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Motorcycle News, News

Aussie motorcyclists are happiest motorists

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Australian motorcycle riders are the happiest motorists on the road, even in these COVID times, according to a new survey.

The new research survey was conducted by YouGov and commissioned by ING who is launching their new Motorcycle Insurance.

It found that 82% of motorcyclists say riding makes them happy, compared with only half (55%) of motorists.

This is nothing new and mirrors other studies and longheld beliefs that riders are happier.

Therapeutic benefits of motorcycle riding were also highlighted in the ING study.

More than half (51%) of motorcycle riders surveyed said the positive mental health effects of riding was the top reason for them choosing the biker lifestyle.

ING Head of Wealth Cathy Duncan says the research indicates that “riding a motorcycle could be providing many with some of the same benefits of practices like yoga and meditation”.

The study of 1006 Australians aged 18+ years throughout the nation this month found that almost half (48%) of the motorcycling respondents said riding is a form of mindfulness that helps them de-stress.

Other highlights include:

  • 41% say they love the sense of freedom that comes with riding;
  • more than a third (34%) enjoy the fresh air and taking in nature;
  • 35% got into riding because of their friends or family;
  • 24% of riders vow to keep “biking” as a family tradition;
  • 26% will teach their kids how to ride;
  • 43% want to share their joy of riding with friends or their partner.

The study also found riders were aware of their safety with 36% saying their riding gear was their ‘second skin’ while 47% said it gave them confidence on the road.

As many as 60% said their gear and leathers were more important than other personal belongings such as their car, computer, phone, watch or wedding ring.

While 40% of Aussie motorists said they found it difficult or stressful to find parking, only 23% of motorcyclists complained about parking.

Destinations and commuting

Great Ocean Road country Instagrammed
Great Ocean Road

Riders also nominated their top five Aussie motorcycling routes as:

  1. The Great Ocean Road (VIC)
  2. Kangaroo Valley Southern Highlands (NSW)
  3. Adelaide Hills (SA),
  4. The open roads of Tasmania (TAS)
  5. Palm Beach (NSW)

The research found that Aussie motorcycle riders aren’t only benefitting mentally from their practice, they’re also saving time and money.

More than one in three (36%) motorcycle riders said they love riding for: the convenience of getting around, the ease of finding a parking spot (35%) and saving money (34%).

A quarter of riders said they started riding because it helped them avoid busy public transport and is a quicker commute.

Even non-motorcycle riders can see the commuting benefits amid COVID-19, with a fifth (18%) considering riding a motorcycle as an easy way to get around and almost one in 10 (9%) believing it is a way to escape busy routes to work.

“The research suggests the pandemic has many reassessing their daily commute and how they get around,” says Cathy.

“With price and convenience benefits along with mental health and wellbeing perks, why wouldn’t you consider it?”

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

News

Riding sharpens focus, relieves stress

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We probably didn’t need a scientific study to tell us motorcycle riding reduces stress and distraction, while increasing our focus and attention.

There have been plenty of independent studies over the years that show similar correlations.

Now Harley-Davidson has funded a new neurobiological study by three researchers from UCLA’s Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, so we can expect some positive results!

The study shows that riding lifts our focus and attention, and decreases relative levels of the hormone cortisol which is mainly released at times of stress.

UCLA researchPsychology mental health Transport Adventure dementia road trip travel motorcycles

The UCLA researchers used mobile EEG technology to record the brain activity and hormone levels of 50 experienced motorcyclists before, during and after riding, driving and resting.

After 20 minutes, riders adrenaline levels increased 27% and heart rate increased 11% which is similar to light exercise.

Researchers also found an increase in brain activity similar to drinking a coffee. This led to increased sensory focus and resistance to distraction.

At the same time, cortisol hormone levels dropped 28%, reducing stress.

Research team leader Dr Don Vaughn says the differences in participants’ neurological and physiological responses between riding and either driving or resting “were quite pronounced”.

Chemical process

Psych Shaz says "be happy with your purchase" buyer's remorse stress
Psych Shaz says “ride and be happy”

Psychologist and reborn rider Sharon Ledger told Motorbike Writer in 2016 that there are more than 10,000 chemical reactions going on in the brain every second.

“The chemicals that make you feel happy – oxytocin, dopamine, endorphin and serotonin – are produced by the endocrine system,” she says.

“Not all of these chemicals are released at the same time and each has a different outcome.

“However, more of these chemicals are produced when we look forward to doing something we enjoy, we get up early, we go outside in the sunshine and fresh air, we challenge ourselves, we meditate, we concentrate on an activity that requires skill and generally do things that motivate us.

“That pretty much sounds like motorcycling to me,” she says.

Stress and speedaction stress

However, a little bit of stress can be good for us.

The faster we ride, the more focussed we become, according to long-time motorcycle rider and flight instructor Peter Callil.

His theory is based on research into stress levels by human behaviour researcher Chris Welford. It shows that people perform better when their stress level is moderate and worse when it is too low and too high.

“In a road safety context, pressure relates to speed, and performance relates to our ability to operate a vehicle safely,” Peter says.

Therefore, a rider’s performance is degraded whether they are riding too fast or too slow for the conditions. That makes them more vulnerable to crashing.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com