Is the bike the answer to commuting?

[Wonko The Sane]

Found this article on Lifestyle Uncut:

https://www.lifestyleuncut.com/motor/opinion-is-the-motorbike-the-answer-to-congestion-when-commuting.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

arguing that perhaps, as costs of private motoring rise more people will turn to the bike instead of a second car or will bike and just hire a car when the extra space is needed.


What do you think?

[Nick_Giles]

[Snorty]

I prefer to commute on the bike as I'm impatient and grow really bored in standstill traffic.
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Current: Yamaha FZ1 '07 | GSXR 750 SRAD

Past: CB125TDC | TZR125 | GPZ500 | CBR600F3 | ZX9-R | GSXR1000 K4

[Wonko The Sane]

[FireStorm-X]

When I got my 125, it was for commuting to save money it has done this with no problem. So much so it has paid for itself, my gear and my full DAS tests in 10 months, now saving up for a bigger bike for fun
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Lexmoto Street 125 (sold) - Kawasaki ZR7S

[UnspeedySam]

[Derivative]

If everyone switched to bikes, then you can bet bike parking would start to match car prices (at least, on a 'per square foot' basis).

Personally the bike is my only option. I could pretty much get a friend to chauffeur me around for the price of my car insurance premium.

[LordShaftesbu...]

I think that for big motorway miles, maybe not, but for every other type of commuting then sure. But you need some sort of alternative as backup when the snow gets really thick.

[Knightsy]

I started riding in the first place to commute.

But then I went "Bloody hell, that's fun!" and life was good ever since
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09' Versys 650 | 07' FJR1300A

[jeddy11]

Definately makes the journey to work a whole lot less boring unfortunately i seem to get their a lot earlier than i need too boo
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Fuelly My Z1000SX
cbt 06/08/11 mod1 (second go) 01/08/12 mod2 21/09/12
Varadero Viking YBR125>Varadero125>ER6F>Z1000SX !!!

[J4mes]

^^ morning backroad diversion required then!

[-Monty-]

I did my CBT and got a 125 after getting some pretty grim car insurance quotes, and now thinking about it, I suppose I'm glad the insurance of a car put me off otherwise I would probably not have got into bikes.

The free parking for bikes is a massive plus I think. I don't think I could bring myself to pay just to leave my vehicle somewhere.
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Present: [Kawasaki ZX7r][Suzuki DRZ 400s]
Past: [Honda PCX 125] [Yamaha RXS 100] [Honda CB 500] [Triumph Speed Four] [Honda ST1100 Pan European - Po-Po Edition]

[Sable]

Riding bikes hasn't been a whole lot cheaper for me. If I want cheap bicycle will always be king. Fuel cost is lower, but over time *Shrugs* Not a huge amount better than a small van when I take in costs of thefts and car park knock over damage.

Much like Snorty though, I detest sitting in traffic. 40 mile a day up and down North Circ and A40 during rush hour? Give me anything 2 wheeled over a car or van any day ^^

[Ja7]

[LordShaftesbu...]

[thx1138]

I have a 10 minute riverside walk to work.

When I used to commute, back before mobile phones were commonplace, and I had no land line, it was great. No matter how crap work was, it was all forgotten by the time I'd got home after a 20 mile motorcycle ride, and no one would bother me until I was back in next, couldn't phone me.

[Rogerborg]

Pretty standard reason for getting into biking. 125s are propping up the quirks and remnants of the UK bike market.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[andys675]

of course it is the answer, what the f@ck is going wrong here is beyond me, must be all the legislation putting folks off

look at france, spain, italy, greece, cyprus

there are fecking scooters everywhere, driven by moms, dads, uncles aunties, grandparents etc etc, fit young girls, businessmen

PTW's are the answer
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Some people feel the rain, others just get wet.

[Klaus]

If the weather was better on a more regular basis, i would use my bike every day for work, or would have two bikes and get rid of my car. One for commuting to work and a sports bike for fun rides out at the weekend etc.
The only thing i hate is that it takes time to get my bike out from the back yard and time to get my gear on etc, whereas a car you just get in and drive...

I hate the cost of insurance and the general running of cars, especially when you don't get the kick/enjoyment from them that you do from bikes...

[Ingah]

[Pigeon]

[twistedlemon]

I use my bike to commute. I sold my car in December actually. But then again, I also have a company car that I use when I go to visit clients (work won't let me ride my bike unfortunately, they'd prefer me to drive one of their cars - better for the corporate image)

Still, I use my bike to get around exclusively. Park anywhere I want for free, don't get stuck in traffic, and have the thrills of rapid acceleration which quite frankly made driving a car boring for me. Driving a car is just that - boring as hell. Yeah, you could get a fast car, but then the car in front of you is also stuck in traffic. That's why cars have big comfy seats, heating, sound systems and cupholders. Because in a country as small as the UK with millions of cars on the roads, you ain't going anywhere during rush hour mate so you might as well make yourself comfortable!

So while I spend 10 minutes a day gearing up and getting my bike out the garage, I still get to leave my house 30 minutes later than I would if I was driving a car and getting stuck in traffic.

Not only does even a 1000cc offer better fuel economy than your standard 1.8L Generic Saloon, it's just FUN in comparison. Even after 13 years of motorcycling, it's never stopped being fun.
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2013 Triumph Daytona 675

[jonbee56]

[Shinigami]

I got a bike out of necessity to be able to travel and couldn't afford a car, turned out i loved it and have since got my full licence and rag about on a clapped out 600 now
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Current: Honda City Fly CLR125 2003 Honda CB600F Hornet 2008 Yamaha FZ6 S2 + 1991 Kawasaki GPZ500
"Once you realize what a joke everything is, being the Comedian is the only thing that makes sense.

[Nexus Icon]

I would definitely commute on the bike if I worked more than a mile and a half, on country roads, from home. As it is I can be clocking in at work, after driving in, before I'd even wheeled the bike out of the garage, never mind geared up.
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