New claims we pollute more than cars

Claims that motorcycles are worse for pollution than cars have been backed by cyclists.

The UK’s national cyclists’ organisation has claimed motorcycles emit more pollutants than cars and called on Government not to encourage their use. Riders’ rights groups say the claims ignores that fact that fewer resources are used in the production of motorcycles.

Roger Geffen, campaigns and policy manager for CTC (the Cyclists’ Touring Club), said we should have to pay the London congestion charge. He said: “Exemption made motorcycling more attractive. This should be reversed.”

We told you on Monday how MPs had been told by transport advisers that bikes were more polluting than cars.

Stephen Plowden, adviser to campaign group The Slower Speeds Initiative, told the House of Commons Transport Committee: “They are only carrying one person, and I think for other gaseous emissions I am right in saying they are actually worse than cars.”

His views were backed by Don Matthew, of transport charity Sustrans, who said: “They are considerably worse… even modern motorcycles are extremely polluting.”

Plowden even called for bikes to be banned from city and town centres.

Richard Olliffe, former government relations executive for the British Motorcyclists Federation and now campaigns manager for Rider Connect, said: “The new BMW R1200R produces around two grams of CO2 per kilometre. For some cars it’s 30 grams per kilometre.”

Let us know what you think of the pollution claims. Email: steve.farrell@emap.com including a daytime phone number. See the March 14 edition of MCN for a full investigation.