When it comes to practicality, powered two-wheelers are at their best in snarled-up urban areas, where they can beat the traffic with ease. Not before time the European Association of Bike Makers (ACEM) is pushing authorities to help expand bike use in towns and cities. ACEM held a conference at the EICMA Milan show titled ‘Rightsizing Urban Mobility: L-category vehicles for the cities of tomorrow’. It brought together policymakers, local administrators, and industry leaders to discuss how bikes and other light vehicles can help cities reduce congestion and emissions.
Industry figures highlighted that L-category vehicles can offer immediate, measurable benefits. Antonio Perlot, ACEM secretary general, shared preliminary findings from an Oxford Economics study on the economic importance of motorcycles to Europe: across the EU and UK, powered two-wheelers already save commuters an estimated 25.6 million days annually compared to car use. Just a 5% shift from cars to PTWs could add 28 million days saved, deliver €3.8bn in cost savings, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions worth €308m per year.
ACEM also ilustrated practical examples from European cities: Barcelona’s newly established Motorcycle Observatory designs and monitors measures that improve safety and decarbonisation. Meanwhile, Milan is incentivising electric PTWs.
Perlot said: “There is a clear positive attitude towards the integration of L-category vehicles in urban mobility. This warrants closer cooperation between public authorities and vehicle manufacturers, providing further opportunities for improved urban mobility.”