Can we tie motorbikes to greenhouse gas reductions?

[PrincessBandit]

Just heard on the radio that 2050 is an important date with regard to the greenhouse gas issue. Isn't it also the projected date which "some" want to have a motorcycle-free NZ?

Is there some way we can tie the two together given that motorbikes surely use less petrol, put out less shit etc. than if we all had to transfer our travel arrangements to cars?

I'm completely confused (not difficult to do unfortunately!) that with the whole greenhouse thing being such a global bogeyman at the moment our chosen form of transport, which surely is much cleaner, is bearing the brunt of such aggressive attempted decimation.

[ManDownUnder]

Just heard on the radio that 2050 is an important date with regard to the greenhouse gas issue. Isn't it also the projected date which "some" want to have a motorcycle-free NZ?

Is there some way we can tie the two together given that motorbikes surely use less petrol, put out less shit etc. than if we all had to transfer our travel arrangements to cars?

I'm completely confused (not difficult to do unfortunately!) that with the whole greenhouse thing being such a global bogeyman at the moment our chosen form of transport, which surely is much cleaner, is bearing the brunt of such aggressive attempted decimation.

Assuming what you say it accurate in respect of the same crowd being behind wanting to be rid of bikes and being behind this report of greenhouse stuff... I'd say it's a pre-emptive argument.

They looked at what they want, anticipated a response along the lines of cleaner transport etc, and got there first so our argument would look defensive rather than an argument per se.


To me it sounds like a pr

[mashman]

I'll happily tie my bike to Nix Smith and drop it off a jetty in welly harbour.

[scissorhands]

I get over 100mpg and my scooter weighs 80kg. Very planet friendly.

In Copenhagen 36% of people ride a cycle to work. And the weather is shit. Their Government promotes 2 wheels. Our's does the opposite, the fucking drongos

[marty]

Be careful - many big bore bikes are not much more economical than an equivalent engine sized car (my Hayabusa ran 15km/l - my wife's Echo (also 1300cc) ran almost identical but carries max 4 people instead of max 2), they eat tyres at a rate of about 10:1 or worse.

Admittedly the 'busa is heaps more fun the Echo.....

[rainman]

By 2050 you'll be lucky to afford the fuel to run bloody anything, let alone a big thirsty sportsbike.

In fact, that will happen well before 2050!

[McJim]

Many governments around the world promote 2 wheeled transport both motorised and pedal. The reason for this is not so much the low fuel consumpton of bikes as the reduction in congestion. A car idling along the Southern motorway in Auckland for example puts out a helluva lot more emissions in it's 45 minute stint every morning than a car travelling the same distance in 20 minutes. Each bike represents another car off the road so even a thirsty big 'busa will reduce emissions.

This is the real reason why I think NZ should have won the fossil prize.

[Motu]

Don't go down that road - motorcycle engines are inefficient and big polluters.Just keep quiet so we can still hope to ride them in the future.

[dipshit]

I get over 100mpg and my scooter weighs 80kg. Very planet friendly.

This lot are getting 100mpg too... http://www.drivesouth.co.nz/news/164...o-bottom-of-nz ... in a car.

[swbarnett]

Just heard on the radio that 2050 is an important date with regard to the greenhouse gas issue.

Don't worry, we'll be heading for another ice-age by then just like we were int he 70s.

[p.dath]

2050 is a long way away. By then we'll probably be riding and driving hybrid and electric based cars, and it will be difficult to make a comparison to "now".

Anything could happen with regard to transportation over a 40 year period.

Hell, we might even use a propulsion system that hasn't even been invented yet.

Cold fusion?

[PrincessBandit]

We could even be back to horseback?? Oh no, imagine all those horses farting and contributing to the gas collection, along with all the cows....

[p.dath]

We could even be back to horseback?? Oh no, imagine all those horses farting and contributing to the gas collection, along with all the cows....

Time to enter the cork market. Mind you, will need a larger than normal size cork to plug up a horse.

[R6_kid:Me]

Don't go down that road - motorcycle engines are inefficient and big polluters.Just keep quiet so we can still hope to ride them in the future.

This is what most people miss, yes most motorcycles are fuel efficient in that they get good fuel economy/MPG/kpL etc BUT as far as pollution goes they are pretty shit (but getting better).

Does anyone know if the Euro emissions levels i.e Euro 3 are a set standard for all vehicles or do they have separate standard for cars/bikes/trucks/etc?

[davebullet]

We could even be back to horseback?? Oh no, imagine all those horses farting and contributing to the gas collection, along with all the cows....

Politicians produce a lot of gas for nothing too. Maybe we could put politicians to good use and ride them?

Any form of motorised transport isn't really a valid argument for reducing emissions. All forms INCREASE emissions. Otherwise, we go down the path of a 650cc motorbike produces less than a car... but wait, a scooter produces less than a 650cc motorbike.

It's all relative.

The only answer is pushbikes and walking or electric trains / trams driven off hydro generated electricity. That's your target. But there would be no fun!