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As rising petrol prices take grip, what is quicker in the rush hour - a scooter or a car? Wendy Lloyd finds out.
Central Scooters in Lye have noticed a change in clientele lately as more and more business people purchase scooters and mopeds.
As petrol prices continue to soar, it appears the nippy vehicles, which cost just £7 to fill up for 140 miles of scooting, are back in fashion.
Being able to weave through rush hour traffic also seems to be an attractive prospect.
Wendy Lloyd filmed a VW Polo driving against a 50cc scooter through 9am traffic to see who would come out on top
11 Comments
These devices are dangerous, so is weaving through the heavily-congested roads carrying mostly industrial traffic. It’s simply too dangerous and a lot of the car drivers are too ignorant of scooters and bicycles.
I walk! - no petrol at all, and it keeps me fit and healthy. Obviously it won’t work over long distances but it is amazing how many people will drive two miles to get to my work, rather than take a nice walk or (push) bike ride.
And scooters are really inefficient in terms of fuel use and carbon emissions. If you think that a car can carry (usually) 4 or 5 people and then luggage in the boot, but scooters can carry nothing more than a chihuaha, but scooters don’t use 5 or 6 times less fuel than a car, do they. So - they’re inefficient.
No James they are not dangerous. Its the inexperience of the kids that ride them that are dangerous.
Now it seems were going to be bombarded with ignorant shirts and ties that have little experience of these machines. However it will probably be an eye opener for some of these people and they may actually experience real life and how inconsiderate the avarage company rep can be
Well the reporter Wendy Lloyd should take a CBT test and they will teach her how to do up a chin strap on the helmet ! One of the most important things to wear while riding a scooter/motorbike and she does not have it fitted correctly. Also she did not mention how much they are how delicate they are ?
Nice work lads!!
The bikes are not dangerous at all. If more car drivers were actually concentrating on the road rather than the child in the back or talking on their phone all accidents would drop not just those involving bikes!
If more people took up this idea then there would be visibly more scooters on the road and you would have no choice but to be constantly aware of them. Ever driven around london in rush hour?
James, your views are ignorant and ill thought out.
now all I’ve got to do is convince my partner the same…….
BennyBoy: Just maybe Wendy Lloyd has a bike licence? Just maybe she’s on private land? Im just guessing here but just maybe she DID mention how much they are and finally (just maybe) how delicate they are depends on how well you treat them?
Scooters and mopeds are not as dangerous as cars. Weaving in and out of traffic is done by cars and bikes - just the car drivers cause more damage when they hit while bike riders tend to be more aware of what is around them.
Funny how you never see bike riders riding along while talking on their mobiles…..
As for efficiency, £7 to go 140 miles sounds very efficient for one person. Might not be as efficient as a family car with 5 adults and luggage in, but many drivers use the car for themselves only.
Forget the environment, whats affordable to get to work and back in a reasonable time?
Rebecca, the old 2 stroke scooter engines were awful for emissions and they burnt oil…but they date back to the 1950’s.
Pretty much all new scooters are 4 stroke, quiet, fuel-injected, unleaded, and low emission with cat converters….2 gallons will last you 150miles.
In the rush hour, you’d be better off targetting the huge amount of selfish drivers who travel to work alone in an 4WD SUV carrying nothing but a sandwich and a compact makeup set.
The ratio of emissions to passengers then is very very different.
Hopefully fuel tax will do it’s job and get these people off the road, or at least make them fill the passenger seats like they were designed for.
Rebecca 3… On the flip side a bike or scootehr is capable of seating 2 people so whilst its “out” it’s 50% full.
Your car can hold possibly 5 people so unless you go absolutly everywhere with yourself and 2 others in the car, your car if far more un-efficient than a bike/scooter.
1.. 8 out 10 motorcycle accidents are caused by car drivers pulling out on bikes with the old “I NEVER SAW YOU RUBBISH”
Only Sunday I witnessed a car pull out on the bike infront of mine . He was doing less than 30 (speed camera area) he had white helmet flouro bib and twin headlights balaring away how can people possibly not see that!!!!!!
I walk whenver i can - but i need my car for work - because i travel approx 40-50 miles a day around the city….but in the event of having no appointments or meetings i will walk to and from work.