The number of motorcycles on the road has skyrocketed this year, with 800 drivers handed newly introduced certificates in the past six months alone, official figures show.

A breakdown of the number of certificates issued by Transport Malta reveals the public’s overwhelming adoption of a government scheme aimed at convincing motorists to switch from cars to bikes, consequently helping to ease traffic.

Prior to the government initiative, motorists had to obtain a separate licence to drive a 125cc motorcycle. Between 2014 and last year, fewer than 200 such licences were issued, not even a quarter of the number of new certificates, which replaced the licences, handed out so far this year.

The new regulations, introduced in February, have seen those with a standard driving licence no longer needing to obtain another one to ride motorcycles of up to 125cc. The only requirement is to undergo a 10-hour training course before being given a certificate, which enables B licence holders to drive an A1 category motorbike.

In the Budget for 2016, the road licence fee for such motorbikes was also slashed to €10, making them an even more attractive option.

All the bikes in my shop are sold, and I have a shipment of 25 on the way which are also already sold

It would appear drivers are not stopping at obtaining the certificates, and many are actually switching from using their car to riding motorcycles. Auto dealer George Vella, who specialises in motorcycles, told the Times of Malta that sales had gone through the roof.

“There is a very high demand for these 125cc bikes. All the bikes in my shop are sold, and I have a shipment of 25 on the way which are also already sold,” he said.

It isn’t just 125cc bikes that people are buying. Mr Vella said he had also noticed an increased interest in more powerful motorcycles.

“I have seen a few people who are new motorcyclists. They come into the shop and tell me they decided motorcycles were the way to go, went out to get a fully fledged motorcycle licence and they want a mid-level, reliable motorcycle,” he said.

Transport Malta figures show that the number of fully fledged motorcycle licences issued for bikes with an engine capacity exceeding 170cc had also increased dramatically.

Just 42 such licences were issued from 2014 to last year, with the figure jumping to an impressive 360 in the first half of this year alone.

The increase in the number of motorcycles on the road is not unheralded. Back in February this newspaper reported how hundreds more were expected on the roads as dealers faced an “unprecedented demand”.

At the time, motorcycle seller Gordon Micallef said he had recently made his largest order for motorcycles, having bought 280. He had already sold some 150, though the shipment was still to arrive.

The surge in the number of motorcycles on the road, however, has also raised concerns about whether the island’s motorists were motorbike conscious.

“What worries me most is, are motorists educated about motorcycles on the road? We see car drivers who seem oblivious to their presence, changing lanes without indicating and without looking out for bikes. What is being done to educate them?” said Chris Agius, who forms part of a motorcycle advocacy group.

Asked what was being done to educate drivers on the increased number of motorcycles on the road, the transport authority said it was aware of the situation and working with the Malta Road Safety Council on it. A number of road safety awareness campaigns had been rolled out throughout the year, along with a series of spots on TV and radio.

“The authority also produced a series of videos for social media and is still using the variable message signs spread throughout our road network, both to raise awareness on riders and for riders to drive safely,” a spokesman said, adding that the road safety council would be launching a new campaign at the end of summer in preparation for the start of the scholastic year, “when Maltese roads are busiest”.

How not to park your bike

Motorists who wrote to the Times of Malta questioned whether there were rules on how motorcyclists should park their bike, as many seemed to park how they wished, taking up too much space or making it difficult for cars to navigate.

“Can you just stop anywhere and take up a space which could fit many bikes or even a car?” one motorist wrote.

So how can you park your bike? The transport authority referred this newspaper to the Motor Vehicles Regulations. Article 80, which tackles motorcycle parking, says bikes should not be parked parallel to the kerb or wall of a street. Instead they have to be parked at an angle of “not less than 45 degrees to such kerb or wall”, maximising the space. Failure to do so carries a €20 parking fine.

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