Gayle Anderson was live in Irvine for RIDE TO WORK DAY. The 18th Annual Ride to Work Day, for motorcyclists, is on June 15. For two separate set of green reasons, this year's national grass-roots effort is more relevant than ever. Motorcycles and scooters are a great way to save a lot of green while being more environmentally green at the same time.
People are getting this message and there are far more riders than ever. The number of American households that own motorcycles jumped 26 percent from 2003 to 2008, while the overall number of U.S. households increased roughly 5 percent. During the same period, the motorcycle population grew 19 percent while the U.S. population rose by about 5 percent.
The latest Motorcycle Industry Council Owner Survey found that, among reasons for riding, "commuting and errands" jumped to the No. 2 spot only behind riding for pleasure. In 2008, as gas prices topped $4 a gallon, scooter sales rose to 222,000 for the year - the highest level yet.
Riding to work has a lot of benefits, for motorcyclists and for the nation. Here are the facts according to the Motorcycle Safety Foundation:
TWO-WHEELS SAVING GREEN
· When it comes to greenbacks, motorcycles cost much less to buy. There are many fine, capable bikes available for less than $4,000.
· Maintenance costs are much less on a bike.
· Registration is less money.
· So is insurance.
· The vast majority of two-wheelers are very much about sensible transportation exactly right for the times.
TWO-WHEELS ARE GREEN
· Whether you ride or not, everyone can appreciate what a two-wheeler does for the environment versus a car, even a hybrid.
· It starts with hundreds or even thousands of pounds less in raw materials, and that can include the toxic elements used in hybrid car batteries.
· There's less energy required to ship a motorcycle from factory to dealership.
· With smaller engines and fewer components, there's less use of motor oil and chemicals throughout the life of the bike.
· And, of course, there's less use of gasoline, as a motorcycle or scooter can get two, three, sometimes four times the MPG of four-wheelers using the same roads.
· Less fuel use means less CO2 emissions, now recognized as a pollutant and long known to cause climate change.
· Altogether, motorcycles are very green machines, capable of everyday transportation (particularly in sunny California) while minimizing waste.
BOTTOM LINE ON BIKES
· Motorcycles reduce traffic congestion and parking problems, benefiting all manner of motorists.
People are getting this message and there are far more riders than ever. The number of American households that own motorcycles jumped 26 percent from 2003 to 2008, while the overall number of U.S. households increased roughly 5 percent. During the same period, the motorcycle population grew 19 percent while the U.S. population rose by about 5 percent.
The latest Motorcycle Industry Council Owner Survey found that, among reasons for riding, "commuting and errands" jumped to the No. 2 spot only behind riding for pleasure. In 2008, as gas prices topped $4 a gallon, scooter sales rose to 222,000 for the year - the highest level yet.
Riding to work has a lot of benefits, for motorcyclists and for the nation. Here are the facts according to the Motorcycle Safety Foundation:
TWO-WHEELS SAVING GREEN
· When it comes to greenbacks, motorcycles cost much less to buy. There are many fine, capable bikes available for less than $4,000.
· Maintenance costs are much less on a bike.
· Registration is less money.
· So is insurance.
· The vast majority of two-wheelers are very much about sensible transportation exactly right for the times.
TWO-WHEELS ARE GREEN
· Whether you ride or not, everyone can appreciate what a two-wheeler does for the environment versus a car, even a hybrid.
· It starts with hundreds or even thousands of pounds less in raw materials, and that can include the toxic elements used in hybrid car batteries.
· There's less energy required to ship a motorcycle from factory to dealership.
· With smaller engines and fewer components, there's less use of motor oil and chemicals throughout the life of the bike.
· And, of course, there's less use of gasoline, as a motorcycle or scooter can get two, three, sometimes four times the MPG of four-wheelers using the same roads.
· Less fuel use means less CO2 emissions, now recognized as a pollutant and long known to cause climate change.
· Altogether, motorcycles are very green machines, capable of everyday transportation (particularly in sunny California) while minimizing waste.
BOTTOM LINE ON BIKES
· Motorcycles reduce traffic congestion and parking problems, benefiting all manner of motorists.
