The demand for motorbikes, scooters and mopeds has spiked as commuters look to ditch public transport and come up with a new way to get to and from work, figures have today revealed.
According to Online motor marketplace Auto Trader, the number of inquiries made to those selling mopeds on the site has tripled compared to same time last year.
The number of views for mopeds has also increased by 48 per cent year-on-year in the first week of June.
The number of views increased by a third in the last week of May, while there was a similar rise in the number of those looking at motorbikes, Auto Trader said.
It comes as the government today introduced a new law meaning passengers on Tubes, buses, trains and planes in England must wear a face covering or risk being turned away, or being slapped with a £100 fine.
Meanwhile, the government are still advising people to avoid public transport where possible and work from home if they can.
Speaking about the trend, former Top Gear presenter turned Auto Trader Youtuber Rory Reid, told The Guardian: ‘They [mopeds] are relatively cheap options for commuting, they can help you get around easily in congested urban areas, and they’re easier to park in tight spots.
Online motor marketplace Auto Trader says the number of inquiries made to those selling mopeds on the site has tripled compared to same time last year
‘They can also be a much more viable option than walking or cycling for the majority of people whose commute is longer than five miles.’
It comes as thousands of extra police and staff have been deployed across England’s public transport network today as new rules which make wearing face coverings compulsory come in to play.
But within hours of the rule coming in, passengers have already been seen attempting to enter stations without them, while one man who had a face covering was seen wearing it away from his mouth while sitting on a Tube.
Police officers have also been seen handing out masks to those attempting to enter stations without one.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: ‘People should continue to avoid public transport wherever possible. But, as restrictions are carefully eased when it is safe to do so, it’s likely that we will see more people needing to use public transport.
The rules come as the government continues to strips back its draconian lockdown laws in place of looser restrictions, which included allowing people to meet with friends inside a ‘social bubble’. Pictured: Commuters walk past a sign at Waterloo station in London reminding passengers to wear a face covering
The rules apply to all passengers on trains, buses, Tubes, coaches, trams, planes or ferries. Pictured: Passengers wear face coverings on a tube in Canning Town in London
‘So, while respecting social distancing and maintaining good hand hygiene remain the most important steps we can all take to stay safe, wearing a face covering can play a role in helping us to protect each other.
‘This is about the small changes we can take to help control the virus, which is why I urge everyone using transport to wear a face covering, to help keep us all safer.’
Today, one passenger, cleaner Dani Kostova, 42, travelled from her home in Beckton, East London to central London this morning.
Exiting out of Marble Arch tube station, wearing a surgical face mask, she said: ‘It’s a good thing that people are now being made to cover their faces on the underground.
‘You don’t know what people may have so to be extra cautious I’m in total agreement with, particularly as coronavirus seems to be going down now in London.
‘I’ve been travelling on the tube for a few weeks now and before today not everyone wore a mask. There’d be maybe 3-4 people in a carriage who weren’t covering their face.
It also comes after the government changed its stance on the use of face masks, which they say should now be compulsory on public transport – bringing the rules in-line with the World Health Organisation (WHO). Pictured: Passengers at Canning Town tube station wear face mask
Thousands of extra police and public transport staff have been deployed to enforce the new rule. Pictured: A Transport for London worker hands out face masks at a Tube station
‘This morning everyone I saw, commuters and tube staff, all had a mask on and it was very reassuring.’
On roads in London, congestion has risen once again today, up to 27 per cent this morning, compared to 21 per cent at the same time last week.
It was a similar picture in Manchester, where congestion was up by two per cent, from 12 per cent last week, and in Birmingham, where congestion jumped slightly from 11 per cent to 12 per cent today, compared to the same time last week.
All figures are significantly down from the same time last year, when the country was not in lockdown.
Meanwhile maps data shows that the number of people walking, driving and using public transport has slowly risen since the lockdown was imposed in March.
On roads in London, congestion has risen once again today, up to 27 per cent this morning, compared to 21 per cent at the same time last week. Pictured: Heavy traffic on the A3 in London
On roads in London, congestion has risen once again today, up to 27 per cent this morning, compared to 21 per cent at the same time last week. Pictured: A TomTom graph showing traffic congestion in London
Maps data from tech giant Apple shows how the number of Britons getting out and about continues to rise as coronavirus lockdown laws are loosened
Figures for people using public transport dropped to as low as -80 per cent of Apple’s base figure at the end of March, but has now risen back to around -60 per cent.
The number of people walking dropped as low as -70 per cent during lockdown, but has now risen to near -20 per cent as of June 13, while the number of people cycling has also risen to a similar figure.
The national picture is reflected in London, where, on Saturday, the number of people walking has risen to -20 per cent, the number driving peaked around -30 per cent and reached near to -60 per cent.
The picture is also similar in Manchester and Birmingham, though the number of people using public transport actually fell in the Midlands city on Saturday.