The Piaggio motorcycle you can drive on a car licence

With urban populations on the increase, commuters who prefer the freedom of personal transport will have to take a more flexible approach to the type of vehicle they choose.

Congestion charging, restricted parking, traffic jams and increasing fuel costs have already pushed many towards two wheels, but a 300cc scooter from Piaggio that can be ridden legally on a car license may attract even more.

The scooter is available with a choice of 125cc, 300cc or 500cc engine; all but the smallest delivering enough power to travel long distances by motorway in comfort. However, it is for the medium-distance commute into town that the Piaggio has been embraced across Europe. While the bike manages to conform to no more than the Euro 2 emissions test, most cars would find it hard to match its average fuel consumption of 80mpg.

Medium capacity motorcycles such as the Piaggio LT300 appear to be discriminated against by legislators seeking to reduce the amount of CO₂ produced by road traffic in Britain.

Cars responsible for up to 100g/km are exempt from vehicle excise duty, but the Piaggio, which produces only 84.5g/km, must pay £37 per year.

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Urban three-wheelers

If you are prepared to forgo a little speed, it is perfectly possible to use a motorcycle engine to power a practical, fuel-efficient and environmentally-friendly three-wheeler; the Piaggio Ape is a tiny commercial vehicle powered by a 50cc petrol engine that is used throughout Europe. A growing number of manufacturers are combining the fuel efficiency and practicality of a scooter with the stability and improved braking of cars to tempt commuters out of their cars.

Breakdown cover for scooters and motorbikes

Breakdown cover for motorbikes and scooters costs as little as £39 per year. The ETA handpicks specialist operators to deal with motorcycle breakdowns and every policy includes up to one hour of their expertise at the roadside to try and get the bike going.