Motorcycle pollution "worse than car pollution"
;)
In a surprising report an official Swiss institute has found that a motorcycle is a far worse polluter than a car.
The Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research says that a typical motorcycle emits 16 times more hydrocarbons, three times more carbon monoxide and a "disproportionately high" amount of other air pollutants compared to a car.
The root of the problem seems to be that western governments have never taken motorcycle pollution seriously as they form such a small proportion of total traffic, so they have never enacted strict legislation. However, it does present an interesting perspective on the London Congestion Charge. One of its justifications was lower pollution - but, as lots of car drivers have bought themselves scooters instead, is there any net benefit?
