This year Ride to Work Day will kick start Ride to Work Week, 16-22 June 2014

On Ride to Work Day thousands of riders around the world come together to show just how enjoyable their daily commute is. The motorcycle industry uses the campaign to promote the benefits of motorcycling to non-riders, government and local transport bodies – demonstrating that life would be better if more people rode motorcycles and scooters every day, saving time, money and reducing congestion.

A European study showed that if 10% of car drivers switched to a motorcycle or scooter then congestion would be reduced for ALL road users by 40%, and if the number who switched increased to 25% congestion would be eliminated altogether.

See the full report 

As part of Ride to Work Week, the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCI) intends to carry out a 'City Challenge' in some of the most congested cities in the UK outside of London to show the time saved when travelled by PTW (powered two-wheeler). The challenge will involve a car driver, motorcycle rider, and public transport user setting off from the same starting point and travelling to a designated workplace in the city centre. The results will be announced on Ride to Work Day.

The Top 10 most congested cities identified are:

1. Bristol

2. Brighton and Hove

3. Birmingham

4. Leeds Bradford

5. Manchester

6. Leicester

7. Edinburgh

8. Sheffield

9. Liverpool

10. Newcastle / Sunderland

(source: TomTom)

Commuting by motorcycle is the only way to arrive at work with a smile on your face. The Office for National Statistics released a report (12th February 2014) examining the impact of commuting patterns on people's levels of anxiety, happiness and satisfaction. Travelling to work on a motorcycle, scooter or moped is one of the least likely modes of transport to have a negative impact on your well-being; for journeys between 15 and 30 minutes, motorcyclists were happier than those travelling by bus, bicycle or car.

Throughout Ride to Work Week, dealers, cafes and workplaces around the country will be holding events and offering special bike-related promotions. Go to the Ride to Work Day website to find events happening in your area.

Keep in touch with the community on facebook and Twitter:

If you plan your own event, the RTWD team would love to hear from you. Upload photos to our Facebook page, talk to us on Twitter or contact Shirley or Laura at [email protected] / 01293 823891.

And finally, make sure you and all your biker friends ride to work on Monday 16 June!

Prior to the opening of the 2014 Le Mans 24-hour, Audi’s tyre partner, Michelin, honoured Loïc Duval, Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish with an extra special gift for their victory last year in the Audi R18 e-tron quattro - a Ducati Monster 1200 each!

Regarded as the motorcycle of choice for top movie, music and sporting celebrities, the Monster remains legendary for Ducati, the Italian motorcycle manufacturer, which is now part of the Audi Group. Michelin presented the 135hp Ducati Monsters to the deserving drivers on Tuesday of this 2014 Le Mans race week.

Douglas, Isle of Man. Frances Thorp, the Honorary Secretary of the TT Riders Association for the past eleven years, has been awarded this year's PokerStars Spirit of the TT Award. The position is unpaid and subject to an election every year.

Ex-racer Freddie Frith formed the charity, which provides funds for old and injured riders and their families, in 1953. All current and former TT riders are eligible to join. Frances' husband Tom, who passed away in 2012, competed at the TT and MGP from 1956 to 1962 and was a TTRA member.

The charity is made up of an Honorary Secretary and Treasurer, four committeemen and a President with a new president elected each year. Current president is Mortons Media Publisher Malcolm Wheeler while previous presidents have included Phillip McCallen, Mike Hailwood MBE, John Surtees MBE, Joey Dunlop, Stanley Woods and Geoff Duke OBE.

The TTRA operates a number of fundraising events in the UK and worldwide through the year including their high profile annual lunch at the NEC in Birmingham during Motorcycle Live. The charity has helped hundreds of riders and their families past and present over its sixty-year history but never reveals individual details. Frances is regularly seen operating and managing the '38th milestone', the meeting point behind the grandstand for ex-riders during the TT Races and Isle of Man Festival of Motorcycling.

David Cretney, Isle of Man Government Political Member with responsibility for Tourism and Motorsport said:

"Frances is a worthy recipient of this year's award. The incredible work that she puts in to fundraise for the TT Riders Association is second to none and many riders past and present have benefitted from her efforts."

Representatives from the Isle of Man Government's Motorsport team including David Cretney, the Isle of Man Government representative with responsibility for Motorsport and Tourism, TT rider liaison officers Richard Quayle and John Barton, ACU Clerk of the Course Gary Thompson and PokerStars Head of Corporate Communications Eric Hollreiser judged the award. Nominations were invited from members of the public and from officials associated with the TT.

The award is given to the person or team who best represent the ethos and values of the TT Races including decency, honesty, generosity, courage, compassion, integrity, respect, teamwork and commitment to the development of the races.

Previous winners of the award have included Paul Owen in 2010, Conor Cummins in 2011 and sidecar duo Ben and Tom Birchall who won the award in 2012. Longest serving TT Marshal Eric Alexander, 81, who first marshalled at the TT in 1952, won the 2013 award.

PokerStars Director of Corporate Communications Eric Hollreiser commented:

"The TT Riders Association is a tremendous charity that does incredible work behind the scenes and is a hugely important and relevant part of the overall TT organisation. We are delighted to be able to recognise both their efforts and Frances' work with this award." 

As part of this year's Triumph Live celebrations we're offering everyone with a ticket to the main event a rare opportunity to visit Hinckley, Leicestershire the day before for a free and exclusive look around our main production facility!

Come and see how we machine our cranks, camshafts and engine cases, where we build our engines and how we turn a single piston into a full bike in only 2 hours!

During a working day we push a completed motorcycle off the line every 5 minutes - but you'll have a whole hour to immerse yourself on our self-guided tour.

This will be your only opportunity to see inside the factory gates this year, so don't miss it!

If you're travelling far to come to Triumph Live there's camping available too - take our factory tour on Friday 11th, camp over at Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon and then enjoy an action packed day at Triumph Live on Saturday 12th - the perfect weekend!

GET YOUR TRIUMPH LIVE TICKET AND FREE FACTORY TOUR TODAY! 

Join Us
July 11th - Factory Tour, Hinckley Leicestershire
July 12th - Triumph Live, Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon

FOR THE RIDE

www.triumph-live.com

Moto Rapido of Winchester has been confirmed as the 2013 Ducati UK dealer of the year. This award is the most prestigious of the awards given by the UK subsidiary and is recognition of the overall hard work and dedication to the brand. This independent solus dealer has been part of the Ducati dealer network since 2005 and is renowned by its customers for their enthusiasm, professionalism and passion for the brand.

Steve Moore, Managing Director, Moto Rapido: “Dealer of the year is the most prestigious award from Ducati and the whole of Moto Rapido is thrilled to have this recognition. To win this award, every aspect of the dealership has to be to a very high level and the service and professionalism of my team is something I am extremely proud of. In 2005 we won ‘best new dealer’ and have since won and been commended for four other accolades. Consistently winning these awards is down to all the team here really going the extra mile and taking pride in their work. I have been keen to win this one since we started with Ducati. It will be displayed with great pride in the shop.”

Tim Maccabee, Managing Director, Ducati UK “I am delighted that this award goes to Moto Rapido who are one of our most committed and pro-active dealers in the network. Steve Moore and his team are Ducati through and through and a credit to the brand, showing passion and professionalism both in the dealership and on the race track. Moto Rapido also has consistently achieved strong results helping Ducati to achieve its sales successes over the last few years.”

Another notable award winner is P&H Motorcycles for the award for ‘Notable Contribution to the Brand’. This is in recognition of the continued commitment and professionalism from this long serving dealer.

The full list of dealer awards can be seen in the attachment.

To find your nearest Ducati dealer