It would seem to be a self evident truth that motorcycles are a more environmentally friendly form of transport than the car. After all PTWs, (Powered Two Wheelers, as they are called in official circles, which includes all motorcycles, scooters and mopeds), require fewer raw materials to manufacture, use less fuel, don’t get stuck in traffic jams pumping out fumes and require less parking space. So the following statement from the CTC (Cyclists' Touring Club), the country’s largest pro-cycling group, may come as a surprise.
“Small PTWs with oil and petrol burning 2-stroke engines and larger ones with un-catalysed 4-stroke engines are the dirtiest form of transport on the road.” CTC CPAG POSITION PAPER February 2003
It’s not only the cycling lobby who question our green credentials. According to the Transport Select Committee (8th Special Report, June 2007);
“Government statistics show that for many of the classes of pollutant, motorcycles are often worse than cars.”So, are motorcycles the dirty pretty things of 21st century transport or are they lean, mean and green machines?
Euro trash - Ironically this negative view of motorcycle pollution is due to the European Union being kind to motorcycle manufacturers. Strict European emission standards were introduced for passenger cars in 1992 but not for motorcycles until 1999. This gives the impression that PTWs are trailing behind cars in the pollution stakes. However, PTWs are playing catch-up with cars. By the beginning of 2007 motorcycles had to comply with Euro 3, while cars needed to meet Euro 4.What this means, in real terms, is that motorcycle manufacturers have made enormous progress between 1999-2006, reducing carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions by 94 % and halving nitrogen emissions for the period. In order to comply with Euro 3 almost all new motorcycles are fitted electronic engine management, fuel injection and a catalyst in the exhaust system. According to an independent expert chosen by the European Commission, PTW exhaust emissions show a good, and frequently better, trend compared to the overall emissions of road transport, not only for the three main pollutants covered by Euro 3, but also with regard to CO2 and particles emissions.Apples & pears - On paper the difference between Euro 4 regulations for cars and Euro 3 for motorcycles made PTWs look unclean. Then, in May 2007, the French Environment Agency (ADEME) did something amazing. They concluded a real test comparing motorcycles (respecting the current Euro 3 pollution norm) with cars (respecting the Euro 4 norm). Not only did they consider the pollution generated by the minute, they also looked at the time a motorcycle runs, compared with a car.For the test, they used a 125cc scooter and a 600cc motorcycle. Both scooter and motorcycle took 44 minutes to arrive at their destination. Both machines were able to park immediately. The car took 88 minutes to cover the same route and then spent 15 minutes looking for a parking space. Or, to put it another way, even though the Euro 3 specified motorcycle/scooter emits more CO2 than the average Euro 4 car, since they spend less time on the road, they emit less pollution.
Space Travel - Powered two wheelers occupy far less space on the road than passenger cars or buses and because they can easily double-up in a lane or filter through congested areas do not contribute to traffic congestion. If car drivers switch to motorcycles and scooters they will automatically increase vehicle capacity on congested urban roads. Gridlocked traffic has a serious effect on air quality – according to a 2007 report nine sites in London, including Baker Street and the North Circular at Brent, exceeded the European Union's legal limit for air pollution. Space is at a premium in the UK’s crowded towns and cities. Four or more motorcycles can park in the same space usually used by one car, so increased PTW usage not only alleviates congestion but also relieves pressure on limited parking facilities.
Limited resources - Constant traffic flows place increasingly severe demands on urban infrastructure and the budgets of most local authorities cannot keep pace with the level of repairs generated. However, since PTWs cause a fraction of the damage to roads compared to other motorized transport modes and are thus responsible for only a tiny percentage of the maintenance costs, an increase in use of PTWs will have the opposite effect.
There is also the issue of finite natural resources. Data from the European Commission Motor Vehicles Emissions Group shows that even high performance sports bikes have improved fuel consumption compared to cars on congested roads, consuming between 55% and 81% less fuel than a car on the same journey. If more people switch from four wheels to two then oil reserves will last longer.
Whichever way you look at it, for the millions of Britons who rely upon motorized private transport, motorcycles and scooters are the green alternative. They pump out fewer fumes, guzzle less gas and create less congestion as well as reducing the frequency for road repairs.
