AA Extends Two-wheeled Operations
Motorbike patrols now operating in London and five other major cities
The initial fourteen bikes deployed in London in April this year – the first time the AA has used motorbikes to attend breakdowns since the mid 1990s – have clearly demonstrated that motorbike patrols can get to most breakdowns at least a third quicker than vans.
In urban areas, a broken down car often causes disproportionate congestion and between 11 and 15% of drivers are routinely stuck in morning rush hour queues on key city routes so we want to get to those cars and get them moving as quickly as possible.
Two wheels are better than four in this situation as the motorbike patrols can get in quicker to fix the problem and get everyone moving again. All motorists should benefit as the AA helps to create freer flowing traffic in our major cities.
The bikes, Honda Silver Wings, Honda Deauvilles and Suzuki Burgmans have been specially adapted for the AA to use all available space for the patrols' tool-kit, and a beacon light at the back when attending breakdown duties.
The Motorbike patrols will target 'quick-fix' breakdowns such as flat batteries, wheel changes and simple electrical faults – problems which cause over a third of breakdowns.
AA motorbike patrol operations
The AA now has 50 patrol motorbikes providing cover for members up to seven days a week. They will primarily cover central areas between 8am and 8pm in the following cities
- Glasgow – 2 bikes
- Sheffield – 2 bikes
- Leeds – 3 bikes
- London – 23 bikes (9 plus the original 14)
- Manchester – 8 bikes, and
- Birmingham – 12 bikes
More pictures of AA bike patrols on our Flickr photostream »
Rush hour congestion
At any time during the morning peak up to 15 per cent of drivers on key inner city routes are stuck in queues according to a five-city 'go-slow league table' compiled by the AA in conjunction with ITIS Holdings:
- Birmingham – 15.0% queuing in morning rush hour
- Glasgow – 12.9%
- Sheffield – 11.0%
- Leeds – 11.1%
- Manchester – 10.7%
Factfile
AA analysis shows that just one minute a day of queuing for cars travelling along three major roads into a city can:
- waste 900,000 litres of fuel per year – worth nearly £1.1 million at today's prices
- add 645 tonnes of CO2 emissions, equivalent to switching on 2000 streetlights
The figures for rush hour queuing are calculated from data provided to the AA by traffic information provider ITIS Holdings. This relates to weekday traffic during the morning peak on the following routes:
Birmingham – A41 (Soho Road); A435 (Alcester Road); and A456 (Broad Street).
Glasgow – A814 (Argyle Street); A89 (Gallowgate); and A814 East (Clydeside Expressway).
Sheffield – A6135 (Duke Street); A57 (Broad Lane); A61 (Moorfields); and B6070 (Granville Road).
Leeds – A61 (Hunslett Road); A64M (Inner Ring Road); and A643 (Elland Road).
Manchester – A56 (Deansgate); A57 (Mancunian Way); and A62 (Oldham Road).
31 July 2008