What would happen to congestion, parking problems and the stress levels of drivers if just 10% of people switched to a motorcycle or scooter?

If just 10% of motorists swapped their car for a motorcycle or scooter, there could be huge benefits for all road users.  These include 20% more parking spaces, a 40% reduction in congestion for all road users and a reduction in the financial impact of congestion. 

Wear and tear on roads would be less, rider safety would improve and importantly – 10% less car drivers would be miserable!

40% reduction for all

A Belgian study, which modelled the traffic for one of Europe’s most congested roads, found that if 10% of motorists swapped their car for a motorcycle, scooter or moped, then congestion was reduced for all road users by 40%. When 25% of drivers swapped, congestion was eliminated altogether. [Ref 1]

More people could park

Three motorcycles or scooters can fit into the same space one car takes.  This means if just 10% of car spaces were given over to riders, then 20% more people would be able to park.  The National Travel Survey shows that 87% of car commuters drive to work alone, so there is huge capacity to increase the number of spaces available to people who swap to a motorcycle or scooter. [Ref 2]

10% less stressed commuters

Motorcyclists generally report higher levels of happiness in surveys about commuting and this was confirmed in a one-off survey by the Office for National Statistics.  It found that riding a motorcycle, moped or scooter had no negative impact on journeys of up to half an hour and after that it was negligible.  This was in contrast to users of most other modes of private and public transport. [Ref 3]  

Knock on cost benefits

There are many calculations estimating the cost of congestion to the UK economy.   The INRIX Global Traffic Scorecard recently calculated this to be around £30 billion a year.  This would naturally reduce if congestion was cut by 40%. [Ref 4]   Road maintenance would reduce too, as motorcycles and scooters are lighter than cars and vans, so impact less on road surfaces.

Gain four days holiday a year

According to the most recent INRIX Scorecard, UK drivers spend an average of 32 hours a year in traffic jams. 

Steve Kenward, CEO of the Motorcycle Industry Association, which organises Ride to Work Week, says a driver could gain the equivalent of an extra four days holiday a year, if they switched to a motorcycle or scooter:

“Motorcyclists and scooter riders don’t waste 32 hours a year watching the bumper of the car in front, as they can filter.  This means they tend to move through congested traffic at the same rate you would expect to move through free-flowing traffic.  

“32 hours is the equivalent of four working days, which equates to an extra four days holiday each year.  No wonder riders are the happiest commuters!”[Ref 5]

Try for free

Try a motorcycle or scooter for free with a qualified instructor at a Get On event. They are held throughout the year across the UK. 

Find out if there is one near you.

Major motorcycle insurers to offer free commuter cover during Ride to Work Week 

Motorcycle insurers Ageas, Bennetts, Bikesure*, Harley-Davidson Insurance Services and Carole Nash are all offering free commuter cover to leisure riders, so that they can ride to work during national Ride to Work Week from Monday 19th June to Friday 23rd June 2017.

Ride to Work Week campaign manager Stevie Muir says: “We are delighted these companies are encouraging leisure riders to try commuting on their bikes during Ride to Work Week, by extending their cover. Around two-thirds of motorcyclists only opt for social and domestic cover and so are missing out on the huge benefits of commuting on their bikes.  These include saving time, money and enjoying easier parking.  Regular commuters are also likely to become more skilled road users and the best reason of all is that it’s just more fun!”

The campaign slogan #commutehappy is backed up by fact.  Motorcyclists are among the happiest commuters according to a one off survey by the Office for National Statistics. It revealed that riding a motorcycle, moped or scooter had no negative impact on well-being on commutes up to 30 minutes and after that it was negligible.  This was in contrast to those who walked, cycled, took the bus or drove, who all experienced a dip in well-being after just 15 minutes.

Campaign hi-viz vests are available for free for those organising their own workplace events (subject to availability), which can be ordered by contacting the team [email protected]

*if a Bikesure policyholder with Ageas, Markerstudy or Highway

British Motorcycle manufacturer Norton has won the prestigious Motul team award for technical excellence at the 2017 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy.

The award, which was created by TT Races Official Lubricant Partner Motul, is decided by the TT Race Management Team, which includes Clerk of the Course Gary Thompson, Rider Liaison Officers Richard Quayle and John Barton and TT Business Development Manager Paul Phillips from the Isle of Man Government Department of Economic Development Motorsport team.

The award was given in recognition of Norton Motorcycles being the only team to have achieved two top ten finishers in both the RST Superbike and PokerStars Senior TT Races.

David Johnson finished seventh, fourteen seconds and one place ahead of teammate Josh Brookes in the opening RST Superbike with the team order reversed in the PokerStars Senior with Brookes finishing 6^th, a place and less than three seconds ahead of Johnson.

Brookes also lifted the fastest Mountain Course lap by a Norton to 130.883 with Johnson also adding another 130mph lap to his record during the PokerStars Senior TT.

Leslie Raiwoit, Motorsport Co-ordinator, Motul, commented.
“At Motul performance is everything and we understand that there are a number of factors to delivering great results which Norton has undoubtedly achieved this year.  The team is very deserving winners of this year’s award which recognises not only where they are today but the journey they have taken to get here.”
 
Stuart Garner, MD, Norton Motorcycles:
 
“I’m really pleased to win this award but it reflects exactly what we’ve strived to create at Norton – a team.  And that team is built not only from the two great riders that we have on our bikes and an excellent group of mechanics supporting them on event but is also for every one of the people who work for us including all of the hard working people back at the factory who have helped us to get where we are today.”

Photocaption Pictured left to right are Josh Taylor (Norton), Dom Murfin (Norton), Sunni Wilson (Norton), Fabrizio D’Ottavi, Motul Associate Motorsport Manager, Johnny Cusack (Norton), Mick Grant (Norton), Ian Mackman (Norton).

Michael Dunlop won a shortened PokerStars Senior TT race at the 2017 Isle of Man TT Races, fuelled by Monster Energy on Friday evening with the Bennetts Suzuki rider taking his 15^th TT victory by 13.3s from Peter Hickman (Smiths Racing BMW) and Dean Harrison (Silicone Engineering Kawasaki).

The race was restarted over four laps after the original race was red flagged on the second lap due to an incident involving 16-time TT winner Ian Hutchinson at the 27^th Milestone. The Tyco BMW rider was conscious but was taken to hospital by airmed where it was later confirmed that he had suffered a fractured femur.

The race had been shaping up to be an epic with just 0.18s between Hickman and Hutchinson and Harrison only 1.2s further back in third but, eventually getting underway at 5.15pm, Dunlop led the restarted race through Glen Helen on the opening lap, with a 1.5s advantage over Bruce Anstey. Harrison was a further 0.9s back in third with Hickman, Michael Rutter and James Hillier completing the top six, the last two getting a second bite of the cherry having experienced problems in the first start.

Dunlop increased his lead through Ramsey slightly to 2s but Hickman was up to second ahead of Anstey who in turn held a 0.2s advantage over Harrison with Rutter still in fifth but with Conor Cummins now up to sixth at the expense of Hillier.

Dunlop added a further second to his lead by the time he reached the Bungalow and an opening lap speed of 132.292mph gave him a 4.2s lead over Hickman who in turn was 3.2s clear of Anstey. Harrison, Rutter and Cummins were holding station in fourth to sixth but Josh Brookes was on the move, going from 12^th at Ramsey to eighth at the Grandstand.

At Glen Helen on lap 2 Dunlop had increased his lead by two more seconds and Harrison was now up to third with Anstey dropping back to fourth despite leading on the road and having a clear track. Rutter was still fifth but Hillier had moved back ahead of Cummins for sixth.

By Ramsey, Dunlop was still leading by 6s as him and Hickman practically matched each other every mile. Harrison was losing a bit of time in third but he was pulling away from Anstey who was extending his advantage over Rutter. Hillier was still sixth but just 2.4s covered him, Cummins and Brookes.

Coming into the pits at the end of the lap and Dunlop’s lead was now 9.2s after lapping at 132.903mph with Hickman in second and Harrison third, the latter having lapped at 131.838mph. Anstey was out though at Bedstead with the top six now completed by Rutter, Hillier and Cummins. Brookes was up to seventh having done his first 130mph+ lap around the Mountain Course at 130.551mph.

The lead was down slightly at Glen Helen on lap three to 7.7s as Hillier took over fourth from Rutter with Brookes moving up to sixth and by Ballaugh, Hickman had reduced the deficit to Dunlop further to 7.3s. However, through Ramsey for the third time and the Northern Irishman had got the gap back up to 8.5s.

Indeed, going into the fourth and final lap, the 28-year old was 10.6s clear of Hickman and he duly came home for his 15^th TT win, his eventual winning margin being 13.3s.

Hickman made it five podiums from five starts with Harrison repeating his third place finish from Sunday’s RST Superbike race, aided by his first ever 132mph lap on lap four. Hillier and Rutter ended their strong weeks in fourth and fifth, the gap between the duo just 0.64s at the chequered flag.

The battle for sixth also went all the way to the end with Brookes, who lapped at 130.883mph fourth time around edging out Norton team-mate David Johnson. Cummins, Martin Jessopp, who recorded his first 130mph lap, and William Dunlop completed the top ten.

The results meant that Hickman won the Joey Dunlop Championship with 76 points based on cumulative results from the RST Superbike, Monster Energy Supersport, RL360 Quantum Superstock and PokerStars Senior TT Races with Hutchinson second (61) and Dunlop third (60).

Jamie Coward was the first privateer home in an excellent 11^th place with Daley Mathison next home in 13^th but Horst Saiger’s 18^th saw him clinch the TT Privateer’s Championship. He finished with 71 points with Coward in second on 63.