Women bikers ride out credit crunch on two wheels

More women than ever before are considering taking up motorbiking to cut down on spending in the face of an economic downturn. More than 10,500 women took their motorcycle training practical test last year, and research by the Post Office indicates that this number may rise as the cost of running a car escalates.

The research found that 14 per cent of women would consider swapping their four wheels for two to save cash, and almost a third (29 per cent) of people who have ridden a motorcycle in the past did so because it was cheaper than running a car.

In the wake of the credit crunch which is forcing us all to reconsider our spending, it seems that our road habits may well change to help us pinch pennies where we can. Almost one in five people in the North of England would switch to biking to save money, only slightly ahead of people in the Midlands and Wales.

To reflect this trend, and just in time for the peak motorbike riding season, the Post Office has launched Post Office Motorcycle Insurance, with discounts of up to 36 per cent for women riders, and giving ALL new customers one month’s free cover.

Women bikers have traditionally been in the minority, making up around 15 per cent of the 1.2 million licensed motorcyclists on the road over the last 10 years, but experts from the University of Huddersfield’s Motorcycle Consumer Research Unit now say that one in five new motorcyclists is female, with figures expected to rise.

Geoff Crowther, director of the Motorcycle Consumer Research Unit at the University of Huddersfield, said: “The rise of women motorcyclists is helping to inspire new-style bikes – and we’re seeing bike designs better contoured to the female biker. It’s great that the Post Office recognises this trend and is providing a tailored insurance product for female riders too.”

Statistics show that women are safer riders than men. Proportionately speaking, women are involved in far fewer motorbike accidents than men, and research being undertaken at the University of Huddersfield shows that women demonstrate a greater interest in undertaking advanced rider training than their male counterparts.

“There has definitely been an increase in women bikers over the last few years,” said Tyne Henney, President of the Women’s International Motorcycle Association. “WIMA GB are the original bike club for women riders in the UK, existing for 60 years. All of our members love the freedom of being on a motorbike, but more and more women are talking about the financial benefits too. We welcome all female riders and their male partners as guests; and are pleased to support the Post Office in their newest venture.”

Post Office head of general insurance Richard Pennant-Jones added: “It’s clear that squeezes on our finances are making motorcycles an increasingly attractive alternative to cars. And concerns about CO2 emissions on the environment may coax more people out of their cars. With more bikers of both sexes on the roads than ever before, we’ve entered the market to ensure they receive comprehensive cover at a competitive cost.”