Commuting via bike is good for cars and traffic, too

[aimee]

Some excellent research out, from the overseas, shows that commuting by motorbike is good for _everyone_.

Cuts down car emissions, traffic jam time, etc.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/...-everyone.html


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So, we get this in front of as many people as possible (including councils, perhaps), and get the cagers to stop trying to kill us :P

[Phantom Limb]

I tell people all the time that bikes are an environmentally friendly option due to less congestion etc. Now I have the study to point to and backup my ramblings. Thanks for the share.

[Akzle]

I tell people all the time that bikes are an environmentally friendly option due to less congestion etc. Now I have the study to point to and backup my ramblings. Thanks for the share.

no they're not. in terms of carrying capacity vs fuel consumption bikes are awesome(ly inneficient)

but they do make less congestion, and so spend less time on the road. no time holding anyone up etc.

[aimee]

no they're not. in terms of carrying capacity vs fuel consumption bikes are awesome(ly inneficient)

but they do make less congestion, and so spend less time on the road. no time holding anyone up etc.

In terms of carrying capacity, yes, you may have a point, but only if most people travelled with more than one person in a car. Which they don't.

[aimee]

lol. my partner's offered me the use of his KTM 500 exc, but I think I'd like to try something a bit...smaller...first :P

[Tigadee]

In terms of carrying capacity, yes, you may have a point, but only if most people travelled with more than one person in a car. Which they don't.

Heck yeah! I only use the car now for carrying the family around. Everything else I use the bike - commuting, buying groceries, etc...

I just couldn't see the point of driving the car to work for only myself, and a smaller more economical car costs more than a motorbike with [I'm guessing] equivalent carbon footprint, with less cool/fun factor [the car].

[kevfromcoro]

lol. my partner's offered me the use of his KTM 500 exc, but I think I'd like to try something a bit...smaller...first :P

lol.. yes i wouldnt start out out on 500 cc offroad bike
go down a few ccs. and something nice and lite...

[cheshirecat]

A UK study a short while ago but buried quickly was that trains are the worst offenders of all when it comes to energy efficiency. It was better to put all commuters into cars.

[aimee]

Heck yeah! I only use the car now for carrying the family around. Everything else I use the bike - commuting, buying groceries, etc...

I just couldn't see the point of driving the car to work for only myself, and a smaller more economical car costs more than a motorbike with [I'm guessing] equivalent carbon footprint, with less cool/fun factor [the car].

Completely - the fuel (and car!) costs are way higher for a car than a motorbike, unless one's ferrying people around. Hell, here in Wellington, running a bike is cheaper than using the bus and, for buses which aren't powered electrically, possibly lower emissions if the bus isn't full! Otherwise, and when the weather's not utterly shit, I'm using my wee Gini for everything I possibly can

[Gianz]

A UK study a short while ago but buried quickly was that trains are the worst offenders of all when it comes to energy efficiency. It was better to put all commuters into cars.

maybe because it was bullshit?

[Berries]

A UK study a short while ago but buried quickly was that trains are the worst offenders of all when it comes to energy efficiency. It was better to put all commuters into cars.

I think it was produced by Top Gear.

[BMWST?]

no they're not. in terms of carrying capacity vs fuel consumption bikes are awesome(ly inneficient)

but they do make less congestion, and so spend less time on the road. no time holding anyone up etc.

you are right but just about every car which has the capability to carry at least four persons has only one so a bike is better than a one personed car

[SuperMac]

Completely - the fuel (and car!) costs are way higher for a car than a motorbike, unless one's ferrying people around.

Really? I commute about 16,000 miles each year. My rattly old 180k miles diesel Vauxhall Astra turned in about 55-60mpg, needed servicing about twice a year (and sometimes got it too), tyres last about 30k miles a set (at £250 for four).

My Bimmer costs the similar to insure, tyres are more expensive and wear out far more quickly, servicing is every 5k miles (and is more expensive), fuel (albeit petrol so a few pence a litre cheaper) about 45mpg.

[Akzle]

you are right but just about every car which has the capability to carry at least four persons has only one so a bike is better than a one personed car

yah, and if each of those four persons instead road a filthy GSX750....? then what Mr. Calculator..?

[davereid]

Really? I commute about 16,000 miles each year. My rattly old 180k miles diesel Vauxhall Astra turned in about 55-60mpg, needed servicing about twice a year (and sometimes got it too), tyres last about 30k miles a set (at £250 for four).

My Bimmer costs the similar to insure, tyres are more expensive and wear out far more quickly, servicing is every 5k miles (and is more expensive), fuel (albeit petrol so a few pence a litre cheaper) about 45mpg.

Your Astra has the performance of a typical 200cc motorcycle. Your BMW has the performance of a V8.

Hardly a fair comparison.

Compare your Astra with a CB125.

CB 125 will get 100 mpg, can do all legally required speeds, will need 800cc of oil every 5000km as opposed to 5l every 10000 in your Astra.

It Used around 1/10th of the resources of the Astra to be made, and will need about 1/10th of the resources to be disposed of.

It doesnt have a catalystic converter or diesel particulate filter, but its irrelevant, as they (if fitted) have long stopped working on your Astra, and even when new they only worked when fully hot - so likely never for commuter cars doing a 10km trip.

So by comparison bikes rock !