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Motorcycles have a higher rate of accidents. The rate of fatality with motorcycle is also higher. A majority of these accidents involve a motorcycle with a passenger vehicle. In many of these types of accidents, the motorcycle right of way has been found to be violated by the other vehicle. The remaining are single vehicle accidents where it does not involve another vehicles. These single vehicle accidents are usually due to rider error. This include fall due to over-breaking, slide-out, under-cornering or running wide on a curve due to over speeding. There is also small number of instances where vehicle failure such as a puncture flat also causes accidents. Involvement of alcohol is seen in about half of the fatal accidents.

Speed, involvement of alcohol and size of the motorcycle determines the severity of the injury. Quite often the cause of the injuries after the accident is found to be caused by the protective barriers that are on the road including fences, signs and lamps. Additional injuries are likely to happen with the motorcyclists crashing on to the protective barriers. The low visibility of the motorcycle is a major cause of motorcycle accidents.

Motorcycles are categorized into the dual purpose, street and off-road motorcycles. The dual-purpose motorcycles are designed to be used both for transportation as well as motor racing. Street bikes include cruisers, mopeds and scooters. Street bikes are what are usually driven on the streets. The off road motorcycles are not designed for street riding and are not permitted for transport. They are for motor racing. There are different kinds of scooters such as electric scooters, gas scooters, motorized scooters, mobility scooters and kick scooters.

Gas scooter is the most common on the roads. Some of the scooters include Honda, Peugeot, Piaggio, Puch, Suzuki, Vespa, Yamaha, Bajaj, TVS, and ZNEN. There are companies such as X-Treme who manufacture electric scooters such as X-Treme XB-420M, X-Treme X-500, X-Treme X-250, and X-Treme X-140; Gas motorcycle Moped as X-Treme XM-155; Gas Moped as X-Treme XM-160; gas motorcycle moped as X-Treme XM-50, gas scooters moped as X-Treme XM-150, electric moped motorcycle as X-Treme XM-4000Li and gas scooters as X-Treme XG 470 scooter . The most common scooter found on the roads is the gas scooter. They come in different models and brands such as Peugeot, Honda, Puch, Piaggio, Vespa, Yamaha, Suzuki, TVS, Bajaj and ZNEN. Companies such as X-Treme manufacture electric scooters as X-Treme X-500, X-Treme XB-420M, X-Treme X-140 and X-Treme X-250; Gas Moped as X-Treme XM-160; Gas motorcycle Moped as X-Treme XM-155; gas scooters moped as X-Treme XM-150; gas motorcycle moped as X-Treme™ XM-50; gas scooters as X-Treme XG 470 gas scooter and electric moped motorcycle as X-Treme XM-4000Li.

With the economic slow down and increased cost of gasoline, there is an increased demand for motorcycles. The traffic congestion and the ability of motorcycles to get through he traffic easily, more people are opting for thee motorcycles. The manufacturers are responding to this demand with newer designs and models with a variety of features.

Scooters are classified as a category under motorcycles. They usually have smaller wheels, a footboard, protective shield and step-through frame. Electric scooters are two or three wheeled scooters that use electric motors as a replacement for petrol or gasoline based motors. Their engines are energized by battery motors. Compared to gas scooters, electric scooters are low pollution motorcycles. The cost of recharging is lower when compared refueling with gas. The drawback of electric scooters is that these are slower and run shorter distance after which it has to be recharged. Recharging is done when it is plugged in. There are a number of models in the market. Some of these models are indeed cheaper than gas scooters.

As early as the later half of the 19^th century, electric motorcycles were being conceived as a possibility.  However, it was not until 1911 that an electric motorcycle was designed. But the commercial production of electric motorcycle and scooters were actually made only in recent years. Batteries are the source of energy to the electric motor. Research is going on in the application of fuel cell technology.

The higher gasoline price and the prospects of further increase in its price make electric scooters attractive. In fact, it costs just a quarter of what it cost to buy a gas scooter. Battery charge lasts for a shorter duration and requires more frequent recharging. The recharging time is also longer. However, there has been a gradual improvement in battery technology. The battery can be recharged at home or at charging station. There are a number of electric scooters available in the market such as Vectrix VX-1, Eped Sport/City, E-Solex,Yo Speed, ZAP Zapino, EVT-4000e, Razor E125, Io-scooter,Ezip Electric Scooters and Peugeot Scoot’Elec.

Electric scooter is almost silent. This means lesser noise pollution. But it also poses a higher risk of accidents as the usual noise of the scooter announcing its presence is not there. They do not exhaust gases. They are eco-friendly. There are usually neither road taxes nor parking charges for electric scooters. There is no oil to change too. However the speed of electric scooters is lesser. The capacity of the battery reduces in winter.  However, it is expected that electric scooters will rise in popularity.

Motorcycles are of three types: street, off-road and dual purpose. Street bikes include scooters, mopeds and cruisers besides others. Off road motorcycles are meant for racing and not for riding on streets. The dual purpose motorcycles have features which make them permissible to be used on the streets at the same time are fit for motor racing.

Pollution in cities from automobiles has reached unbearable limits. Traffic congestion has become endemic. For both these reasons, motorcycles are becoming the favored mode of transport. Its fuel efficiency is more than any other vehicle. Its contribution to green house gas emission is lesser with its low carbon emission. Its smaller mass makes it have a better fuel economy. However, motorcycles are more polluting. It is as much as ten times to twenty times as compared to the pollution from car. Nitrogen oxide is the major pollutant from motorcycle. This is caused by the poorer efficiency of catalytic converter of motorcycle. Nitrogen oxide is a major constituent of smog.

In recent times, the motorcycle market has shown an upward swing. The global market grew by 6.5 percent despite the global economic downturn. Or perhaps the growth has been fuelled by the economic downturn and the increase in fuel cost. The market for electric scooter is also on the rise. Electric scooters run on battery instead of gasoline. These silent scooters, though with lower speed, have better fuel economy. With gasoline price steadily increasing, electric scooter becomes an option. It is very less polluting in terms of air and noise pollution. Better battery technologies are expected to make it more popular. There are many electric scooters on the road such as Eped Sport/City, Vectrix VX-1, ZAP Zapino, E-Solex, Yo Speed, Razor E200S electric scooter, EVT-4000e, Peugeot Scoot’Elec and Io-scooter, Ezip Electric Scooters.

Motorcycle sales are highest in the Asian countries of China, India, Indonesia and Vietnam. Motorcycle owners are more than the other vehicle owners. Motorcycle owners are double the number of automobile owners in Taiwan. Registration of motorcycle increased by 50 percent in the United States. It is a common means of transport in the frontier towns of Latin America.

A scooter is a motorcycle with step-through frame, a footboard and protective leg shield. Scooter has smaller wheels amongst the various categories of motorcycles. Scooters are sub categorized as gas scooters, electric scooters, mobility scooters, motorized scooters, and kick scooters.

The most common scooters in the market and on the road are the gas scooters. Their engines are powerful and range from 50cc to as much as 250cc. There is the classic step-through frame as well as the sportier looking scooters. Some are meant for city driving while others are designed for highway driving. Scooters have a better mileage than other vehicles with up to even 75 miles per gallon. They are easily maneuverable and need little space for parking. Mobility scooters are designed to enable the handicapped and the elderly to move around in the neighborhood safely and slowly. They have a speed ranging from 5 to 10 miles per hour. Scooters specially designed for the teenagers are the motorized scooters. Their engines are smaller of 50cc or lesser. These are called mopeds, segways, standup or gas scooters and seated scooters. These scooters have a lower traveling range of 5 to 20 miles and speed ranging from 8 to 20 miles per hour. But these are trendy. These are less expensive and have a better gas mileage.  Kick scooters or Push Scooters are meant for kids. These have no engines and are the most eco-friendly. They have a push and glide motion where the legs are used for pushing. These can be taken to school and easily transported. They are also very cheap.

Electric scooters are yet another category of scooters. They operate on battery motors substituting gasoline. The gas price hikes, a constant worry for all motorists, is no longer an issue. There are many models of electric scooters in the market that include Eped Sport/City, Vectrix VX-1, ZAP Zapino, E-Solex,Yo Speed, Razor E300S Scooter , EVT-4000e, Peugeot Scoot’Elec and Io-scooter and Ezip Electric Scooters.

Electric scooters are non-polluting as its emissions are low. It runs more or less noiseless. But it runs slower as its speed is low. It needs to be recharged which is a plug-in very frequently as it runs only a short distance. In terms of cost, some models are cheaper as compared to gas scooters.

Motorcycle is a motor vehicle that is two-wheeled powered by an engine for long distance travel. Scooters, sport bikes, cruisers and mopeds fall under the category of motorcycle. Scooter is a motorcycle with basically protective leg shields. It is a personal transportation with low power of between 50 and 250 cc intended for smoother ride. Scooters are also cheaper vehicle amongst motorcycles and its maintenance cost is also lower. It weighs lesser, has large storage room and is more fuel-efficient.

Urban traffic in most countries is becoming a nightmare. Traffic congestions due to increased automobiles on the road are common place. Roads are not often favorable for automobiles to ride on. Motorcycles are a major means of transport in a number of countries and in particular the Asian countries of China, India, Indonesia and Vietnam. In these countries, motorcycles form the major proportion of motor vehicles. Often, the public transport system is not adequate. Motorcycles become the cheaper and affordable preferred means of transport for many. It is estimated that the sales of motorcycles grew by an impressive 6.5 percent in 2008 despite the economic slide worldwide. Even the US has reported an increased sale. Motorcyclists form their own social groups and sub-cultures. In the world of sports, motorcycle racing is a popular sport.

{Lambretta and Vespa are two well known scooters that set the trend. Later versions of scooters have introduced larger engines and tires, newer technological features, more automation, and comfort features. There are many automotive industries who manufacture a variety of motorcycles. Newer and improved models are launched in the market due to its high demand amongst motor vehicles. There are many user friendly scooters in the market as the Roketa 150cc in the market. The popularity of scooters was set by Vespa and Lambretta worldwide. Better and more efficient scooters were launched. Newer technologies made it better to ride. They had better tires and larger engines. More features were added. A variety of designs are on the road brought out by many motorcycle manufacturers. Increasing demand and demand for better features have brought out improved models. }

Motorcycles are more fuel efficient than automobiles. The fact that petroleum is a non-renewable source of fuel and the increase in fuel prices makes motorcycles an attractive mode of travel though its passenger capacity is limited. Environmentally motorcycles are better in terms of emission of greenhouse gases but are many times more polluting than a car. Nitrogen oxide that is a byproduct of combustion is a major pollutant from motorcycle. The rate of fatal accidents is relatively more with motorcycles than automobiles.

It was in 1885 that Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach designed the first motorcycle. The motorcycle has become a preferred mode of transport in many countries. In the Asian countries of Indonesia, India, China and Vietnam, there are more motorcycles than other vehicles. Its popularity in the United States is also increasing. The reasons for the preference of motorcycles over other vehicles are not hard to find. Motorcycles can be easily maneuvered in the heavy traffic. City traffic has become so heavy that it crawls in places and creates jams in other places. Many people these days travel a long distance to reach their place of work. But motorcycles are able to weave through these hurdles. Most public places do not permit parking of vehicles. Parking lots have no places. The cost to move around in vehicles too has increased prohibitively. There are the road taxes to be paid. There are the parking fees, the toll charges and the congestion charges too to take care of. Motorcycles are either exempt from some of these charges or have to pay lower fees. They have a better fuel economy with higher fuel efficiency.

Though scooters are categorized under motorcycles, what distinguish scooters from other motorcycles are its smaller wheels and small engines. The rider can comfortably keep the knees together. The rider places both the legs on the running board. Scooters have a protective fender in the front for the legs to protect the legs. Scooters too have undergone various design changes.

There are the more powerful motor-scooters and maxi-scooters. Another innovation is the four wheeled scooter. The Fuzion Scooter is designed with four wheels capable of 360-degree rotation with the front wheel. The scooter is capable of performing tricks and is meant for kids of seven years or more. It is a good gift for children.

Rather than improve the public transport system to cater to the emerging needs, the policy everywhere is to promote private transport. Nor are mass transit system given the importance it rightly deserves. The old guzzlers are made economical with the introduction of more fuel efficient engines. In order to carry the ever increasing traffic, the infrastructure for transport is getting up-scaled as never before. The old roads which are incapable of carrying the traffic are replaced with four-lane road or expressways. Given these developments, motorcycles are becoming a preferred mode of transport.