BUSINESS travellers and commuters will be able to avoid road user and workplace parking charges by travelling to the office on a motorbike. At the end of the last Parliament, under-secretary of state Keith Hill MP said: 'The Government believes that powered two-wheelers should generally be exempt from road user charging and workplace charging schemes.'

Frank Finch, the Retail Motor Industry Federation's motorcycle retailers and rider training director, said: 'This is encouraging news, but the Government has to remain committed to its plans. The RMI will continue its pressure on the Government to withdraw all proposed workplace and road user charging for motorcyclists. Forward-thinking fleet managers should think about the cost-effective option of a motorbike or scooter, especially with the advent of the Benelli and BMW roofed scooters.'

At present the Government is not forcing local authorities to exempt motorbikes from charging, although Hill said: 'We intend to leave decisions to local discretion, but will publish guidance for consultation in the summer.'

Milton Keynes, Nottingham, Cheshire, Cambridge and Reading are all considering making employees pay for parking spaces. If Ken Livingstone's £5-a-day congestion charge blueprint scheme for London succeeds, it could spark a rush of similar tolls in overcrowded cities like Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester and Birmingham.