Australians are swapping cars and congestion for the ease and exhilaration of motorbikes in big numbers, driving the ranks of motorbike and scooter riders towards the million mark.

Motorbike registrations jumped by 22.3 per cent between 2010 and 2015 compared to 12.1 per cent growth in total vehicle registrations over the same period, according to data collected from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Kate Rothwell saves money and time riding her bike to work. Credit:Fiona Morris

Bikes and scooters now make up 4.5 per cent of the more than 18 million vehicles on Australian roads

And it's not just boy riders and middle aged blokes who are taking to the road on two wheels; women riders now make up a significant and rapidly growing group.