Ride to Work Day: Five Things to Know

This Monday marks the 23rd annual Ride to Work Day, a national consciousness-raising celebration that tries to bring increased awareness of the convenience and cost-effectiveness of commuting on two wheels instead of four.

Here are five facts to know about the June 16 event.

1. Nearly 10 million motorcycles were in use in the U.S. in 2012.

2. An estimated 27 million Americans operated a motorcycle at least once in 2012.

3. About 31% of motorcycle owners say they “frequently” use their bikes to commute or run errands, up from 26% a decade ago.

4. Many motorcycles get 50 mpg or better. Many scooters get 70 mpg or better. Which explains why “saving money on gas” is the reason many new riders give for taking up motorcycling.

5. About 150,000 motorcyclists who do not ordinarily commute will ride their motorcycles to work on Monday, based on last year’s participation. It is estimated this will save 30,000 gallons of fuel.

Ridetowork.org is a nonprofit group “advocating and supporting the use of motorcycles and scooters for transportation, and providing information about everyday utility riding to the public.” The numbers above were collected by the Motorcycle Industry Council, Ridetowork.org and the U.S. Department of Transportation.

As you’ll note from the logo, Ridetowork.org also stresses safety. They recommend riding to work in proper safety gear, not a three-piece suit.