The Road to Freedom Survey
The results are in from the massive motorcyclist and motorist Road to Freedom survey. Over 3000 people responded to 20 questions covering everything from motorcycling role models to the roads that make you happy and sad. The Road to Freedom report also unravelled many motorists dreams of  switching from car to motorcycle - so if you are one of them why not have a look at our extensive range of motorcycles for sale.

The road to depression
The M25 has been voted by motorists as Britain’s most depressing road.  It was singled out for its traffic jams and for being “boring”.

Britain’s top 10 most depressing roads according to motorists:
1 The M25
2 The M6 along the Birmingham stretch
3 The A1 Holloway Road, London
4 The M5 near Bristol
5 The M8 between Glasgow and Edinburgh
6 The A12
7 The M5 northbound between junctions 12 and 10
8 The A361 near Glastonbury in Somerset
9 The A30 near Bodmin in Cornwall
10 The A338 between Great Shefford and junction 14 of the M4

Pot holes (65 per cent), traffic jams (61 per cent) and speed cameras (31 per cent) are the main factors that make a road depressing according to motorists.

The stress of four wheels
Over half of UK car drivers (59 per cent) agree that driving on Britain’s roads is either stressful or very stressful.  Motoring in this country has become more stressful in the last two years, according to six out of 10 car drivers (65 per cent).

Stressful road use is having an effect on drivers and those around them with one in five car drivers (20 per cent) driving more erratically when stressed, while 27 per cent get a headache and 26 per cent get road rage.  

When it comes to comparing motoring stress levels to daily tasks, one in five car drivers (23 per cent) said driving is as stressful as thinking about politics.

According to the survey, 13 per cent of British car owners have revealed their depression and / or mental state has contributed to a road accident.  This equates to potentially 4.3 million drivers (based on 33m British drivers. Source: Office for National Statistics). 

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Road improvements demanded
Nearly a quarter of motorcyclists (23 per cent) have urged the new Transport Secretary Philip Hammond to commit to repair potholes within 48 hours.  The news comes as MCN’s campaign fight to mend our pothole-ridden roads is in full swing: Fix our roads

Although we’re giving councils four weeks to fill the potholes you tell us about, bikers in our survey want the government to go further and get them repaired within two days.

Motorists have to negotiate an average of 13 potholes on their standard daily route, according to Autoglass.  As many as 27 per cent of us come across 20 potholes on each journey. While 62 per cent admit to spending more time watching out for ruts than keeping their eyes on the road ahead.

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Why two wheels? 
When asked the reasons behind their two or four wheeled choices, a quarter of bikers (26 per cent) said they ride bikes for the enjoyment and because ultimately it makes them happy.  Riding allows many bikers to physically and mentally escape from day-to-day life, with 16 per cent of us revealing that getting out on our bikes actually has a de-stressing effect.

Compared to our four wheeled friends, a massive six out of ten car drivers (62 per cent) simply drive to get from A to B.  Whereas getting into a car is usually a precursor to increased stress, getting on a bike is more likely to have the opposite effect, according to psychologists (see Bike magazine, “Can motorcycling make you happy?”, February 2008).

Bikers interviewed for the survey also said that choosing two wheels had saved them money, harking back to a post war trend where motorbikes and mopeds were the main mode of transport for many people.  One respondent said: “As a male under 20, car insurance is ridiculous so bikes are the only real alternative, plus the availability of free bike parking really helps”.

It seems stress behind the wheel is leading car drivers to consider alternative transport methods with 29 per cent of car drivers secretly want to swap four wheels for two and learn to ride a motorbike. 

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Grey bikers revving up
We’ve all heard of “born again bikers” but could we be seeing the emergence of the “grey biker”? According to our Road to Freedom Survey, 17 per cent of 52 – 60 year olds secretly want to ditch four wheels and ride a motorbike. 

With the old guard of Troy Corser, Max Biaggi and Carlos Checa frequently at the sharp end of World Superbikes, soon it won’t only be the track where the old timers dominate. 

All time motorcycle movie moment
Arnold Schwarzenegger‘s Harley Davidson chase scene in Terminator Two has been named as UK bikers’ favourite motorcycle movie moment of all time, beating the Great Escape’s famous barbed wire fence jump into second place.  See the below for the results in full.

1 - Terminator Two: Judgment Day – Arnold Schwarzenegger Harley Davidson chase

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igzlvS7zmfs

2 - The Great Escape – When Steve McQueen jumps the barbed wire fence

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ccVu992CYE

3 - The Dark Knight – batcycle scene

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KC9WPFYHw1g

4 - The Matrix Reloaded – Ducati 996 motorcycle chase

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEL7PTwGB5s

5 - Ghost Rider – Ghost Rider’s bike transformation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3q_IXgQOXw

We quizzed some of the web’s most influential bike commentators about their favourite motorcycle movie moments.  Here’s what they had to say:

Andy Hornsby, American-V (http://american-v.blogspot.com)

“Easy Rider is my favourite, which might sound horribly clichéd but it's purely because the long shots heading into open country clearly shows the near infinite possibilities of the freedom that a motorcycle affords. Forget the drug money set-up, the hippy references, America at the end of the sixties and the violent ending at the hands of rednecks. Ignore, even the iconic motorcycles that vied for headline billing with Fonda and Hopper: open roads, empty wildernesses, freedom and possibilities. Couldn't be done in a car in the same way, even a big open convertible and you'd struggle to do it on a sport bike.”

Andrew Habon, London Bikers (http://londonbikers.com)

“Does Nick Saunders Journey Beyond Reason count? No? Well it would be Top Gun when Tom Cruise rides alongside the F14 taking off from Miramar. Cheesy, but hey, it made me want to be that guy!”

Ian Mutchley, Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) (www.mag-uk.org)

“It’s got to be Easy Rider.  Peter Fonda riding through the forest while Dylan's 'Wasn't Born to Follow' plays!”

Jilly Penegar, Ducati Owners Club (www.docgb.org)

“My favourite motorcycle scene from a film has to be the Steve McQueen / Triumph (disguised to look like a war-time BMW!) segment in the The Great Escape where Capitan Hilts (Steve McQueen) assesses the jump over the barbed wire fence before attempting the leap. After tangling with the wire, the way Hilts pats the tank when he realises that it’s the end of the road for him and the bike sums up the way that motorcyclists have such a great affinity with their bikes. I'm sure that this film inspired many people to discover the joys of motorcycling and the feeling of 'oneness' that they can experience with their bike.”

Mike Werner, Motorbiker.org (http://motorbiker.org)

“Black Rain, with Michael Douglas against the Yakuza on bikes.”