The Pandemic Kick-Started an Urban Motorcycle Boom. Are Cities Ready?
Two-wheeled vehicles surged during lockdown on streets around the world. So have worries about noise, air pollution and safety.
Motorcycle riders in rush hour traffic in Central London. The pandemic has helped boost the number of riders on the streets of cities around the world.
Photographer: David Rose/Bloomberg
Listening to the sounds of the city in London right now, the chorus of street noise from cars, trucks and buses has been joined by a new, higher-pitched voice: the revving engines of motorcycles.
The growing number of motorcycles in London predates the pandemic: Since 2010, the city has reportedly seen an 11% year-on-year increase in their numbers. Motorcycle registrations increased across the U.K. in 2019, marking a years-long upward trend. As lockdown eased, their numbers spiked anew. According to industry figures, new motorcycle registrations in the country are up 31.2% compared to September last year, with the biggest jump in small-capacity Vespa-style motor scooters.