Motorcycles omitted from future report

Traditional and electric motorcycles have been omitted from a major academic report that claims to be a blueprint for future transport in Australia.

The Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering report, “Shifting Gears – Preparing for a Transport Revolution“, calls for the next Federal Government to provide incentives for electric and low-emissions vehicles.

However, there is not one mention of motorcycles or scooters, either electric or traditional.

We contacted the Academy to ask whether they had factored in electric and traditional motorcycles and scooters as well as e-bikes for their impact on future mobility?

“Good question,” they replied.

But no, they didn’t.

Omitted from future

This glaring omission neglects the virtues of two-wheeled mobility and its advantages for traffic flow and relieving the strain on parking and other infrastructure.

It also demonstrates how little regard authorities have for motorcycles and scooters and the coming tsunami of electric two-wheelers.

The omission may also be a portent for the possible future of motorcycles and scooters – nil!

In 2017, a group of American motorcycle industry luminaries, aptly called “Give a Shift”, released a report on the future of motorcycling saying bikes are in danger of being killed off by autonomous vehicles.

As governments and safety nannies place their hopes in these autonomous vehicles, we wonder whether “dangerous” motorcycles will simply be banned as in the fictional film “The Last Motorcycle on Earth“.

Academy spokesperson Kathryn Fagg says the rapid advance of technology was leading to “an extraordinary period of change”.

“With Australia’s geographic isolation and long distances between urban centres, the transport sector will be both significantly disrupted and revolutionised by this technological transformation,” she says. 

“Failure to be prepared will risk a decline in many aspects of our Australian way of life and society, including increased congestion and vehicle-related emissions, a deterioration in health, safety and security, and a negative impact on the cost of living, productivity and the ease of mobility.” 

And maybe the loss of our favourite pastime and form of transport!