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The Royal Society for the Prevention
of Accidents (RoSPA)
Motorcycling Safety Position Paper - February 2001
2 MOTORCYCLE USE
2.1 Travel data about motorcycle use is fairly sparse, and
it seems very likely that it does not capture the full level of
motorcycling. There is also very little published data to indicate
the level of motorcycle use between different age groups and on
different types and sizes of motorcycle. Such data would be very
useful in estimating accident risk and rates.
2.2 Around 2% of adults own a motorcycle. Ownership is highest
among males, the youngest age groups, and middle income groups.
Motorcycling accounts for just 1% of miles travelled in Great
Britain.
2.3 Transport statistics show a long term fall in motorcycle
use, although there are also indications of a recent reversal
of this trend, leading to an increase in the level of motorcycling.
Between 1998 and 1999, motorcycle mileage increased by 16%.
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Table 1: Two-wheel motor vehicle traffic,
billion vehicle kilometres
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| 1989 |
1990 |
1991 |
1992 |
1993 |
1994 |
1995 |
1996 |
1997 |
1998 |
1999 |
| 5.9 |
5.6 |
5.4 |
4.5 |
4.1 |
4.1 |
4.1 |
4.2 |
4.1 |
3.9 |
4.6 |
2.4 This trend is echoed by the number of new motorcycles
licensed each year. Table 2 shows a decrease of 13% in the number
of licensed motorcycles over the decade, but conversely an increase
of 28% since 1995.
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Table 2: Two-wheel motor vehicles licensed
(thousands)1988 - 1999
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| 1989 |
1990 |
1991 |
1992 |
1993 |
1994 |
1995 |
1996 |
1997 |
1998 |
1999 |
| 875 |
833 |
750 |
688 |
650 |
630 |
594 |
609 |
626 |
684 |
760 |
2.5 The increase in new motorcycles appears to be restricted
to the more powerful category, with an engine size of 350 cc and
above, which supports the concept of “Born Again Bikers” (see
section 5.4). However, sales of scooters also appear to be increasingly
rapidly.
Table 3: New Motorcycles Licensed (thousands)
by Engine Size 1988 - 1998 |
| Engine Size |
1988 |
1998 |
% change |
| 50cc |
312 |
102 |
- 67 |
| 50 - 125 cc |
320 |
143 |
- 55 |
| 125 - 150 cc |
3 |
1 |
- 66 |
| 150 - 200 cc |
34 |
12 |
- 65 |
| 200 - 250 cc |
71 |
42 |
- 41 |
| 250 - 350 cc |
15 |
10 |
- 33 |
| 350 - 500 cc |
45 |
57 |
+ 26 |
| 500 cc |
112 |
317 |
+ 183 |
2.6 The latest National Travel Survey data also shows a fall
in motorcycle use. It records a drop of 43% in the average* motorcycle
mileage per person per year, from 51 miles in 1985/86 to 29 miles
in 1997/99. Over the same period, the average number of journeys
by motorcycle also fell, by around two-thirds, although the average
journey length increased by 65%.
* averaged over the population of Great Britain.
2.7 The 1993/95 survey showed that men aged 16 - 29 years
travel further on motorcycles than other age groups.
Table 4: Miles Motorcycled
per person per year
by Age and Gender |
| Age |
Male |
Female |
| 16 - 29 years |
103 |
15 |
| 30 - 59 years |
92 |
14 |
| 60 + years |
16 |
1 |
| All Ages |
75 |
10 |
2.8 Commuting appears to be the main purpose for motorcycle
journeys, followed closely by Holidays/Day Trips. However, only
1% of all commuting journeys are by motorcycle (compared to 71%
by car, 10% on foot and 3% by pedal cycle).
2.9 The long term decline in motorcycle use seems to be reversing,
particularly among users of the more powerful motorcycles. Reports
that scooters are becoming fashionably popular have not yet been
translated into transport statistics.
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