Happy Days! It's official Motorcyclists are the happiest commuters

says Bennetts' survey

• research

Bennetts, one of the UK's major motorcycle insurance providers recently commissioned an independent survey on how people feel about their mode of transport for getting to work. And guess what, motorcycle and scooter riders came out top for happiness! Why doesn’t this surprise us? Well here’s a quiz question...would you rather sit in a car in a traffic jam unable to move, or filter your way home in the open air past a lot of trapped caged folks quietly fuming? It's not rocket science!

In fact a cool 87.9% of motorcycle and scooter commuters believe that they are happier when they get to work than if they had used any other mode of transport.  1,000 UK commuters took part in Bennetts' survey and were asked to reflect on their best and worst journeys to work. This revealed that the motorcyclists among them were by far the happiest.
Bennetts’ findings correlate with the 2014 Office for National Statistics Report on the impact of commuting on peoples wellbeing, which revealed that people who have to commute by car or bus felt the most unhappy and anxious.

Bennetts’ managing director, Vince Chaney explained:
“The survey demonstrates what many motorbike and scooter riders have known for a long time, that it makes you happy and other forms of travel simply don’t have the same positive impact. It also supports our data that more people are buying insurance policies for motorcycles and scooters used for commuting purposes, with almost half of our customers taking out policies including commuting use.”
67.8% of participants in the survey who were motorcyclists or scooter riders, also believed that using a motorcycle to get to work made them generally in a more positive frame of mind and therefore more up for work when they got there.

University of Bolton PhD student, Sue Brown has been investigating how motorcycling can affect  mental health and social well-being, and has findings from her own research which correlate with Bennetts’ survey:
“Bennetts’ findings echo what the majority of them concluded; that motorcycling to work makes people feel calmer and therefore more productive. The greatest benefit they talked about was that commuting by motorcycle made them happier, which in turn had a beneficial effect on their general well-being.”
As an aside, Bennetts’ survey also showed that a third of motorcycle and scooter commuters spend more money each month on their beloved motorcycle than on their partner...oops :0)
The MCIA’s press officer Stevie Muir, commented on the results:
“The ONS report established that travelling to work on a motorcycle, scooter or moped is one of the least likely modes of transport to affect your well-being, and so it makes sense that the Bennetts' survey reveals a positive commute leads to a positive attitude in the workplace."
Bennetts quote a London-based surgeon, Dr. Daniel van Gijn, MRCS who regularly commutes to work on his BMW 1200GS explains why he enjoys riding to work:
“Motorcycling gives you a freedom which you simply can’t enjoy with any other transport. It’s usually the highlight of your day being able to skip past the stagnant traffic and acknowledge fellow riders on the road.
“Commuting by motorcycle also provides you with a challenge, you have to be aware and ready to react to all scenarios. It’s a fantastic way of travelling and will seriously improve your lifestyle even in this British weather!”
So we conclude from this that motorcycles are good for you. Add the satisfaction of passing the queue to the concentration required to ride safely to work through traffic using your wits and judgement and the positive outcome is that you arrive at work with your brain sharp and fully switched on.
A win win for you and for your employer. In fact perhaps employers should think about getting all their staff motorcycles – now there’s an idea!
Any thoughts? email us at [email protected]