Motorbikes: the best way to get around in busy cities

It seems the faster the pace of urban living becomes in terms of deadlines to meet and the inevitable multi-tasking that follows, the more this is thwarted by the nightmare that can be getting from point A to point B. Cash-strapped governments are cutting budgets for public transport systems, reducing their efficiency and using your own car is not necessarily any faster and can be an expensive pastime; with sky-rocketing fuel costs and parking charges. In some cities, cars may even be subject to a "congestion charge".





The obvious solution to these problems is some form of two-wheeled transport, since such vehicles are vastly more manoeuvrable and able to weave in and out of traffic jams, thus saving considerable journey time. The trusty push bike has made quite a comeback in recent years with various bike hire schemes and, where space permits, set-aside cycle lanes, which in theory offer riders greater safety. Bicycles do, however, have their limits: they require a certain degree of physical fitness and while usually quicker than cars in busy cities over short hops, they are still rather slow on longer journeys. The physical effort involved in pedalling can also play havoc with personal grooming, particularly in the summer, when arriving at that vital business meeting or interview all sweaty and dishevelled does not a good impression make, no matter how green your credentials.

Motorbikes then, would seem to fit the bill; taking a motorbike as anything with two wheels and an engine, from big muscle bikes, through scooters to the humble moped. If you go for the more powerful end of the spectrum, you may need to fulfil certain conditions with a licence and/or training in addition to your normal car driving licence. A crash helmet is obligatory in most countries and while this may flatten more bouffant hairdos, at least you won’t feel the need for a shower and change of clothes before going about your business. Scooters and larger motorbikes have a pillion seat so you can travel with a companion - a considerable benefit for your social life - and most have a container for shopping or your laptop.





Looking at expenses, fuel consumption is much lower, for example a 250cc motorbike uses approximately 3 litres per 100km, roughly half that of a family saloon such as a Fiat Punto. Congestion charges often do not apply to motorbikes and, since motorbikes are less complicated beasts than cars with far less bodywork, maintenance charges are lower. On the green front, motorbikes have historically had a bad press as, despite being more fuel efficient, they have less emissions-cleaning technology and so are regarded as even more polluting than most cars. However, E85 flex fuel (a mixture of predominantly ethanol and petrol) is now available for bikes and every year sees fresh developments in electric motorbikes and scooters, although at the moment there is no electric substitute for the more powerful machines.





It would therefore seem that the motorbike is the ideal means of urban transport, with the additional flexibility of doubling as a long distance vehicle, summed up in those iconic scenes from Easy Rider. Of course there is a downside, bikers are more vulnerable in accidents than car drivers, for whom an overtaking motorbike can seem like a personal affront, but the good news is that should windscreen replacements or any other repairs to your machine be the order of the day, the bill is likely to be considerable smaller.





Paul Buchanan writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.