According some in the transportation industry, 2012 could be the year of the motorcycle.

At least in England anyway.

Various transportation reports suggest that motoring and travel costs will continue to rise in the New Year for the British nation, leaving a leading motorcycle insurance company gearing up for a busy year with the expectation commuters will turn to two wheels.

Motorcycles use considerably less fuel than cars, and in the current economic climate, they are an appealing concept to drivers who simply want to get from A to B as efficiently and cost effectively as possible.

Roads in the United Kingdom are expected to get busier over the coming years and for drivers this means only one thing: increase in traffic congestion.

Motorcyclists, if safe to do so, can often avoid long lines of traffic by filtering in and out of queues or lines. For those travelling during rush hour, opting for a bike rather than a car is something that could ease the pain of spending hours sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic.

Here are the five top reasons from Swinton Bikes, why motorists could end up considering a motorcycle over a car;

Cheaper fuel costs

Cheaper road tax

Easier to park in busy town and city centers

Can cut journey times - motorcyclists can now ride in UK bus lanes, and avoid long lines of traffic

Motorcycles help cut CO2 emissions, which means riders are doing their 'bit' to make the country greener

The announcement allowing motorcyclists in London to use the bus lanes came recently after a lengthy study. It can save considerable amounts of time for commuters on two wheels trying to navigate one of the most traffic congested cities in the world.

Motorcycle insurance is generally cheaper than car insurance, giving drivers a cheaper alternative to owning a car.

"Motorcycles aren't an option for all drivers, particularly those with families, but if it is an option it's definitely something that should be considered,” Anthony Aronin, Head of Swinton Bikes said, “It can help to significantly reduce travel costs when comparing the total amounts spent on running and owning a car. Not only that, motorcycles offer a 'green' alternative to other road vehicles."