For the seventeenth consecutive year, this Wednesday will mark the annual Ride to Work Day. The event, which falls every year on the third Wednesday of July, is intended to promote fuel savings and the reduced traffic which comes as a result of motorcycle and scooter riding. This, of course, is an event we can get behind. As motorcycle and scooter sales worldwide increase due to fuel prices which have likely not yet hit their apogee, more and more ex-drivers are ditching their automobiles in an effort to save big money on their fuel bills. Still, it is currently estimated that just over 1-percent of these riders choose to commute to work on their two-wheelers.

Benefits to ridin' to work are many, including the aforementioned fuel savings and lower traffic, less damage to roadways, quicker commutes in places where lane-sharing is permissible and the fact that riding is fun. Don't think that riding to work makes a big difference? If every day were Ride to Work Day, fifteen-million gallons of fuel, and the associated CO₂ emissions, could be saved per year. That, friends, is a big number although it is probably a conservative estimate given that American drivers consumed 9.3 million gallons of gasoline per day in 2007.

[Source: Ride to Work Day]

There were many reader responses on our editorial regarding the ever-expanding volume of the automobile in America, so why not extend the same questions to motorcycles? Way back in March we featured an article which highlighted the fact that technology is trickling down to motorcycles from cars. There has been a great deal of debate going on as to whether or not motorcycles are really a green form of transportation. This post will not hit each and every facet of either side of the argument, but it is interesting to note that it is possible for manufacturers of motorcycles to hit extremely high horsepower figures while still allowing for reasonable fuel economy.

Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your point of view), delivering on the promise of that fuel economy is in the hands of the rider, and when big power is available, riders are likely to twist that wrist ever tighter! So, it came as little surprise that Cycle World was able to wring 45 miles per gallon out of one tank with their Kawasaki Concours 14 testbike, while lowering that number all the way down to 24 miles per gallon from another tank-full. That is a huge disparity, and shows that high power and high fuel economy are possible from the same engine, but not at the same time. The engine in this particular bike happens to be one of the most powerful available in any production bike, maxing out at almost 140 horsepower at the rear wheel with 92 lb. ft. of torque. From a 1.4 liter engine, this is excellent! To make that kind of power, the engine has variable valve timing and electronic fuel injection. The engine also makes full use of its 10.7:1 compression ratio, which is quite high, and 4 valves per cylinder arrangement. This is an excellent engine, and would make an awesome starting point for a hybrid vehicle. But, there it sits installed in a motorcycle!

Continue reading after the jump.

It's no secret that we like bikes around here. In fact, some of us AutoblogGreen bloggers have been known to ride to work now and then. Being that we've done it ourselves before, we can heartily recommend to you readers that you should give it a try. Especially with the invention of the electrically assisted bikes that are becoming commonplace, riding to work can save you time and make you feel better, not to mention the positive impact on the traffic patterns and environment.

But, we're also sure that you have your doubts, as well you should. So, to help you consider the pros and cons of riding your bicycle to work, Shane Jordan over at Green Options has made up a list of commonly asked questions and provided convincing answers to each of them. Check it out! To get you all ready to read the article, here is a list of what he's writing about:

• "But...it's too dangerous."
• "But... it's too far to ride."
• "But...it's too cold/hot."
• "But... there are no bike lanes/trails."
• "But... where will I put my briefcase?"

There you have it. Take a look and see if you could give it a try.

[Source: Green Options]

"Ride To Work advocates and supports the use of motorcycles and scooters for transportation, and provides information about transportation riding to the public."

That is their mission, according to the official website.

"Riding to work on this day is fun and shows the positive value of motorcycling. For many people, riding is a socially responsible form of mobility that saves energy, helps the environment and provides a broad range of other public benefits."

That is their reason, according to Andy Goldfine, this year's event organizer.

In an effort to help make this happen, letters (.pdf link) were sent to the mayors of the 260 largest cities in the United States, which urged them to allow free parking at all meters and municipal ramps on July 18th. In the past, the event has proven quite successful, as the 200,000 or so regular riders swells to about 600,000 on Ride To Work Day. There are quite a few benefits to riding your motorcycle or scooter to work, some of which are lower cost of operation, less congestion and less travel time. According to the Department of Transportation, the average motorcycle gets twice the gas mileage (50.1 avg) of the average automobile (22.3 avg). This means that on Ride To Work Day, 60,000 or so gallons of gasoline will be saved. According to the official site, "If every work day were Ride to Work Day, 15,000,000 less [gallons of gasoline would be used] per year."

[Source: Ride To Work]