Wiltshire Police
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Wiltshire Police BikeSafe aims to provide a fun, relaxed, interesting and informative day to help you explore ways to develop your riding skills. The workshop is run by police motorcyclists who are passionate about motorcycling and helping to keep people safe on two wheels. In Wiltshire, we are also assisted by advanced motorcyclists from two road safety charities, being RoSPA and IAMRS for the observed rides, so whomever you might go out with, Police, IAM or RoSPA, they will be operating to the same training manual as our police riders are taught and are at the top of their respective organisations in terms of their skills and experience.
BikeSafe is national police led motorcycle safety scheme run specifically by bikers for bikers. The idea is to help bikers explore their current ability level and discover ways to improve their skills, be safer and get more out of biking. Workshops are run in a fun, relaxed and interactive style. There is no pressure or expectation and all riders with a full/restricted bike licence are greeted with a warm welcome. Whether you are new to biking, or have been riding for years, BikeSafe can help you find ways of getting more from your riding.
During your police led workshop, our aim is to hopefully inspire all riders to seek further training through any of the commercially available advanced riding providers, in order that you can aspire to get the very best out of your ride in a safe and systematic way. Passing your test is merely the beginning of your journey and BikeSafe looks to bridge the gap between post-test pass and what might come next, wherever you are on your journey at this moment in time! So come and join us on a Wiltshire BikeSafe Workshop.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
Workshop Information
In Wiltshire, we aim to cater for up to 16 riders per workshop, although these numbers may fluctuate depending on our availability, so it is best to book on as soon as you can when the dates go live. Our workshops are open to all riders with a full/restricted power bike licence. Typically, the day will commence at 0830 with a meet and greet before moving on to the relaxed classroom element starting at 0845. The classroom continues until approximately 1130 with a break in the middle for tea / coffee and biscuits which are provided by us. Then it’s time to meet your Police/IAMRS/RoSPA observer, grab a drink and a snack and head out for the observed ride with wheels normally rolling from police HQ for 1200. The ride out will usually last for around 3 hrs in total with stops for lunch and feedback. During the ride out, your observer will give you verbal feedback and hints and tips to get the best from the ride and to hopefully improve your skills immediately, with an opportunity to practice on the next part of the ride. It is then back in the classroom for 1530 for course roundup and any questions and a quick introduction to potential further training opportunities by representatives from IAMRS / RoSPA. The day finishes at 1600.
We ride in almost any weather except thick fog, ice or snow, so don’t be put off by a bit of rain! Please ensure you have a full tank of fuel and either bring your own packed lunch or funds to buy your own food later in the day.
The workshop will be delivered by our Wiltshire Police Motorcycle Team. You are positively encouraged to take part and share your experiences and knowledge. The workshop offers a blended learning environment with theory, videos and frank discussion based on real world scenarios and causes of common crashes, whilst overlaying best practice of advanced riding skills and techniques as taught to police motorcyclists from the Motorcycle Roadcraft manual. There will be a short break between sessions for tea/coffee and comfort breaks.
Rider requirements
- On the day, please bring your UK driving licence, valid MOT certificate (if required) and insurance certificate.
- Please wear appropriate motorcycle clothing.
- Glasses/spectacles/contact lenses if you need them for riding.
- Riders’ machines must be in a roadworthy condition (check your tyres and number plates!). No refund will be given should the rider’s machine be deemed unroadworthy.
- Breakdown recovery is the riders’ responsibility. No refund will be given should the riders machine breakdown.
Wiltshire BikeSafe frequently asked questions:
‘I haven’t passed my bike test yet, can I attend?’ No, unfortunately. This is a post-test training initiative. A full, or restricted power, licence is required and you will need to bring it and insurance/MOT certificates with you to show you and your bike are fit for the road. Your bike also needs to be able to reach and maintain national speed limits.
‘I have a cruiser style bike. Is any type of bike okay?’ All bike types are welcome and catered for. It is the rider we are working with and all riders benefit from the content of what we offer. However, you and your bike have to be road legal. BikeSafe is about education not enforcement, so we have a common sense outlook throughout the day but checking your bike and kit prior to the workshop will save any potential embarrassment by having to be turned away!
‘I’m not very experienced and not particularly confident. Will I be out of my depth?’ Not in the slightest, everyone has to start somewhere and the earlier you start the longer you will have to enjoy the fruits of your labour. This is a day to enjoy and enlighten, not to put you under pressure. All riders are welcome regardless of age and or experience.
‘I don’t have leather riding kit. Is other stuff okay?’ Yes of course, leathers are not to everyone’s taste. However, we are a safety organisation promoting all aspects of safe riding. We strongly recommend wearing proper kit, manufactured specifically for the purpose, but we won’t turn you away as long as you are legal. Be prepared, we will go out in all weather conditions except thick fog or snow and ice. We will also go out, hopefully, in nice sunny weather too.
‘How is the day organised?’ The day consists of 2 principle sections, an informal theory session followed by an on-road observed ride. A maximum of 16 attendees will ride out with an observer usually in a 1 : 2 ratio to maximise our outreach. If you attend with a friend and want to ride together, we will try to accommodate this where possible.
‘What about food & drink?’ We will provide tea/coffee and biscuits during the morning session. The observed ride will take in a venue where lunch or a snack and drink can be purchased or consumed, if you bring you have brought your own packed lunch.
‘I have already done IAM / RoSPA / BikeSafe, can I still book on?’ BikeSafe Workshops are about bridging the gap between passing your test and looking at further training opportunities for those that haven’t or don’t know where to look. Arguably, if you have already undertaken further advanced training, you have already taken this step and have other avenues to enable check rides or further training within your own or another training provider. Whilst BikeSafe workshops are officially open to anyone that has not completed one in the last two years, as our Wiltshire workshop spaces are limited and very popular across the season, we would ask that you consider others who have not yet had the opportunity to undertake one, before booking a place. Clearly, if there are vacancies last minute and you are available, you would still be welcome to book on.
“I am still not sure, should I do one?” We can all find excuses not to do something, so here is an excerpt of feedback from one of our 2025 Wiltshire Workshops:
“I recently came back to motorbiking after a 20-year break and decided to take the BikeSafe course with Wiltshire Police. From start to finish, the experience was outstanding. The course included 2 hours of practical on-road training with an observer, which was incredibly valuable in building my confidence and sharpening my riding skills after such a long time away from biking. The safety education provided was top-notch, covering important road awareness, hazard perception, and practical techniques I hadn’t been aware of before. This fast-track approach really helped me improve my skill level quickly and made me a more focused, aware, and safer road user. The course also benefits from associated support through IAM and RoSPA, adding further value and credibility. For the price, this is excellent value for money considering the life-saving potential of the training.
I truly believe BikeSafe should be mandatory for all riders — whether new, returning, or experienced — to reduce accidents, save NHS resources, and protect taxpayers’ money. The safety lessons and practical tools I gained have already made a huge difference, and I’m confident they will continue to keep me safe on the road. Highly recommended for anyone serious about improving their riding and staying safe.” JW
