September Update From North Wales Police BikeSafe Team
It’s been a busy month for the North Wales Police BikeSafe Team, running three workshops and supporting other activities.
On 7 September Sgt Medwyn Williams RCU ran the first of the September workshops at Llay Police Station – this was a particularly busy workshop with lots of great interaction from the attendees. Luckily the afternoon observed ride was in excellent weather (unlike the rest of the day) and covered the stunning roads in the east of North Wales.
On 21 September Sgt Simon Hughes delivered his workshop at Force HQ in Colwyn Bay – again, a great attendance and very interactive attendees. The observed ride was really enjoyed by the attendees who liked the approach of riding and stopping for chats along the way, covering the roads of central North Wales.
On 24 September at North Wales Fire Rescue Station in Porthmadog, PC Jim Bailey delivered his first BikeSafe Workshop. As always, a great interaction from attendees and spot on feedback from all at the end of the observed ride where the riders covered the roads of east North Wales.
It’s often unusual that we see attendees after the workshops, so it was a surprise that one of the volunteers was approached by one of the attendees to say they had signed up to further training. This was only four days after the workshop.
So that’s three workshops in the month of September and each one delivered an observed ride on different roads across North Wales. It’s a great way of finding out which are the roads we like to ride.
Our final activity of the month was a presentation organised by the Angelsey Adventure Riders Club and attended by a number of other clubs from the west of North Wales. A number of organisations presented: North Wales Fire and Rescue Lee Parsons talked about Biker Down; Mental Health Motorbike did their excellent session; and Sgt Medwyn Williams and Volunteer Peter Pearcey delivered a session on BikeSafe and why it’s worth thinking about.
Feedback received is that the evening was a great success and enjoyed by all. If you want us to roll up and talk to your club we are happy to do so, as we are all bikers who love to chat biking.
A very important point was made by one of our attendees, who had attended a BikeSafe workshop in September, that they had asked their insurer whether attending BikeSafe meant receiving a discount. The insurer refunded 20% for attending the Workshop.
Now, I know some insurers will offer a reduction if you have attended a BikeSafe workshop, but this is the largest one I have heard of to date. So not only do you get a great workshop, chance to chat with bikers about biking, a ride out on some stunning roads, you may also get a discount on your insurance – and all for £84!
Finally the BikeSafe national team has launched a 25 Year anniversary video – and the great news it’s in both English and Welsh. The video can be found on the BikeSafe website’s homepage.
