FOR the first time motorcycle riders have been praised by a federal minister and a federal government report for helping make our cities nicer places to live in.

And in part this is because Transport Minister Anthony Albanese took a trip to Italy.



Australia's 700,000 motorbike and scooter riders were saluted in the Government's State of Australian Cities Report which reviewed the condition of our 18 biggest urban areas.



They were credited with producing lower emissions than car drivers and of taking up less space on congested roads and parking areas.



"This is a massive shift in approach," Australian Motorcycle Council chairman Shaun Lennard today told news.com.au.



"Just last year, the National Transport Commission released a report Smart Transport for a Growing Nation which failed to mention the growing popularity of motorcycling. Actually, it failed to mention motorcyles altogether.



"And the more people riding motorcycles, the better the traffic flows for everyone else."



Transport Minister Albanese, who is among the new fans of motorised two-wheeled commuting, agrees.



"As I can attest from my recent trip to Italy, many of the world’s cities are thronged with motorbikes and scooters as people take advantage of this low-cost, low-energy and space-efficient form of transport," said Mr Albanese launching the cities' report yesterday.



"However in the Australian policy context, they tend only to be mentioned in discussions about safety.



"This can obscure the fact that they are an important and growing component of the urban transport mix at a time when congestion drags like an anchor on our time and productivity."



The report itself said that if safety issues were addressed, "the inherent advantages of motorcycles and scooters" could see them becoming more important.



"The major advantage of motorcycles and scooters in the urban transport system is that they are very space efficient at a time when congestion is now a critical problem in cities," said the report.



"Depending on the attitude to filtering or lane splitting, they take up much less space than other vehicles in slow-moving or stationary traffic and up to five can park in a single car space.



"Consequently, cities in Australia are following their European counterparts in encouraging their use.



"In Melbourne, for example, motorcycles and scooters can park free on that city’s wide footpaths, while in Canberra they can park free of charge in designated spaces that are plentiful throughout the city.



"The City of Sydney is implementing its Motorcycle and Scooter Strategy and Action Plan and Strategy 2008–2012 which supports the provision of low-cost and secure motorcycle and scooter parking (City of Sydney 2008)."



Bureau of Statistics figures show Australia had 511,966 motorcycles in 2007. By 2012 this had grown by 38 per cent to 709,288.



The Motorcycle Council's Shaun Lennard said almost all official reports on alternative and more sustainable transport choices refer to the same trilogy - public transport, cycling and walking.



"Motorcycles give people greater personal mobility choice, and the ability to get from your start point to your destination efficiently," Mr Lennard said.



"There have been encouraging signs in some parts of the country. Sydney City Council for example has a policy that encourages motorcycle use. But to really work, this needs to be lead at a state and federal level."