Surge in women using two-wheels

Women road users are swerving the effects of the credit crunch by switching to two wheels.

More than 10,500 women took their motorcycle training practical test last year and a survey from the Post Office suggests many more will do so this year.

The poll showed 14% of women would consider swapping their car for a motorbike to save money on fuel and car insurance.

Also, 29% of those people who had ridden a motorcycle in the past said they had done so because it was cheaper than running a car.

Those in the north of England, the Midlands and Wales were most likely to make the switch, the survey showed.

The Post Office said figures showed that women were safer riders than men.

Proportionately speaking, women have made far fewer insurance claims for motorbike accidents than men, and research being undertaken at Huddersfield University shows that women demonstrate a greater interest in undertaking advanced rider training than their male counterparts.

Geoff Crowther, director of the motorcycle consumer research unit at Huddersfield University, 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."

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