The third report of the Focus2R Observatory sees "two-wheeled Italy" growing

The third report of the Focus2R Observatory, promoted by Confindustria ANCMA and Legambiente in collaboration with Ambiente Italia, sees an increase in interest in two-wheeled mobility, both cyclists and motorcyclists, not only from the market point of view but also for the attention of Italian municipalities towards this mobility.

According to the report, the availability of cycling infrastructure is growing, +9% since 2015, as are public transport on which it is possible to transport bicycles and municipalities equipped with bike sharing. The average availability of parking spaces for motorbikes has increased by 20%. Despite the positive aspects, there is still a lot to do, especially from a safety point of view, furthermore there are still few cities that offer economic incentives for the purchase of traditional bikes (9%), pedal-assisted bikes (14%) , of combustion engine vehicles (2%) and electric motor vehicles (4%). Unfortunately, Italy is characterized by two speeds, with the Centre-North much more sensitive and dynamic regarding policies for two-wheeled mobility compared to the cities of the South. The installation of guardrails is also increasing, although still in small numbers. equipped with protections to protect motorcyclists: in fact, the municipalities that declare they have fitted them go from 17% to 29%, while those that say they intend to implement or use them in the future grow from 18% to 27%.

As regards the market, however, the bicycle market remains almost stationary, with a growth of 19% compared to 2016 for E-Bikes. As anticipated in the end-of-year budget, the motorized two-wheeler market is growing, +5,3% compared to 2017. With motorcycles and scooters growing, while 50 cc mopeds continue to decline. Sales of electric vehicles are good, rising by 29% compared to last year.

The president of confindustria ANCMA, Andrea Dell'Orto, said: “Cities are the cause and effect of a new demand for mobility. From urban contexts, the need to find organic solutions to encourage the decongestation of vehicular traffic, develop intermodality and integration, increase road safety, reduce parking and travel times and, above all, improve the quality of air. In this very complex scenario, two wheels, whether pedal-powered, electric-powered, motor-driven or increasingly also e-bikes, appear today as a natural response to new needs. Focus2R allows us to shine a spotlight on this opportunity, to enhance best practices, put them online and push institutions towards greater attention, especially with regards to the issues of safety, planning and the offer of new services" .

Alberto Fiorillo, Legambiente urban areas manager, then added: “We need a plan of extraordinary political and economic investments for road safety. Pedestrians and two-wheel users are often exposed to very high risks which, especially in urban areas, can be reduced to a minimum by following what other European cities are already doing. Furthermore, it is necessary to start a nice "slimming treatment" of the car fleet. In our country, in fact, there is a very strong anomaly: there are more vehicles with license plates (over 50 million) than there are licensed people authorized to drive them (less than 40 million). A mobility spread that highlights the essential starting point of any transport strategy: reducing the number of cars in circulation and stimulating new and active forms of mobility".