Figures from The Motor Cycle Industry Association show scooter sales went up a whopping 14 per cent last year as thousands of people turned to motorcycles in an effort to beat commuter misery.

More than 32,200 scooters were registered in 2001, compared to 28,274 in 2000 and MCI chief executive Mark Foster said the numbers would go up as rush-hour gridlock loomed.

He said: "Statistics show commuters are turning to scooters in their droves as journeys to work become more difficult because of road traffic congestion and public transport strike action. Some of the scooters on the market have a similar performance to cars and are ideal for longer journeys. The Government and local authorities should take note of this trend and make life easier for scooter commuters by allowing them to use bus lanes and providing more secure parking facilities."

The total number of new registrations for all types of motorcycles in 2001 showed little change compared to the previous year. In 2000, the figure was 170,072 and last year, it was 169,302.

Mr Foster said this was good news for the industry as many others had suffered because of the global recession.

He said: "The motorcycle industry has weathered the storm of shrinking markets to which some businesses fell victim last autumn.

"The MCI intends to build on this strength and get more people tuned into the world of motorcycling, which is not just excellent fun but also a great way to beat congestion."

The best-selling scooter of 2001 was the Piaggio Zip (4,503 new registrations in 2001), which managed to knock previous market-leader, the Peugeot Speedfight, off its pole position.

The best-selling motorcycle for 2001 was the Honda CBR 600F, which was launched in 1987.

Other winners in 2001 were larger motorcycles used for long trips and touring, with new registrations up by more than 70 per cent.

MCI experts say these types of bikes are becoming increasingly popular among people who want to ride across Europe and the UK in comfort.