Two wheels, a few tradeoffs, and gas prices
The author argues that motorcycles are a more efficient and sustainable mode of personal transport compared to cars, citing lower fuel consumption and reduced material usage. The piece also notes how riding a motorcycle encourages more intentional travel habits.
Why it matters
It highlights alternative urban mobility solutions that could reduce traffic congestion and carbon footprints in dense European cities.
Most cars on French roads carry exactly one person. The average occupancy for commuting trips in France is 1.08 passengers per vehicle 0 . 16 million people driving alone, twice a day, in machines built to seat five. I ride a Kawasaki that weighs 185kg. It carries one person too, but at least it’s honest about it.
My fuel consumption sits around 3L/100km (73.5 MPG) in mixed riding. A comparable compact car doing the same coastal routes between Antibes and Nice burns 6 to 8 liters. That’s roughly half the fuel, half the CO2, for the same commute. On highway stretches where the engine stays in a narrow RPM band, consumption drops further.
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