[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 9525-9526]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      RECOGNIZING RIDE TO WORK DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL C. BURGESS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 16, 2011

  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, as Co-Chair of the Congressional Motorcycle 
Safety Caucus I rise to recognize Ride to Work Day.
  Since 1992, this event has been organized by the Ride to Work 
organization and is intended to increase public awareness of 
motorcyclists; promote the use of bikes as consistent methods of 
transportation; and increase motorcycle safety.
  This year, on June 20th more than a million riders will commute to 
work on their motorcycles and scooters. This annual event offers riders 
an opportunity to highlight motorcycles and scooters as viable, fun, 
and fuel-efficient modes of transportation.
  In 2008, more than 25 million Americans operated a motorcycle at 
least once--and that number is expected to rise as more Americans 
recognize motorcycles and scooters as attractive commuting options. 
Motorcycles and scooters can save riders money at the fuel pump, and 
help to reduce our nation's dependence on foreign sources of oil, as 
motorcycles are considerably more fuel-efficient than most other 
vehicles.
  As more Americans choose two wheels over four it becomes even more 
important to focus

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on motorcycle safety. As a doctor I know how important safety is when 
riding and sharing the roads. Riders and their machines are smaller and 
harder to spot--and given that motorcyclists make up a relatively small 
percentage of all road users, drivers often do not expect to encounter 
motorcycles. It is therefore important that we take every opportunity 
to remind all road users to be aware on Ride to Work Day and every day.

                          ____________________