National Ride to Work Day - Monday 20th June
(part of International Ride to Work Day)
......and a great opportunity for motorbike and scooter riders, as well as organisations and motorcycle clubs within the industry, to demonstrate the enjoyment and benefits of life on two-wheels!
In past years, National Ride to Work Day has formed part of National Motorcycle Week in July, but this year, in order to create greater positive impact for our industry, we will be focusing our efforts around one day that is recognised nationally and internationally, rather than a whole week.
National Ride to Work Day will also be used as the platform to publically launch:
• ‘The Case For Motorcycling’ – a campaign initiative which until now has been at the forefront of the MCIA’s campaigning to Government and policymakers – which can now be given additional strength by also gaining public support and backing – your support!!!!!
• eMCI – a new and specialist arm of the MCIA to focus on the fast-growing area of alternative powered two-wheelers
During this day the MCIA will be getting the message out to promote two-wheels far and wide, with radio and broadcast promotional activities highlighting the great economic, social, environmental and practical benefits of motorcycling, for individuals as well as the nation.
HOW CAN YOU PLAY A PART & MAKE THE MOST OF THIS OPPORTUNITY?
Promote Ride to Work Day by spreading the word and also generate support and great PR for your organisation/club as well………
• Actually ride to work on Monday 20 June and even take a non-rider colleague who might like to experience two-wheels as a pillion
• Promote the Ride To Work Day logo/information/website link on your own club’s/organisation’s website, social media channels and advertising etc
• Send a DM/email to your members/database/contacts informing them of the date and the reasons why two-wheels are so important in the UK (The Case For Motorcycling) and asking them to support the day
• Hold a ‘bikers breakfast’ (or another event) for your club members or approach your local dealer to hold one for your group/club early that morning
• Issue a news release to your local media and contacts announcing your support of Ride to Work Day and detailing your club’s / organisation’s planned activities on the day
• Click ‘like’ and ‘attending’ on the Facebook page – Ride to Work Day UK – to show your friends you are proud to be a motorcycle enthusiast and be riding to work on 20 June (and ask your friends and colleagues to do the same)
• Follow on Twitter @RideToWorkDayUK and retweet if you have a Twitter account
• Visit www.ridetoworkday.co.uk, and encourage others to do so, to find out more about why motorcycling is so great and events taking place across the UK that day that people can get involved in
Please let us know if you’re planning on holding an event that day and we will include your event on the Ride To Work Day website and Facebook pages – email us at info@ridetoworkday.co.uk or call 01293 823891.
We look forward to hearing from you and also us all working together to make this a successful landmark day, as well as promoting our great two-wheel community across the UK!
Report - Sunday 19th September 2010 -
Black Rat Charity Ride
On Sunday 19th September 2010 Cumbria Police Motorcyclists assisted North Yorkshire Police (NYP) with the Black Rat Charity Ride out in Catterick Garrison raising money in support of the armed forces which includes over 9,300 serving soldiers and their families. Police motorcyclists from other neighbouring counties also assisted with keeping the riders safe along the 45 minute ride outs. Bikers met at Marne Barracks, which is part of Catterick Garrison, then set off in groups around a 22 mile circuit.
(Pictured: left to right front run, PC Andy Ivison (Cumbria), PC Dave Foster from (NYP’s CIU department) and Sgt Jo Lennox (Cumbria). Other officers shown were from Cleveland)
Report - Sunday 19th September 2010 -
Last Public Bikesafe Event for the 'Biking Season'
On Sunday 19th September 2010, the last public Bikesafe event for the “biking season” took place in Workington fire station. Bikers from the local community attended the event where they received theory input on aspects of safer riding which includes subjects such as hazard perception, cornering and group riding. Bikers also had an assessed ride out with police motorcyclists and received feedback on how they could look to improve their riding and encouragement to take further training and increase their riding skills. BIKESAFE is aimed at “Bridging the gap” between passing your test and taking further or advanced motorcycle training”
(Pictured: right to left, PC Andy Ivison. PC Duncan Royle, PS Jo Lennox and some participants on bikesafe stood in front of Workington fire station and crew)
BIKESAFE has been incredibly popular this summer. The BIKESAFE workshops were fully booked before we had launched BIKESAFE in May this year. We had so many applicants, that many workshops were deliberately over subscribed to try and get as many people through the scheme as possible. Unfortunately we had to eventually turn people away, which is a great shame. However, we have put almost 150 people through the BIKESAFE scheme this year, which is fantastic.
BIKESAFE was not only popular with Cumbria’s biking community but also with bikers from neighbouring counties. Bikers travelled from Scotland, Lancs, Mersyside and the North East to participate in the BIKESAFE scheme in Cumbria demonstrating how popular the scheme is and just how keen motorcyclist are to improve their riding and help themselves to keep safe on our roads.
All the Police Motorcyclists, Fire & Rescue crews and Representatives from the Institute of Advanced Motorists who helped to deliver BIKESAFE in Kendal, Carlisle and Workington a have done an amazing job and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of them.
The feedback has also been phenomenal one participant emailed to say “The (bikesafe) event was well organised and captivating and I am glad to say that I picked up some pointers from the video, interactive and road craft sessions. They (the police motorcyclists) did a fine job presenting the material with a great balance of "serious when required" and "fun when appropriate”.
Another participant emailed to say: “The officers who hosted the event were excellent and obviously have many years experience with motorbikes and gave lots of invaluable knowledge of safe riding. The feedback from the ride-out was really informative and useful and has definitely made me more aware of potential hazards and my positioning on the road. The input from the Fire Brigade and the IAM was excellent and I may continue training to do the advanced motorcycle test. The whole day was fun and informative and I truly believe I am a better and safer motorcyclist because of it”
Our motorcyclists have also assisted with a number of charity ride outs and cross border events this year, from Blackpools ridesafebacksafe event on 25th April at the start of the season to South Yorkshires “BIKESAFE national” event in Sheffield in June, Kawasaki’s demo rides up at Hartside Café on 11th July to the most recent “Black Rat” Charity Ride in North Yorkshire in September. As police motorcyclists we are keen to help with events which are raising motorcycle profile and where safety is a key message. We have also started to do corporate BIKESAFE events for companies who have bikers amongst their employees. We hope to extend this next year as well as run more of the public BIKESAFE workshops.
Anyone interest in Bikesafe can contact PS 1641 Jo Lennox West Roads Policing Unit at Workington Police Station.
