MORE and more drivers are learning to ride motorbikes in a bid to cut the cost of travel.
Rising fuel prices and the threat of the congestion charge are motivating motorists to swap four wheels for two, according to a Manchester driving school.
Places on the Compulsory Basic Training course - which bikers must attend before taking to the roads with `L' plates - are booked up at the MSM Motorcycle Training Centre in Gorton until September.
Instructor Eric Burey said the soaring expense of running a car - plus changes to the standard motorcycle test due in the autumn - were leading more people to make the switch.
"There's been a striking increase in the number of people coming through to motorcycle training," said Mr Burey.
"Cost is a big factor, with congestion charging and the price of fuel. And then there are significant changes being made to the motorcycle test.
"When we ask people why they come along, at least 50 per cent say it's now too expensive to use a car."
Manoeuvrability
Mr Burey said the manoeuvrability of motorbikes and their small size, along with lower road tax, were also helping to make them more popular.
Changes to the test from September mean an additional off-road riding section will be introduced and this has also encouraged more people to take the plunge.
John Whelan, 39, from Sale, has taken the CBT course within the last few days and he said he was motivated by escalating fuel costs and the threat of the congestion charge.
He lives close to the ring road around Manchester and said he feared he would have to pay out too much too often in charges if he used his car.
He said: "I wanted to do this now because the test is changing soon as well.
"I know that motorbikes are exempt from the congestion charge scheme in London - and motorbikes do about 50 miles to the gallon, while cars only do about 30."
The RAC said they had already noticed more bicycles on the road and would not be surprised if the number of motorbikes increased too.
They said more of their members were highlighting the issue of motoring costs with staff.
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Well hopefully there will not be an increase in road accidents. Lots of new bikers on the roads spells trouble and it is a common statistic that riders new to motorcycling at around 40 yrs old are at a high risk of being involved in an RTA.
So be careful all you motorcyclists.
Incidentally, this guy says he is doing the CBT now before it changes later in the year. The way I understand it the changes being brought in to the CBT stage are aimed at improving a riders control of a machine by testing them on certain manouevres that are not part of the test at the moment. That can only be good for new riders and if I was being forced into biking because of cost rather than an inclination to do it anyway I would want to learn as much as possible before being let loose on the roads.
motorbikes will be next hit by rising taxes, car drivers cant be hit much more !!!
three things are motivating this.
1)the bike tests in general will be harder to pass in sept when a major shake up of all driving tests happens.
2) The increase in fuel costs make the bike a much more attractive way to commute.
3) With the con charge proposals in the pipeline. they propose that bikes are exempt.
i know. i recently passed my full test and i'm glad i have now.
The exemption for two-wheelers won't last long at this rate.
A level head - you decide !!!!!
Could you be more specific with where you quote you stats from?? As you seem so knowledgable on the subject this should be no problem........ A level head, Ummmm, and yes I have decided....
I passed my motorcycle test in 1983. I could fill the tank with 50 pence worth of 2-star and this would last a week! I would recommend a motorbike to anyone, but two things you should remember - wear a fluorescent jacket (car drivers are jealous of motorcyclists so don't look out for them), and buy good quality waterproofs!
Ampaal,
I would like to back up what A Level Head says.
Motorcyclists are over represented in collision statistics as they are far more vulnerable than car occupants. (They represent around 1 percent of vehicles but around 18 percent of all casualties). There is a peak in casualty ages at 17-18 yr olds (new riders on mopeds etc) and those who are known as 'born again bikers' who are aged 40-50 who have some disposable income and wish to relive their youth but on more powerful machines than they had when they were young.
There is plenty of DfT or TRL research on the subject.
I have a full motorbike licence, so I am not concern about the new test, but the cost of insurance... 1 out of every 40 is stolen, that is 1 in every 14 minute. Insurance cost is what drove me OFF a motorbike. One good thing about motorbikes (excluding those stolen ones or ridden by yobs) are they have real lights, real brakes, number plates and MOTs. Unlike those antisocial cyclists.
Well my quote was based on an article I read some time ago in the Motorcycle News mag so was not without foundation kind sir.
However, I would like to direct you to the links below which spell out the risks associated with born again bikers - returning to bikes in their 30's and 40s and they are indeed a higher risk.
I'm sayin be careful ok. Not castigating motorcyclists. If I could get my dog on the back I'd have one.
http://www.rospa.co.uk/roadsafety/info/motorcycle_position.pdf
http://www.thinkbike.co.uk/motorcycle-courses.htm
Get a small bike or scooter and you'll see nearer 100mpg they're cheap to tax and you can take a passenger too (with a full licence).
The extra cost is mainly because of the brake and swerve test as more space is needed in training and the test, to get to the required speed, so many test centres are no longer suitable and trainers are having to find bigger off-road facilities rather than car parks and playgrounds.
Some of the statistics about accidents do need to be looked at differently to be understood properly (as with all statistics). In Lincolnshire, one particular left-hand bend had seen a large increase in single-vehicle bike accidents. As a left-hander doesn't involve the bike crossing the path of oncoming traffic and as there was no other vehicle involved, the assumption from the Police is that bikes we're increasingly dangerous. When a journalist went and did a survey for a week at the black-spot, three bikes went into a ditch. On each occasion though, an oncoming 4x4 had breeched the white line on the bend, the biker had taken evasive action but the driver carried on as they were oblivious to what had happened. Incidentally the journalist was knocked-off at the same corner on his way home by someone who didn't stop!!
Have a healthy fear of death or serious injury, have respect for other road users and select the right speed for the conditions and the chances of survival are greatly increased.
I can see a congestion charge coming on for the cat and fiddle with all those extra bikes!
We might end up turning into Italy with the streets packed with bikes and mopeds.
I came back on to the road as a 'born again' 40 something scooter driver. No major incidents, mainly thanks to my own skill at avoiding pedestians who walk out between cars and cyclists who don't know what a 'life-saver' is. (They may benefit from a CBT version for themselves).
Oh, and I decided upon two wheels because I found public transport to be unreliable and expensive.
i actually think they should make it compulsory to take your cbt and ride a bike for a minimum year before you can drive a car. this would give new drivers more road sense and be more aware if bikes in the future.
If everyone was able to switch over to riding a normal peddle bike to get to work, they would just start charging road tax for bikes like they do for cars.
How many people who want to cycle to work have somewhere at work to park their bikes?
An office full of bikes? or the reception area?