DESPITE the risks, the benefits of two-wheeled transport cannot be ignored for some businesses such as couriers, pizza delivery firms, breakdown specialists and blue light fleets.

Businesses are also seeing benefits too. Last year, an outdoor advertising specialist used motorcycles to try and beat inner city congestion and claimed it improved the productivity of its poster pasting and repair staff.

JC Decaux, which ran three motorcycles, has leased two more to combat the problem at its Manchester and London sites.

Fleet manager Gerald Hares said client reputations can be compromised if advertising hoardings are not kept in immaculate condition.

Hares calculates his technicians can now visit an average 20 more sites every day by using motorcycles. All the necessary equipment – even collapsible six-foot ladders – is transported on the liveried bikes, leased from specialist company Motorcycle Management.

Hares said: ‘Motorcycles are practical, easy, economical and fast.’