Can you help with biggest-ever motorcycle survey?

Alan Tilly, (left) author of the Sandwell Strategy for Powered Two Wheelers, is currently undertaking what is claimed to be the biggest survey ever of motorcycle use in the UK.

He is undertaking the study in his capacity as a PhD student at the University of Southampton, Transport Research Group, where he is researching ‘The Role of Motorcycling in the Twenty First Century’.

According to Alan, it became apparent through the 1998 Transport White Paper that the Government was unclear as to its position regarding motorcycles. "Government accepted that motorcycles are an affordable mode of transport, but were unsure whether they offer benefits for the environment and for congestion - mentioning that this depends on the purpose of the journey, the size of motorcycle used and the type of transport that the rider has switched from," Alan says.

"Mopeds and small motorcycles may produce benefits if they substitute car use, but not if people switch from walking, cycling or public transport," he adds. "This struck me as a question that deserved an answer so I set myself the task of doing just that."

The purpose of the research is to establish in what circumstances motorcycle use is ‘good’ - that is, when it is helping to alleviate traffic congestion, cut carbon dioxide emissions and provide people with access to jobs, healthcare and education.

When this has been identified, the next stage is to produce advice as to how this can be achieved - in other words how to get the right sort of people riding the right type of motorcycle for the right sort of trips.

To achieve this, Alan needs to understand the factors that determine a person’s decision to ride a motorcycle and he can only find this out by asking riders themselves. "From the survey I will be able to understand why somebody who used to drive a car to work started to ride, say, a scooter," he says. "I will then be able to produce advice upon the buttons that need to be pressed to get others doing the same."

A total of 15,000 questionnaires have been printed and are being distributed around motorcycle shops, training schools and motorcycle clubs in the UK. A website has also been constructed enabling riders to complete the questionnaire on line at; www.motorcyclesurvey.org.

Alan’s target is to generate 10,000 replies.

The questionnaire also asks about riders’ concerns and how they think these can be overcome. This information should help local councils and the Government make informed decisions about how to make motorcycling safer and more convenient.

Anyone wanting copies of the questionnaire, or willing to put a link on their website, can contact Alan Tilly; alan@tilly77.freeserve.co.uk or 07870 869606.