Every Day Is Earth Day For Motorcyclists
As conservation takes center stage on April 22, 2013 for Earth Day,
the American Motorcyclist Association salutes motorcyclists and
all-terrain vehicle riders nationwide who do volunteer work on
public land.
The AMA also salutes street riders, noting there are many
environmental benefits to commuting and traveling on a motorcycle
or scooter.
"For motorcyclists, every day is Earth Day," said Rob Dingman, AMA
president and CEO. "Off-highway riders enjoy the outdoors and
respect the land, sometimes even carrying out other people's trash
from remote areas. Street riders -- whether on a motorcycle or a
scooter -- have a positive impact on the environment and their
rides result in a more enjoyable, less-congested experience for all
road users."
Every year, thousands of off-highway riders and employees of
motorcycle-related companies roll up their sleeves to restore and
maintain forest areas by planting trees, cutting brush, picking up
trash and donating tens of thousands of man-hours or more to those
efforts.
Yamaha Motor Corp. U.S.A. employees alone have restored more than
12 acres of forest land over the past five years at the San
Bernardino National Forest in California. AMA member Robert
Langley, who recently received the AMA Outstanding Off-Road Rider
Award, was hailed by the Washington state Department of Natural
Resources as one of its top volunteers statewide in 2012 for
donating up to 1,000 hours of work a year.
When it comes to street riding, a typical motorcycle can provide
fuel mileage that exceeds that of most fuel-efficient automobiles.
Many motorcycles return more than 50 miles per gallon, and many
scooters can deliver nearly twice that. In addition to using less
fuel, motorcycles require less oil and other chemicals to operate.
And the recent introduction of electric motorcycles provides an
added benefit for the environment.
Motorcycles take up less space than cars and trucks both during
operation, and when parked. They reduce traffic congestion and, in
so doing, help increase the efficiency of traffic flow on the
road.
Significantly fewer raw materials are utilized to produce
motorcycles and scooters compared to cars and trucks. By some
measures, it requires thousands of pounds less metal and plastic
per vehicle to produce a motorcycle. The environmental benefits are
realized both during production, as well as at the end of the
vehicle's useful life.
Because motorcycles and scooters are so much more compact and
lighter than cars and trucks, they cause far less wear and tear on
the highways, reducing the cost and environmental impact of
infrastructure repairs. In addition, because of their size, many
more motorcycles can be transported from factory to consumer using
the same or less energy.
"When you add it all up, there is no question: If everyone rode
motorcycles, the planet would be a greener, less congested place,"
Dingman said. "And just as important, more of us would experience
the thrill and freedom that motorcycles provide. Riding is not just
easy on your bank account and the planet, riding is a fun, and
often a social activity that simply makes life more enjoyable."
Those interested in coming along for the ride are encouraged to
visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com
> Riding > Getting Started for more information about the
benefits of motorcycling.
About the American Motorcyclist Association
Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world's largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders' interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, please visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com.
