Bike use booms in UK

There were 55,000 more bikes on UK roads at the end of 2004 than there were at the end of 2003, according to Department for Transport figures published today (April 4, 2005).

The figures represent a 5% rise – outstripping the growth in the number of cars – and are drawn from the number of bikes licensed (taxed) for use on the road. The records show there were 1,005,000 bikes in use in 2003 and 1,060,000 in use at the end of 2004.

The number of bikes, scooters and mopeds registered for the first time fell by 15% in 2004 – inline with a fall in the number of new bikes sold.

But the DfT figures support MCN’s own research which showed that bike sales were at their highest for five years in 2004 – with rising used bike sales making up for the fall in new bike buys (see related article link, right).

Both sets of research indicate that more people are motorcycling, that demand for used bikes is increasing and that people are keeping their bikes longer than they did in 2003.

The number of cars on the road rose by just 3%.

The Figures are produced from DVLA records. More detailed statistics will be published in “Vehicle Licensing Statistics 2004” available next month.

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