News
04 February 2010
LONDON'S motorcyclists are being urged to get BikeSafe, with a new dedicated team of motorcycle safety experts working to reduce motorcycle casualties across the Capital.
The London Motorcycle Policy Unit has been set up by Transport for London, working in partnership with the Metropolitan Police Service, focuses on improving safety and employs 12 full-time police officers in a special Motorcycle Tasking Team.
The team run motorcycle training sessions and carry out on-street enforcement to ensure that the motorbikes on London's streets are roadworthy and legal.
The training sessions, known as BikeSafe-London are low cost, one-day practical courses designed to help motorcyclists improve their knowledge, skills and experience to make them safer, better riders.
The Mayor of London, Transport for London and Metropolitan Police Service have now increased the resources dedicated to motorcycle safety, which has enabled the team to undertake 10 times more roadside checks on motorcycles, and has contributed to a 21 per cent drop in the number of motorcyclists killed or seriously injured each year compared to the 1990's.
Kulveer Ranger, the Mayor of London's transport advisor, said: "Riding a motorbike in London is safer now than it was a decade ago, with the number of motorcyclists killed or seriously injured in the Capital falling by around a fifth.
"However, although just one per cent of all journeys in the Capital are made by motorbike or scooter, they still account for 21 per cent of all deaths and serious injuries on London's roads.
"That's why we have set up a dedicated team of motorcycle safety experts, who are working hard to encourage the Capital's motorcyclists to improve their skills by signing up to a BikeSafe-London course."
Ben Plowden, director of Integrated Programme Delivery at TfL said: "TfL is committed to improving safety for all road users across the Capital.
"Through our new Motorcycle Policy Unit, we are helping to further reduce the number of motorcyclists who are killed or seriously injured by offering practical training and conducting an increased number of roadside checks to ensure that vehicles remain roadworthy."
Chief Inspector Duncan Morley of the Metropolitan Police's Traffic branch said: "The Metropolitan Police is pleased to be working in partnership with TfL to make London's roads safer for motorcyclists. The support from TfL has allowed the MPS Traffic Unit to focus more on enforcement and raise the skills and awareness of riders through Bikesafe events."
To book a place on a BikeSafe-London session, visit www.bikesafe-London.co.uk or call 08452 307407.