A study by Belgian consultancy Transport & Mobility Leuven has concluded a slight shift in traffic makeup from cars to motorcycles ‘significantly’ reduces traffic congestion and emissions.

The study – run on a stretch of highway between Leuven and Brussels - found a 10% shift from private cars to motorcycles resulted in time loss for all vehicles decreasing by 40% and total emissions reduced by 6%. A 25% shift from cars to motorcycles “eliminated congestion entirely”.

The researchers did state that "extrapolating the results of the case study can therefore only serve as an indication of the order of magnitude of the impact of a global modal shift." In other words, you have to take into account local flows , congestion and traffic networks, but it does paint a promising picture for motorcycles in future planning.