Why everyone is now taking to two wheels

Whether motorbike, scooter, moped or push-bike - two-wheeled travel is back.

According to the Motorcycle Industry Association, bike sales soared last month with the total registrations of motorcycles, moped and scooters showing an eight per cent increase compared with September 2004. By contrast, car sales dipped by 5.2 per cent.

And one of the reasons for this is clear - traffic congestion. The Government's Transport Research Laboratory claims about 65 per cent of jams are caused by recurring congestion. It says traffic is expected to grow by 38 per cent over the next 20 years unless something is done.

But some Worcester motorists are already swapping the frustration of the daily gridlock for a quicker and healthier approach to travel.

Roger Stanley, who runs F Lewis, which was established in 1880 and is the oldest bike shop in the city, said there is a renewed interest in bike travel.

"Quite a few people come in who are interested in getting a bike because it takes 10 minutes to do a journey in comparison with 30 or 45 minutes in a car.

"There has been a significant increase in repairs recently as people are getting their old bikes out of the shed and getting them back on the road.

"Some people are cycling because they want to get fit and others because it's easier than using the car. We get free leaflets from the council showing bike routes."

Worcestershire County Council is encouraging its staff to climb into the saddle as an alternative to sitting behind the wheel.

Anne Williams, county council employee travel plan manager, said: "We have a number of regular cyclists but I want to increase the number of people cycling. We always take part in national bike week and have promotions for bikers. We tell people that if they can cycle to work during national cycle week then they can do it the rest of the time."

The county council, which employs 1,400 staff at its County Hall headquarters, is also considering introducing refresher session for employees who have not been on a bike since childhood.

"It would boost their confidence and get them back into it. Most of the people who cycle at the

moment are keen cyclists," added Mrs Williams.

A Cycle Buddy scheme, where a new cyclist can team up with a regular rider and cycle in together until the novice builds confidence, may also be set up at County Hall. This would include producing a map for staff showing cycle routes to and from county hall.

Mrs Williams added: "There are a number of benefits to cycling. People are taking exercise so they are going to be fitter and healthier. They have more energy and are more alert which is of benefit to the employer.

"It has an impact on car parking and reduces congestion if more people cycle. Apart from the initial cost of the bike, it doesn't cost anything and you can virtually guarantee the journey time because you are in charge of your journey."

Mrs Williams said the Government has introduced a scheme, with a tax incentive, where employees can borrow a bike from their employer and make a tax and National Insurance-free payment for it directly from their salaries.

Information on this is available on the Department for Transport website - www.dft.gov.uk - under local transport initiatives and the Cycle to Work Scheme.

Others are opting for motorised two-wheel transport.

Ceri Vines, of London Road, is a motorbike enthusiast who has swapped his 800cc bike for a 50cc scooter with a top speed of 45mph for his travel to work.

He travels home for lunch each day and thought the big bike was not environmentally friendly for so many journeys each day. The scooter costs £2 a week to run. It's nippy and was cheap to buy. It does about 150 miles on a tank, which takes about a gallon of petrol.

"I like two-wheeled vehicles. It's a great way to get around. I will use the scooter for travelling around the town and the bike for long distances," he said.

Cleaner Phyllis Rogers, who lives at Ronkswood, has been riding a scooter around Worcester for 40 years. "I packed up driving because it was too much hassle. All that stop-start, stop-start. You can keep going on a scooter and it doesn't cost as much as a car. It is easy to park and it is so much better for doing a bit of shopping."

Chris Skellern, managing director of Skellerns Motorcycles, Sidbury, Worcester, said: "A large number of our customers have a bike and a car. A lot of people will use bikes when the weather is good and when the weather is bad they will use their car."

WHAT'SHOT

Making people like you in just over a minute

It takes just 90 seconds or less to establish rapport, according to Nicholas Boothman, author of How To Make People Like You.

"Connecting with other people brings infinite rewards," he says. "And whether it's landing the job, winning the promotion, gaining the sale, charming a new partner, electrifying your audience or passing inspection by future in-laws, if people like you, the welcome mat is out and a connection is yours for the making." Boothman has these tips for getting people on side:

KNOW WHAT YOU WANT

Formulate your intention in the affirmative and preferably in the present tense. For example, "I want a successful relationship", as opposed to "I don't want to be lonely".

FIND OUT WHAT OTHER

PEOPLE THINK

Get feedback. It's important to gain others' opinions to see if you are approaching matters in the right manner.

LIKEABILITY WORKS

Likeable people expose a warm, easygoing public face with an outgoing radiance that states, "I am ready to connect". They are welcoming and friendly, and they get other people's attention.

BODY LANGUAGE

Make sure that your words, your tonality and your gestures are all saying the same thing. Be on the lookout for incongruity in others.

But be careful you don't turn them right off

People may not have switched off from the Paul O'Grady show following his incessant plugging for votes in the run-up to this week's National Television Awards, but there are ways you can put people off supporting you. Psychologist Dr Cliff Arnall has this advice:

DON'T be false. With the prevalence of spin in the UK, people are pretty canny at recognising the signs of 'stage-managed' behaviour.

DON'T use bully-boy tactics. Overzealous ways of gaining support like bullying or taking advantage of people won't work. People may feel apathetic towards you.

DON'T do down the opposition. If you have a competitor in any situation, people don't like spitefulness. In many cases, people can go the opposite way and stick up for the underdog.