the the MRAQ was “heavily involved” in having the welcome legislation introduced.
“So there is even more benefit now to making a motorcycle or scooter the means of transport to work due to our ability to move through road congestion more swiftly,” he says.
Ride to Work even if you work from home
Motorbike Writer works from home, but will ride into Park Rd tomorrow morning in support of rider/commuters, regardless of the weather conditions.
If you work from home, too, you are invited to join us for coffee and a chat.
Motorbike Writer believes that more riders visible in commuter traffic might encourage motorists to see us and/or leave a gap for filtering.
Who else plans to ride to work tomorrow? Please share this article with your friends and encourage them to join you.