Book A Free Bikesafe Workshop!

We have the roads, you have the bike – but have you got the riding skills to match? ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Motorcycles are faster, handle better and look great. But, a top-class bike deserves a top-class rider. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

BikeSafe – a police-led motorcycle project, is offering *free workshops across the region to help you on your way to become a better rider. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Supported by the six local authorities, the workshops, which will be held at various locations including Porthmadog, Rhyl, Broughton, Colwyn Bay, Llanrwst, Wrexham and St Asaph, offer practical advice about road safety and educate riders by passing on knowledge and skills to try and help motorcyclists become safer riders. They include an ‘assessment ride’ where you get vital feedback. The workshop attracts insurance discounts. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Although North Wales have been doing similar workshops since 1987, BikeSafe has been regulated since 2002, and is facilitated by most police forces in the UK with the main aim of reducing the number of bikers being hurt on the roads. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Part of the morning is spent in the classroom and then there is then an enjoyable practical road element over approximately 60 miles taking you on the roads of North Wales and the Snowdonia National Park. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The workshop explores the main riding hazards that you as a biker face. By delivering theory presentations and observed rides, a BikeSafe workshop will help you discover your strengths and weaknesses and also where to go next to develop and get more from your biking. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

North Wales Police BikeSafe Co-ordinator, Paul Cheshire MBE said: “BikeSafe is directed at bikers, no matter how experienced, who enjoy our roads. With the summer upon us there has never been a better time to start improving your riding skills. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“You will find at BikeSafe workshops that you are sitting alongside like-minded biking enthusiasts with a wide range of experience, skills and different machines. Whether you are on a commuter bike, scooter or a sports bike, you are equally welcome and will benefit from one of our workshops. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“During 2015 over 200 riders completed a BikeSafe workshop, making it one of the most successful years since it began here in north Wales. We get great feedback from the riders. They like the informal element of the classroom-based workshop and enjoy meeting a mixture of people. Some of our previous students have even returned to become BikeSafe volunteers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

He added: “Whether you passed your bike test six months ago, six years ago or, indeed, twenty-six years ago, you can always improve your level of skill to make your riding not only safer but also more enjoyable.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

84 riders/pillions were killed or seriously injured on the roads of north Wales during 2015 and represented 25% of all KSI (Killed or Seriously Injured) casualties in the region. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In 2015 the majority of KSI (killed or seriously injured) collisions occurred in August on weekends between midday and 5pm. The majority of the riders were male with 77% of them aged 26 years and over. The majority of the riders were considered blameworthy for the collision. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In 2014 a total of 108 riders/pillions were killed or seriously injured in the region compared to 71 in 2013. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Those who complete a BikeSafe workshop are then encouraged to look at further training either via the IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists), RoSPA (Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents) or ERS (The Enhanced Rider Scheme). We also encourage California track days and Kawasaki Off Road experience. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

BikeSafe also provide a two-day ‘Bridging the Gap’ course with the first day looking at the same principles of the BikeSafe workshop and the second day consisting of a practical day riding in the company of advanced trainers. The cost for the two-day course is £49 which includes the booking fee. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In addition North Wales BikeSafe and partners promotes first response first aid for bikers and work closely with Medic Skills who are licensed to provide nationally approved FBoS (First Bike on Scene) training. If you enrol on an FBoS day course you will be given free instruction paid for within the BikeSafe initiative and taught about the mechanics of injury, scene management, extraction, basic life support, log roll and safe helmet removal. Upon successful completion you will be forwarded a Certificate of Approval indicating competence as a first responder. This is endorsed by the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

If you would like to participate in a *free Bikesafe workshop please visit the Bikesafe website (www.bikesafe.co.uk) or contact the booking line via 08444 151206 or email
info@bikesafeadmin.co.uk ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

For FBoS bookings please contact ossbikesafe@nthwales.pnn.police.uk or call 01492 804135 ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​