Why you, as a driver, should pay more attention to motorcyclists than ever before

As a driver you should always keep an eye on motorcyclists, but from our own motorcycling experience we know that this is not always the case. However, it is becoming increasingly important as the number of motorcyclists on Dutch roads is growing rapidly.

The Motor Fair is taking place in Utrecht this weekend. The evening before, Bovag published a series of figures on the motorcycle industry. Next month – in March – the 800,000th motorcycle will be registered in the Netherlands.

During the Corona period, the number of motorcyclists rose sharply

Before Corona, the number of motorcycles on Dutch roads did not increase that much, from 714,000 at the end of 2014 to 747,000 at the beginning of 2020. After that, however, things went quickly. Within three years no fewer than 48,000 were added.

Sales of new engines not so high for fifteen years

A total of 15,527 new engines were sold last year. That’s the highest number since 2008. In the first month of 2023, the sales counter stayed at exactly 999 units. In addition, a record number of motorcycles were imported in 2022.

Now 1.5 million Dutch people with a motorcycle license

The number of Dutch people with a motorcycle license grew by almost 95,000 to just over 1.5 million between 2014 and 2022. 8.6 percent of the total population have an A1, A2 or A driver’s license.

Most motorcyclists live in Drenthe

The number of motorcyclists varies greatly depending on the province. In Drenthe, 11.7 percent of residents have a motorcycle license, followed by Zeeland (10.5 percent) and Gelderland, Overijssel and Friesland (9.5 percent).

In Drenthe, therefore, almost every eighth inhabitant has an A driving licence, which probably not only plays a role in the available space for parking, but also in the almost 100-year history of the TT.

Relatively few motorcyclists in the Randstad

It is striking that there are relatively few motorcyclists in the Randstad. South Holland (6.9 percent) brings up the rear, followed by Utrecht (7.7 percent) and North Holland (8.0 percent).

The lack of (affordable) parking spaces and the better availability of public transport undoubtedly contribute to this. At the same time, residents of the Randstad could benefit most from motorcycling due to congestion.

Looking for a hobby during Corona

The influence of Corona on the popularity of motorcycling is clear from the numbers. In 2022, 33,751 Dutch people passed their motorcycle driving license test. That is 4.5 percent more than in 2020 and at least 12.5 percent more than in 2019.

In times of Corona, many people were looking for free time. It is also possible that public transport was avoided during this period. This also resulted in many more used cars being sold, for example.