GMP Motorcycle Unit to Launch 2026 BikeSafe Programme with International Women’s Day Event
Greater Manchester Police’s Motorcycle Unit will launch its 2026 BikeSafe programme on Sunday 8 March with a dedicated workshop marking International Women’s Day.
Funded by Safer Roads Greater Manchester, the event is designed to support female riders of all abilities and promote safer motorcycling across the region.
BikeSafe offers all riders a rare opportunity to ride alongside an Advanced Police Motorcyclist and gain insight into the mindset and techniques that underpin safer, more confident riding.
The session will begin at 9am on St Peter’s Square, chosen for its historic links to the women’s rights movement and the legacy of Emmeline Pankhurst. Riders will take part in a safety briefing covering fundamental riding theory and motorcycle pre-ride checks near to the Pankhurst statue. They will then be heading out of the city and put through their paces on a 100-mile round trip, observed throughout with a dedicated police advanced motorcyclist.
This women-focused event was inspired by a serious collision in Manchester last summer involving a female rider whom Sergeant Steve Wightman-Love supported throughout the investigation.
Sgt Wightman-Love said: “Although the collision was ultimately proven not to be the rider’s fault, they sustained serious injuries and the impact of the collision stretched further than the event itself, impacting the rider’s family and work life.
“Thankfully she made a full recovery and in supporting her during the investigation it became clear to me that lessons can always be learned. There’s no such thing as the perfect ride for any rider – even professionals continue to develop.”
He added: “The BikeSafe programme gives riders the chance to honestly reflect on their skills and learn core techniques for dealing with hazards which we put back into the next ride.
“These are the same skills police motorcyclists use daily when responding to emergencies in Greater Manchester. Sadly, from the serious collisions we attend at GMP, we know that proper application of these techniques could have changed the outcome for many motorcycle casualties on Greater Manchester’s roads.”
The IWD event is being delivered in partnership with Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, Safer Roads Greater Manchester, and Irwin Mitchell Solicitors.
Further BikeSafe workshops will run throughout 2026, with reduced pricing and limited availability, so early booking is recommended.
Sgt Wightman-Love added: “You need to have a full motorcycle licence and a legal insured motorcycle to take part, but anyone can book the course. It could be the best gift you buy your motorcycle loving mum, daughter, wife, dad, husband or son. I want to remove any barriers to training so any rider can build their skills and avoid becoming the next biker down.”
Feel safer and experience a unique chance to ride out with the GMP Bikesafe team in 2026.
Visit www.bikesafe.co.uk for more information.
