A public decree that face masks must be worn on public transport in the UK has seen a spike inquiries about bikes, mopeds and motor scooters.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has urged those who cannot work from home to avoid public transport as much as possible, leading Brits to seek different ways of getting around, particularly for commuting.
the UK’s largest digital marketplace for new and used cars, Auto Trader, has reported that views of advertisements for mopeds increased by 48 per cent from the beginning of June.
During these same period the number of inquiries that consumers sent moped retailers also grew significantly year-on-year by 219 per cent.
Scooters were no different, with the number of views jumping 59 per cent.
Inquiries for motor scooters is where the biggest spikes have been seen; 209 per cent at the end of May and 180 per cent from June 1.
There’s also been a growing interest in motorbikes compared to last year.
Advert views for motorbikes on Auto Trader increased by 32 per cent.
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Not only are Brits researching these alternatives to public transport, but they’re getting serious about using them soon.
RideTo, the UK’s number 1 platform for motorcycle training, has seen Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) course demand increase by 100 per cent from this time last year.
For those looking to use motorbikes and mopeds specifically for commuting, RideTo has seen the number of riders using the course double since January.
“Searches for mopeds, bikes and scooters have seen a huge spike compared to this time last year,” Auto Trader’s Rory Reid said.
“It’s no coincidence that this has followed Boris Johnson urging the public not to go on buses, trams and trains wherever they can avoid it.
“It seems to be part and parcel of getting into a ‘new normal’. They’re relatively cheaper options for commuting, they can help you get around easily in congested urban areas, and they’re easier to park in tight spots.
“They can also be a much more viable option than walking or cycling for the majority of people whose commute is longer than five miles.”
Top 10 most searched for motorbikes
| Position | Make and model |
| 1 | Harley-Davidson Sportster |
| 2 | Harley-Davidson Softail |
| 3 | Yamaha R1 CBR1000RR |
| 4 | Honda Fireblade |
| 5 | Yamaha R6 |
| 6 | BMW S1000RR |
| 7 | Kawasaki ZX-6R |
| 8 | BMW R1200GS |
| 9 | Honda CBR600F |
| 10 | Honda CBR600RR |
Top 10 most searched for mopeds and scooters
| Position | Make and model |
| 1 | Yamaha X-MAX |
| 2 | Piaggio Vespa GTS |
| 3 | Honda PCX125 |
| 4 | Honda Vision |
| 5 | Piaggio Vespa LX |
| 6 | Suzuki UH |
| 7 | Yamaha TMAX |
| 8 | Peugeuot Kisbee |
| 9 | Piaggio Vespa Primavera |
| 10 | Yamaha Delight |
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