A series of training sessions to help bikers stay safe on the road is set to run throughout the year.
Are you a motorcyclist who wants to improve their cornering or overtaking?
The BikeSense rider development scheme, which includes top tips from police, could be for you.
It is being delivered by the Staffordshire Safer Roads Partnership and is available to motorcyclists throughout Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.
The one-day course costs £50 per person and is available on set dates in Stoke-on-Trent, Burton and Cannock. Riders can also arrange their own date and time for a one to one session for £75, or two can take an ad-hoc session for £50 each.
Safety
Half-day taster sessions are also available in Stoke-on-Trent on July 17 (Ladies only) and August 21. Riders with 125cc bikes are also allowed to attend the half day courses, including those on L plates.
Courses are tailored for each individual rider and are delivered by experienced ex-police motorcyclists, DVSA trainers and advanced level instructors.
The sessions cover a range of topics including defensive riding, hazard management, cornering and positioning and overtaking where applicable.
Speaking on behalf of the Staffordshire Safer Roads Partnership, Helen Fisher, Deputy Police Fire and Crime Commissioner said: “Thankfully, Staffordshire’s roads continue to be amongst the safest in the country, however motorcyclists still remain one of the most vulnerable road users.
“The partnership delivers a range of initiatives and schemes to help keep bikers safer across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent. The subsidised BikeSense scheme provides access to affordable training and the feedback we get from people who have been on the courses is always very positive. If you’re a biker and you’re looking to lift your skills up another gear, I would urge you to get booked on one of the courses.”
Support
Anyone completing the BikeSense course will be able to claim £50 worth of cash back from specified insurance companies. A further £50 subsidy off IAM, RoSPA advanced courses and the DVSA’s ERS scheme is also available to those completing the full day course.
David Williams, Cabinet member for Highways and Transport at Staffordshire County Council added: “We know that rider error is one of the main reasons for incidents involving bikers, which is why the partnership runs the BikeSense course. The scheme has been running for almost twenty years now and it remains a really great way for bikers of all abilities to improve their riding skills and stay safer on the road”
People can book a place on 0300 111 8012 or by emailing bikesense@staffordshire.gov.uk.
