ScooterSafe London

[david916]

As some of you may already be aware, BikeSafe is a popular initiative run by Police Forces around the United Kingdom who work with the whole of the biking world to help lower the number of motorcycle and scooter rider casualties. By passing on their knowledge, skills and experience, police motorcyclists can help riders become safer and more competent. They help to increase the ability and confidence of a rider, so even more enjoyment can be gained from riding a motorcycle or scooter.

The BikeSafe initiative is a nationwide plan of action to reduce the number of motorcycle accident casualties by promoting safer riding and BikeSafe London is a leading partner in the scheme. Their website is www.BikeSafe-London.co.uk where more information can be found, but briefly they invite motorcyclists, moped and scooter riders to participate in Rider Skills Days that offer assessment on present skills and advice to help make their riding safer and more enjoyable.

They operate out of the well-known bikers venue, the Ace Café in North West London (covering North London and the Home Counties) and also The Warren, a police sports club in Hayes, Kent (covering South London and neighbouring counties) and their aim of reducing the amount of motorcyclists being killed or seriously injured each year and indeed to reduce motorcycle accidents as a whole has seen some success already, as there has been a reduction in fatal motorcycle collisions of about 20% in 2004 compared to 2003 in London.

BikeSafe London have had a number of scooters and smaller motorcycles through since it was started over two years ago, although they have been a small proportion compared to the well over 5000 riders that have been helped in total.

In April 2006, BikeSafe London are due to implement ScooterSafe London in order to address the problem of the large number of scooter rider casualties and fatalities that have happened as a result of collisions involving the increasing number of scooters that now travel in and around London. It is an exciting new venture and one that will be sure to generate a lot of publicity. The courses will be operated in the same professional manner by the BikeSafe London team, but in a different format (and at various venues in London) to cater for the many and varied riders in the scooter market.


Does anyone have any thoughts or opinions about ScooterSafe London or ideas regarding how you would like it to operate?
If you don’t want to leave a message on the forum here, then please send an e-mail to me at david.carter3@met.police.uk

Many thanks,

David Carter - RoADA (Dip.), IAM
Police Constable 916TD
BikeSafe London

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Currently own/regularly ride :
Suzuki SV1000S K4

[david916]

ScooterSafe will be aimed at all scooter riders of all ages and skill levels (post CBT). If they have a licence and CBT to ride on the road and a machine to do it with then they're pretty much sorted!
BikeSafe is aimed at all riders of all abilities on any road legal powered two wheeler. We have had a number of scooters and smaller capacity bikes on BikeSafe, but the number is small in proportion to larger capacity bikes. They can be accomodated, but it is difficult (and sometimes intimidating and impractical) for the scooter rider and hard work for the BikeSafe team when there is one 50cc or 125cc scooter and a mix of eleven sports bikes such as R1's, GSX-Rs and Fireblades, or when there are eleven Harley Davidsons on Harley days and a scooter is booked in on the same day, as has happened in the past!!
ScooterSafe will specifically cater for the scooter rider and we will be in a different format to BikeSafe to accomodate the needs of the scooter rider. Obviously there are different categories of scooter rider with different needs. We will aim to group riders together so that there is a suitable mix. A 60 year old chap on a Suzuki Burgman 650 Executive might feel out of place with a group of 17 year old lads on Gilera DNA and Runner PUREJet 50's. Or maybe not - what do you think

I will post more information here as and when. In the meantime you can check out the BikeSafe London website www.bikesafe-london.co.uk for updates. It is likely that there will be a seperate website for ScooterSafe, but more about that later.

David.

(david.carter3@met.police.uk)
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Currently own/regularly ride :
Suzuki SV1000S K4

[david916]

In reply to somthing that came up elsewhere, it is intended that ScooterSafe London will actually operate from various places within the London area, but like BikeSafe London the observed rides will take place in and around London. However, the distance travelled on the observed rides will depend on the rider and machine. The M25 will not be a barrier and there are many routes into and out of London that are not motorway or dual carriageway. Unlike BikeSafe London though, which operates from just two venues (The Ace Cafe in Wembley, North West London and The Warren police sports club in Hayes, Kent - South East London) ScooterSafe London will operate at various places so that the distance to travel will be less arduous and easier to get to for the scooter rider, whether learner or not. The observed rides will be specifically suited for the scooter riders that attend on the day as will the format of the day itself. Learners will be as equally catered for as the more experienced rider! All will be welcome.
Hope this helps,
David.
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Currently own/regularly ride :
Suzuki SV1000S K4

[colin1]

im not in london, but have a 250 scooter and it handles quite differently from a motorbike and so needs to be ridden differently. I think the person leading scooter safe shd have experience of scooters maybe you already thought this, but still worth saying.
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[GearboxGeezer]

Ill be there, and Ill drag my mates along to.
We often go up to Ace Cafe so that would be cool.

[tintin]

Having done the Bike version of this, which I highly recommend, I think this is an excellent initiative.
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The older I get the better I was

[david916]

Regarding a question that was bought up elsewhere "How about 'peds that are derestricted could they do it?" the answer is 'If you've got the licence to cover you then yes!'
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Currently own/regularly ride :
Suzuki SV1000S K4