THE NATIONAL BIKESAFE EVENT 2008

The National Bikesafe Event will be hosted by the Metropolitan Police in London for 2008. BikeSafe is an initiative run by UK police forces to promote better biking and improve the safety of motorcyclists on the roads.

The show will take place at the Metropolitan Police Training School (Peel Centre), Aerodrome Road, Hendon, NW9 5JE on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th March 2008. Entry to the show is free.

The National Bikesafe Event was first hosted in 2002 by West Mercia Constabulary at the Three Counties Showground in Worcestershire. It then moved the following year to the Heritage Motor Museum at Gaydon hosted by Warwickshire Police, who hosted it again in 2004. For the past three years the event has been hosted by Gloucestershire Constabulary and held at Cheltenham Racecourse. It has developed and grown over time and in 2007 over 16,000 people visited Cheltenham Racecourse during the two days. A total of 1,100 assessed rides were carried out and 70 officers from around the country were available to go out with bikers and assess their skills.

The event affords police forces across the country an opportunity to promote the BikeSafe scheme in order to reduce motorcycle collisions and rider casualties. It gives motorcycle manufacturers and dealers a chance to display their bikes and products and allows members of the public to try out various bikes whilst also interacting with the police on assessed rides.

They have got the approval and full support of the Motor Cycle Industry Association. As Craig Carey-Clinch of the MCIA said, "Bikesafe is 'Bridging the Gap' from passing a test to post-test training. It provides an invaluable opportunity for people to learn about their capabilities with the support of experts."

The majority of motorcycle manufacturers will be there to promote their products and provide bikes for free ride-outs (please make sure you bring your driving licence - card and counterpart).
So whether you want to be assessed on your own machine or the model of bike you always wanted to own, there will be a police officer ready to see how you do.

In addition to manufacturers, they will have local dealers, training organisations, sustainable energy transport and new model not even released yet. There will be Government and road safety organisations such as the IAM, RoSPA and DSA together with the BMF, MAG and other pressure groups.

Hendon is the home of the world-renowned Metropolitan Police Training School. Throughout the weekend, they will have many specialist departments from within the Met Police together with colleagues from the Ambulance and Fire Service.
It promises to be an interesting and exciting event for all manner of biker with entertainment for their families too. So come along and see what they do, they promise you won’t regret making the trip.
So far they have the following attractions booked for your entertainment:

· A wide variety of demo bikes to ride from the main motorcycle manufacturers
· Scooter try outs
· Free assessed BikeSafe Rider Skills rides using either your own bike or borrowing a manufactures machine (book a ride on the day)
· Local motorcycle/scooter dealers
· trade stands selling clothing and accessories
· Motorcycle owners clubs
· Food and drinks stands
· Race teams/bikes
· Classic bikes
· Police Historic Vehicle Fleet
· Met Police Driving School car skid pan demonstration sessions
· Police dog displays
· Police horses
· Police and air ambulance (HEMS) helicopters
· London Fire Brigade and London Ambulance Service (with exciting and informative full interactive Road Traffic Collision displays by all three Emergency Services)
· Seated auditorium for lectures using the National Bikesafe DVD
· The Royal Signals White Helmets Motorcycle Display Team
· Motorcycle wall of death
· A host of celebrities, plus much more.….
The list will be updated as more people confirm their attendance

There will be a lot of other things to see and do for all the family, not just motorcyclists. They have also ordered 12 hours of sunshine each day for that weekend in March too (although unfortunately that cannot be guaranteed)!

Please see their website for more information.