[sustran] motorcycles

[pilo at sdg.co.uk]

     Cars, motorcycles and pedal cycles.
     
     This is a very interesting issue. And you are right, policy 
     developments in this field are limited.
     
     We all like bicycles and my feeling is that most motorbikes are only a 
     bit more than a motorised bicycle. They use road and parking space 
     more efficiently than cars (albeit less efficiently than bikes). But 
     on a motorbike you share space with others in a way you fail to do in 
     a car. A car creates its own, protected, cocoon.
     
     In terms of conviviality the ranking is walk, bicycle, motorcycle, 
     jitney, bus, car. My guess is that in terms of use of roadspace the 
     ranking is probably the same.
     
     The problem issues are safety, air and noise pollution and perhaps 
     fuel consumption as well.
     
     If the choice is many cars or many motorbikes I prefer motorbikes. 
     However, this is not the choice. One will find many more lobbyists for 
     cars than for motorbikes. And pressure to build roads for cars rather 
     than bike/motorbike lanes. 
     
     Many Asian countries seem to be bypassing public transport altogether. 
     Walking and bicycles are replaced by motorbikes which in turn are 
     being replaced by cars. In terms of urban density and structure 
     motorcycles would tend to generate a pattern perhaps more akin to that 
     generated by cars than by public transport.
     
     Pollution is a problem. Catalytic converters for four stroke engines 
     have already been developed and can be fitted, albeit at a cost. Two 
     stroke engines can be made more efficient and less polluting too.
     
     I cannot help feeling that we still have to do more thinking on 
     policies for motorbikes. Good for SUSTRAN.
     
     
     
     
     Luis Willumsen           
     Director                                          email: 
     willul at sdg.co.uk 
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