This article collates the data available on motorcycling including trends in motorcycle use and ownership, characteristics of motorcycle use by different individuals and purpose, and motorcycle accidents. Data up to 1999 were available for this article. Unless otherwise stated in the article or notes 'motorcycles' includes scooters and mopeds. The number of motorcycles licensed at the end of 1999 was 760 thousand, accounting for 3 per cent of all registered vehicles. Half of motorcycles licensed at the end of 1999 were of 500cc or over, compared with 15 per cent 10 years ago. Motorcycles accounted for less than 1 per cent of road traffic, but 16 per cent of deaths and serious injuries. The percentage of households with at least one motorcycle has halved between 1985/86 and 1997/99. The average length of a motorcycle trip was 9.3 miles in 1997/99, an increase of two-thirds from 1985/86. Commuting, business and education accounted for 57 per cent of motorcycle trips and 50 per cent of the distance travelled. Men were more likely to make a motorcycle trip, and made longer trips on average than women. (A) For the covering abstract see ITRD E108997.
Abstract