We’ve just received this email from our colleague, David, in West Yorkshire. As many of you are regular commuters, you may wish to help out by giving some feedback …
I’ve been asked by the guys who made the ‘Great Roads Great Rides’ DVD’s if I can pass on the message below. They’re putting together a new riders DVD and want your input:
Filming for the Commuter Survival Guide for Motorcyclists starts 15th June and we want the input of real bikers to shape the production. The film will deliver practical guidance and tips from a top rider’s perspective on surviving the commute. This commentary based film will follow a motorcyclist on a journey out of a busy UK city during rush hour.
To ensure we create a programme with all the information a biker could ever need, we would appreciate it if you could take a few minutes to complete the pre-filming survey on the link below. Please tell us a bit about yourself. This information will not be shared and is for internal use only.
From Caryl, Casualty Reduction Partnership
Help spread the word. There’s a new, national initative to help promote rider training and safety by giving people – novice riders or returning riders – the opportunity to get a free motorcycle training session. It’s a scheme run by the Motorcycle Industry Association and the emphasis is on fun and safety. Details of the scheme can be found at http://www.geton.co.uk/. You’ll also find details of participating dealers in Bedfordshire and beyond.
And here’s an article from someone who has taken part … tp://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/motorbikes/7724582/How-safe-are-teenagers-on-two-wheels.html
It’s been all quiet on the blog for a while, but we’ve been busy behind the scenes working on new safety initatives for motorcyclists for 2010.
We’re pleased to have produced our second edition of Bedfordshire Biker magazine which was mailed to all subscribers and distributed to local motorcycle dealers in March and April. If you haven’t seen a copy, contact us and we’ll add you to our subscriber list. Subscribe online at www.bedfordshire-biker.org or phone Nicola or Caryl 01234 716333 or email your address to subscriptions@bedfordshire-biker.org.
We also have a season of RideSafe assessments planned – your chance to have your riding assessed by a Bedfordshire Police Advanced Motorcyclist. It’s free and you’ll receive expert advice on what you do well and where you could improve or benefit from further training. For dates and details, follow this link.
1st Ride for pre-CBT novice riders, launched lat year, is also running throughout the summer. For details of 1st Ride, follow this link.
We’re also pleased to be distributors of the CRASH card, developed by the Ambulance Motorcycle Club and supported by the East of England Ambulance Service. The concept is simple – motorcyclists are asked to carry a CRASH card inside their helmet which includes your name, post code, date of birth and any important medical information that paramedics and hospital staff can refer to in case you are involved in an ‘unscheduled dismount’. A small green dot to fix to your helmet will let paramedics know that you have a CRASH card inside your helmet. For your CRASH card, email info@motorcyclingmatters.org or call 01234 716333. For more information, visit http://www.ambulancemotorcycleclub.150m.com/crash-card.htm
Martin took a RideSafe riding assessment with a Bedfordshire Police Advanced Motorcyclist in August. Here he tells us how it went …
“It was with some trepidation that I headed for Bedford Fire station for my assessed ride appointment, the weather was dry warm and sunny, in fact perfect for a Sunday morning ride in the country, but I had an idea that this morning’s ride would be slightly different.
As I entered the car park there was an abundance of blue and yellow decorated bikes and I was thinking to myself ‘now would not be a good time to cock up the u turn required, and have to lay the bike on its side’.
With the necessary manoeuvres completed and the bike safely on its side stand I headed over to the registration desk, where I was greeted warmly, and my booking confirmed.
After a short form filling in session I was introduced to Paul my assessor for the ride, he looked over my bike as only the police seem able to do and asked questions about my riding history and the sort of rider I thought I was. So far so good, and he even had a sense of humour, which for riding behind me for any distance was a good thing.
A quick ‘can you read that number plate’ and we were kitting up for our ride. Paul advised me that he would stay behind me for the assessment and that I was not to take any notice of where he was on the road as he wanted to view my ‘style’ from all angles. I was to ride as I normally do but keep an eye in my mirrors for directions and instructions, he had a simple hand signal and indication process that seemed to work as long as I used my mirrors. Once I had gotten over the shock of a fully kitted up police bike swarming all over my rear, and the startled onlookers, who I was sure were thinking ‘there goes another biker being chased’ things started to settle down and I got into the swing of things. We were making good progress, even overtaking ‘The public’ as required. Sure I missed a couple of speed limit signs, I missed a couple of Paul’s direction signals, but after 40 minutes we arrived back in Bedford without incident.
Ok I thought this was the moment of truth, I had got back in one piece, Paul had not had to stop me and issue any warnings, and after all he had managed to keep up with me, so how bad could it be?
After a quick chat and some brief discussion about my approach to the ride, we both sat down to write down our thoughts, mine on a questionnaire and Pauls on the full page assessment report.
It’s amazing how accurate the report was, where I was marked down in an area it was backed up with a recollection of the exact point on the ride where the error had occurred, and how it might have been avoided. It was also pointed out where I could have actually ‘Enjoyed’ my riding further and not been held up as much, simply by being in a better position.
So was it worthwhile?
Without a doubt, even after 30 years of biking you never stop learning, a fair and very useful morning which above all is very good fun.
If you are thinking about going along and you just cannot make up your mind, I would say just do it, it’s a real eye opener into the way these guys ride, and boy can they ride! And what’s more you learn a lot about how you ride, and how you could ride better still.
Mind you I am not sure I will ever get used to riding with a police bike that close behind me. It’s just unnerving.
Thanks to all involved, a great morning, and time well spent.”
Competition for rider trainers
Submit an exercise for riders
CIECA, the International Commission of Driver and Rider Testing Authorities has launched a worldwide competition to collect examples of the best rider trainig exercises. Together with its partners ACEM, FIM and FEMA, CIECA invites rider trainers to submit rider training exercises related to the ten most frequent accident causes for PTWs. This competition has been re-launched with a new deadline of December 1, 2009. An example of a submission was given by the Finnish national road safety organisation. The winner of the BikeSafety competition will win a Suzuki SIXteen 150cc scooter. Runner-up prizes include guided tours and tickets for racing events.
For more information, visit http://www.cieca.be/CIECARidTraSur_EN.pp
Motorcyclists of all levels took part in the latest Bedfordshire and Luton Casualty Reduction Partnerships motorcycle training event held on Sunday 21st June at Shefford Fire Station.
Novice riders took part in the “1st Ride” Course to learn the basics of motorcycle controls and safety in preparation for their CBT. More experienced riders took a “RideSafe” assessment with a police motorcyclists.
More “1st Ride” courses and “RideSafe” assessments will be taking place on 19th July and 23rd August. For details on how to book a space or if you want more info regarding “1st Ride” or “RideSafe” visit the Motorcycle Training Matters section of this website.
Over 1000 people attended the open days held at Dunstable Community Fire Station on the 21st March and Bedford Community Fire Station on the 29th March to help kick off the Motorcycle Training Matters initative.
Carl Fogarty attended the first open day held in Dunstable and said “I was really pleased to come along and support the event and to help spread the word that “training matters”. It doesn’t matter whether you ride on the race track or on the roads – it’s training that makes you a better rider and makes you less likely of being involved in an accident”.
Many thanks to Shaun Masters, everyone who helped organise the events, the exhibitors and all who took part.
We hope to do more of the same in the future.
The Driving Standards Agency has launched a new training DVD for post-test riders and motorcycle trainers.
‘Better Biking – the Official DSA Training Aid DVD’ provides expert advice on improving bikers’ skills and aids post-test rider training to DSA standard.
The DVD features sgt. Rick Weaver, chief trainer in advanced riding for Cheshire Constabulary, who demonstrates an ideal solo ride in each skill category to show the standard of riding to aspire to.
In addition to rider analysis, the DVD provides authoritative advice on bikes, clothing, machine checks and security with Louise Brady, presenter of Bikes Aloud and Isle of Man TT.
Better Biking: the Official DSA Training Aid (ISBN 97801129559) is priced at £10.99.
Visit www.tsoshop.co.uk, or call 0870 243 0123 to purchase.