SGI is proposing a substantial spike in the insurance rates for motorcycles. It's estimated that riders will face an increase of an average of 73 per cent in the coming year, which will make a considerable impact on the budgets of riders in the province. While I don't ride myself, I wonder how wise this plan actually is, from a provincial perspective.
Now, let's get a few things out of the way first. Motorcycles are inherently less safe than cars, that's a given. They might be easier to maneuver, but while there's a big cushy pile of metal surrounding our four wheeled conveyances, on a bike you've got much less protection. Everyone who rides understands and embraces that fact. It then stands to reason that there are going to be many personal injury claims involving motorcycles, and that is SGI's logic for the substantial increase.
With that out of the way, there are also reasons why there shouldn't be such a massive spike, and to cap any increases in motorcycle insurance costs. The first is economic, by making insurance rates spike substantially, added pressure is put upon leisure equipment dealers in the province. A rate spike is going to send the market for bikes grinding to a standstill, and the used market will see a substantial increase of offerings by riders who can no longer justify owning one. That's not good for business, in other words. While a gradual increase over many years might allow people to adjust their finances accordingly, a spike of this nature will send a shock through the industry.
The second is actually environmental. Now, motorcycles come in all shapes and sizes, from the tiniest scooter to a massive cruiser, so this doesn't apply equally throughout the range. However, a motorcycle is going to use a relatively small amount of resources due to a relatively small size. Sure, a performance machine is going to drink fuel like it's going out of style, that's a given for any motorized conveyance. But someone commuting to work on a scooter is going to use less gas and less space on the road than someone even in a relatively small car. If we want to conserve gasoline, we want to encourage people to drive things that use less of it. In that case, it would make sense to actually give a break to bikes which achieve a certain degree of efficiency. These would also be the slower, more easily handled models, which are going to be more appropriate for novices anyway. Encouraging people to go for something that's efficient and easy to handle would likely reduce accidents but still keep people from abandoning the hobby. When people have more experience and a safe driving record, they could afford to move on to something bigger if necessary.
Whether or not I actually intend on buying a motorcycle in the future - and I don't, for I'm clumsy enough on four wheels, let alone two - I think that giving motorcyclists a significant spike in their insurance rates is going to do more harm than good. If an increase is needed, do it gradually, and in the meantime take steps to educate people in safe riding and find ways to prevent accidents. Doing it all in a massive spike is only going to do damage to the motorcycle industry in the province, and the riders who support it. That's not going to be good for anyone.
