Who Does Ride London!

United Kingdom – In March of this year we launched a survey to riders which asked the question – Who Rides London?

The aim of the survey – hidden cleverly in the title – was to identify motorcycle, scooter and moped riders who typically commute to work or study in London, to determine the typical riders’ profile and the type of bikes/scooters/mopeds travelling in these areas.

The reason behind the survey was that a ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone) is being planned for introduction in London with motorcycles to be charged £12.50 per day, the same as all other vehicles.

The survey was a study to identify specific issues relating to PTWs which fall within the Euro 3 emission standards (PTWs manufactured from 2007 onwards) or pre Euro 3 emission standards (PTWs manufactured prior to 2007) which would thus incur this planned charge.

The objective of the survey was to find out from riders, information which will be used to identify the proportion of those who would be most affected by the proposed charges.

The survey was initiated by Dr Elaine Hardy and publicised here on Motorcycle Minds, which Elaine is a major contributor to and on her own website Investigative Research NI. As a Research Analyst and Project Manager, Elaine has more than two decades of research and project managing regarding motorcycle issues as well as her expertise on vehicle theft related research.

Elaine said, “The results will hopefully offer riders the opportunity to put forward a case for continued access to all areas in London for all Powered Two Wheelers (PTWs) and to highlight the importance that this form of transport offers.”

ULEZ and PTWs in London – Executive Summary

An online survey was carried out between March and May 2018 (six weeks), focusing on motorcyclists who typically ride PTWs (motorcycles, scooters or mopeds) to work within the proposed ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone) areas of London.

There are two defined areas, the first which comes into operation in April, 2019 and is confined within the Congestion Charging zone and the second which comes into operation in October 2021 which covers Greater London up to the Northern Circular and South Circular roads.

The survey was a study to identify specific issues relating to PTWs which fall within the Euro 3 emission standards (PTWs manufactured from 2007 onwards) or pre Euro 3 emission standards (PTWs manufactured prior to 2007) which would thus incur a charge of £12.50 (This excludes historic PTWs which were manufactured prior to 1973).

There were n.420 responses to the survey, n.245 replied that they worked within the Congestion Charge zone (designated as the ULEZ in 2019) and n.109 worked in the Greater London area (designated as the ULEZ in 2021). There were n.36 riders who worked outside London, but indicated that they frequently travelled into London.

Overall, of the riders who work in the Congestion Charge zone, 43% (n.105/n.245) replied that they have pre Euro 3 PTWs, while 53% (n.129/n.245) have Euro 3 standard

PTWs. The riders working in the Greater London area – i.e. outside the Congestion Charge zone, but within the proposed ULEZ to be introduced in 2021, who replied to the survey, were n.109/n.420 of whom n.43 (39%) replied that they owned pre Euro 3 PTWs and n.62 (57%) owned Euro 3 standard PTWs.

Although low wages is in part supported by some of the comments from riders who own pre Euro 3 PTWs and work in the inner London Congestion charge zone, it is not the more predominant reason of the riders who replied to the survey for using this standard of PTW (nor the Euro 3 standard PTWs) to travel to work.

The factors indicated in the comments of the riders relate to time and travel cost. In other words, PTWs enable the rider to cut travel time considerably, from 2 to 3 hours using public transport to half an hour, at least half the time of using a car or van.

Furthermore, the cost of travelling is considerably less than using a car or public transport.

Other reasons include the unreliability of public transport; for those working shifts, similarly, the unavailability of public transport. In some instances, riders who have to travel into London indicated that the overall cost and time consumed to get to train stations or bus stops far outweighed the use of PTWs. They also indicated that the trains in particular were frequently late or cancelled.

There is a major problem in London with the theft of PTWs with over 14,000 thefts identified London in 2017 (11% of PTWs registered in the London area). Riders have every reason to be concerned and have a strong case to present to exempt the ULEZ charges for older PTWs. Because an analysis of Motorcycle Theft in London, indicates that the main reason motorcycles are stolen is for spare parts.

By examining the information from the survey, the majority of PTWs used by the respondents are Naked (standard) motorcycles or Adventure types. As these bikes (especially the newer models) are targeted by criminals for spare parts, the solutions to prevent the theft of these vehicles include better parking facilities “but also using old battered up bikes for commuting to deter the discerning thief”.

It is a paradox that the Mayor’s Office is looking for solutions to prevent the high levels of theft by denying access to London through the high daily charges for riders who choose to ride pre Euro 3 bikes in consideration of the fact that these older PTWs are less attractive to thieves.

Whether the answer is exemption from the charge altogether or a proportionate charge in consideration of the fact that the overall usage of Pre Euro 3 PTWs is less in comparison to Euro 3 standard PTWs.

The fundamental argument, as demonstrated from other studies in Europe, is that PTWs use far less travel time and are far less likely to be held up in traffic jams. Thus in real terms, the pre Euro 3 PTWs would pollute less in comparison with four wheeled vehicles that are compliant with the later 4 and 5 Euro standards, especially diesel fuelled vehicles, simply because they are not standing idle for the lengths of time that cars, vans, lorries and buses are.

It would not be beyond the realms of the authorities of London to look again and consider that a solution can be found with what should be a reasonable and realistic compromise.

Elaine Hardy PhD 

Considering Factors

The argument in favour of allowing Pre Euro 3 PTWs within the ULEZ areas either without charge or proportionate to their size and ability to progress in traffic, should consider this factor – i.e. they are able to travel long distances in a shorter length of time without being stuck in traffic and thus ultimately in real terms, would be less pollutant, not because they emit less noxious gases, simply because they are not on the road for the same length of time as four wheeled vehicles.

In that respect, evidence provided from a mobility study carried out by the Federation of European Motorcyclists Associations highlights the result  “is crystal clear all over Europe. The motorcycles and mopeds made the journeys faster in every city.

The average speed for motorcycles and mopeds compared to cars is higher in almost every city. (…) The biggest differences between the motorcycle and the car was 38 minutes to travel 29 kilometres in Oslo, (27/ 65 minutes) and 48 minutes to travel 19 kilometres in Dublin (27/75).  

If you choose to ride a motorcycle instead of drive a car in Oslo, you would save more than one hour every day! The fact that all motorcyclists have access to bus lanes in Oslo, also gave the rider a safe and pleasant journey. The rider in Dublin saves more than 1.5 hour per day compared to the motorist. 

The cost for the journeys, parking and tolls was also compared. Motorcycles and mopeds used less petrol compared to cars. There were no costs for parking motorcycles and mopeds in most cities compared to cars which had to pay up to €25 to park one working day. Cars must also pay toll/congestion tax in Stockholm and Oslo where motorcycles and mopeds are excluded from the city toll. The PTW-riders spend less money commuting compared to motorists”.

Cities across France and the rest of Europe have or plan to introduce low emission zones at a considerably lower cost, the Swedish Motorcyclists Association (SMC) announced recently, reported by the Federation of European Motorcyclists Associations, that their government sees motorcycles and mopeds as a smart, functional and environmentally friendly vehicle that help to make the air cleaner and urban environment better in the cities. Which also contribute to reduced congestion, increased accessibility, and contribute to sustainable cities.

Motorcycle Minds Thoughts

This reduction in congestion, increased accessibility contributes to sustainable cities.  But that appears not to be considered by the London authorities.  It seems that the focus by Transport for London (TfL) and the Mayor’s Office is to reduce pollution by numbers rather than by logic.

Rider’s groups protest in frustration on the streets of London, as Transport for London (TfL) push the agenda of the Mayor of London Office with some disagreement from the Greater London Authority (GLA) – London Assembly – Transport Committee.

There is sufficient evidence from studies throughout Europe that demonstrates the ability of motorcycles and scooters to travel across major cities in a fraction of the time required by both public transport and four wheeled vehicles.

As stated in the executive summary to the survey, “It would not be beyond the realms of the authorities of London to look again and consider that a solution can be found with what should be a reasonable and realistic compromise.” this requires meaningful engagement from everybody concerned. 

Who Rides London – A survey of motorcyclists who use PTWs to ride to work in London – June 2018 pdf – 965kb

Our Thanks

Motorcycle Minds Trevor Baird said, “We would like to sincerely thank those organisations and individuals who distributed the survey and those including authority representatives who engaged with us in correspondence on this major issue.

To those organisations and individuals who chose not to support the survey and who in some cases, attempted to stop the survey being distributed through social media, as the report demonstrates we were not in cahoots with the Russians nor working for TfL.   

Hopefully we can all look forward to supporting London riders for their benefit and for a better deal from the London transport authorities. “

Those that we are aware of that promoted the survey.

Survey asks ‘Who Rides London?’ – 2WheelsLondon.com

Who Rides London?’ – London Road Safety Council

Help With A Survey – Survival Skills – On Facebook

If you ride a bike – and in particular if you ride one in London – Riders Digest – On Facebook

Who rides London? Survey to profile two-wheeler use in the capital – Visordown

Ride in London? The motorcycle community needs your help – British Motorcyclists Federation

Motorcycle Theft Protest Community and posting on their closed group page The UK Motorcycle Theft Protest

Information

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