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Category: Random
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The number of women taking to two wheels has increased significantly during the last eighteen months and this now represents a large proportion of moped, scooter and bike sales for the motorcycle industry.
As a result of this trend, road safety officers in West Mercia and Warwickshire are actively promoting a series of free and subsidised “Take Control” rider assessment courses to women, in the hope that they will want to develop their riding skills.
Director of Safety at the Coventry-based Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) Karen Cooke, has recently tried a Take Control course for herself and commented; “I have been riding motorcycles for 28 years and I am always nervous when anyone else analyses my riding technique, but my instructor was great and really put me at ease. Even though I have completed refresher training in the past, he still came up with some helpful suggestions and I was able to iron out one or two bad habits that naturally develop over time. I would encourage all moped and motorcycle riders to learn the Take Control techniques and particularly hope the increasing number of female riders will make a commitment to this sort of self improvement. There is no bravado, no test and no pressure and it helps you to become a safer rider“.
Motorcycle dealerships are finding that women are buying a wider variety of machines from mopeds and scooters as a main mode of transport for commuting, to larger custom bikes and sports bikes, just for fun. Motorcycling now has a much wider appeal for both sexes, all ages and people from many different backgrounds.
Communications Manager for the Safer Roads Partnership in West Mercia, Katy Jenkins explains; "Just ten years ago, most women wearing leathers and a crash helmet were presumed to be pillion passengers, but that is simply not the case now. We even know of a few ‘women-only bike clubs. They are often more receptive to advice and more willing to learn and we have a variety of half-day and full day courses that can be tailored to the needs and level of experience of every lady“.
Take Control rider training costs either £30 or nothing at all, depending on the course you select. It is available to anyone who lives in or travels through the counties of Shropshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Warwickshire. Instructors will usually travel to where clients live or work and ride on their local roads or regular routes.
More information can be found at www.takecontroltraining.co.uk
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New statistics released by the Government show that as the number of motorcycle miles travelled has increased the number of casualties and fatalities has actually fallen, indicating that more miles travelled does not mean more accidents. (1)
This has been the ongoing trend since around 2002, when the link was broken between the year on year number of motorcycles in use compared to the number of casualties per annum. The figures show that motorcycle traffic rose by 2 per cent but the number of motorcycle casualties was 4 percent lower than in 2008. The number reported as seriously injured fell by 4 per cent to 5,350 and there were 472 motorcycle user fatalities in 2009, which was also 4 per cent lower than during 2008.
Improving motorcycle safety has always been an important part of the industry's agenda and the MCI works closely with the Government and other relevant bodies in the motorcycle community to find ways to improve safety in a number of ways.
The Police BikeSafe scheme; intelligent enforcement, engineering improvements and the commitment from trainers to improving standards, have all contributed to a safer motorcycling environment.
Steve Kenward, CEO of the MCI, said, "Although there is still a strong concern about the number of motorcycle casualties, the fact remains that year after year motorcycling continues to get safer in terms of the likelihood of having an accident. The reported fall in motorcycle fatalities during 2009 is welcome, but we can not be complacent about this - there are simply far too many people dying in accidents - and we still have much more work to do. The MCI and the rest of the motorcycle community will continue to work hard to improve safety and ensure that we get full Government support for a more rounded approach to road-user safety. The full integration of motorcycles into mainstream transport policy and local transport plans, which the Government is now backing, can only help maintain and improve on this reduction in casualties and needs to be a key priority along with improvements to rider training delivery and participation."
1) Transport Statistics Bulletin - Reported Road Casualties Great Britain Main Results: 2009 - Department of Transport
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We just wanted to share with you a very easy marketing tip, which if used will not only increase your SEO* on the internet and visitors to your site, but ultimately should increase the response levels.
Review websites
In recent studies of buying habits it has been discovered that users of the world wide web are now more likely to be swayed towards using one business/product than another because of recommendations rather than price. If you look at sites such as Trip Advisor, Review Centre, Holidays Uncovered, Mobile Phone UK and Test Freaks, these are sites which are mainly ran on the contributions from the general public on the reviewing of or simply rating of (usually out of 5 or 10) a business/product. Recommendations are also used when you buy from e-bay, as the Sellers feedback is paramount to their success. Sellers strive to ensure that they have no negative feedback so as not to deter future customers. In fact they are all around us, from choosing which movie to watch, what restaurant to eat in and where to holiday and stay.
So as the general public are now putting trust in the views of someone that they do not even know, I suppose this only emphasizes how important word-of-mouth is. It has always been one of the most credible forms of advertising because a person puts their reputation on the line every time they make a recommendation and that person has nothing to gain, but the appreciation of those who are listening.
So, what can you do to make sure your potential ambassadors of your business recommend it to others? Simple...Guest comments on your website!
Many of you will have accumulated books of guest comments over the years and some of you already have included these on your web-sites, however it is imperative that they are included on a specific page which can easily be found, i.e.: In the top bar, named simply Guest Comments. These comments should be typed out and displayed in a easy to read manner. It is also possible for a page to be included onto your web-site where guests can leave there own comments, so freeing your time on this project.
Not only will new visitors to your web-site read these comments and make decisions from what they read, but by including such information it helps with search engines finding your web-site and so increasing your SEO, naturally and at no cost other than your time.
For example... If you included the following statement onto your site:
'I recently stayed at a wonderful place in the Yorkshire Dales; The Rose of Sharon B&B. It was close to the local village of Hawkes where there is a great Biker cafe, which we visited on the Sunday and found Motorcycles from all over the UK, including some great guys from the local Motorcycle club, Bikers are Great MCC. The owners, Sandra and John (Bikers themselves) were on hand to help us with information about the local area, where to visit and which routes to use. A fantastic breakfast was served, which we only just made as our bed was so comfortable we did not want to get out! A drying room and secure parking only help to make this a very Biker Friendly place. Highly recommended' From the above, in time search engine will pick up on the words used and when someone searches for the following the web-site should be found;
If you would like an example of a web-site who has done this well sent over to you just let me know.
THE BIKER GUIDE Bringing the Biker Community together!
* SEO: Search engine Optimisation
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Adventure
Adventure motorcycling is a popular hobby, that can take you all round the world. The famous trips by Ewan McGregor & Charley Boorman have inspired many more people to enjoy the adventure opportunities that are open to them. And it's not just for the boys - Lois Pryce writes about her ride from Alaska to Argentina at www.loisontheloose.com
BikeSafe An unique assessment carried out by highly qualified police riders. Expect a reasonably priced day of riding, where you will be observed by experts and given top tips on what you can do to improve your skills. A highly recommended experience. For more information go to www.bikesafe.co.uk
Compulsory Basic Training (CBT)A one day training course with two-hours on road riding. On successful completion you will be entitled to ride a bike or scooter up to a 125cc capacity for two years. For more info go to www.mcita.co.uk
Driving LicenceEssential to getting on the road. If you are 16 and want to ride a moped on the road, you will need to apply for a provisional moped licence and take a CBT. If you are over 17 and already have a full car license, this acts as a provisional licence for mopeds and learner-legal motorcycles. Unless you passed your car test before 1 February 2001, you'll need a CBT too, but it's a good idea to take the CBT course before taking to the road even if you aren't legally required to. For more information about routes to your licence, visit here
Economic
Riding a bike, scooter or moped is a cost -effective way of commuting. A You Gov Survey carried out for National Motorcycle Week ( 2009) found that one- quarter of bikers said they chose to ride to work because it is the cheaper option, compared to only 2% of car drivers.
Freedom
In surveys carried out by the Motor Cycle Industry Association, one of the key words associated with motorcycling is 'freedom'.
Green
Powered Two-wheelers are recognised as a green form of transport with lower emissions than some other modes of transport. On average, new P2Ws emit 110g/CO2 per km, already a better performance than the targets given to the car industry. On average, Mopeds emit about 70g/km. The average for cars is 158g/km.
Helmets Sometimes called 'lids'. Getting a properly fitted and safe helmet is an essential part of a riders kit. To get independent test results on a whole range of lids from the cheapest to most expensive check out this website. www.sharp.direct.gov.uk
Independence
A bike or scooter can provide young people with their first taste of independence. Young people between 17 and 25 made up 32% of all new riders in the past 12 months.*
Age number percentage 17 - 20: 7,543 11% 21 - 25: 14,441 21% 26-30: 12,582 18% 31-35: 9,426 13% 36-40: 9,531 14% 41-45: 7,838 11% 46-50: 4,801 7% 51-55: 2,324 3% 56-60: 1,095 2% 61 +: 462 1%
*figures from DSA
Industry
The motorcycle industry in the UK employs more than 15,000 people and turns over in excess of £3 billion a year.
Jam busters
If you want to avoid the crowds and get around the capital as a passenger why not enjoy the thrill of a pillion taxi ride with the professional services of a Virgin limobike.
Kill Spills A campaign to help reduce the number of diesel spills on UK roads. These spills contribute to many bike accidents , that could easily be reduced . For more information go to www.killspills.org.uk
Leathers An important part of the riders safety kit. Traditionally bike riders wore leathers for protection. There are many styles available including one piece suits, essential if you plan to do any track riding, and more traditional two piece designs. There are also now a number of alternatives to leathers, such as hi-tech textile clothing which offers protection and comes in a variety of fashionable styles. Don't forget when buying kit you also need a protective pair of boots - and never ride without gloves.Moto GP The motorcycle equivalent of Formula One - The German Moto GP takes place on Sunday 19th July at the Sachsenring, but if you can't make it don't forget you can watch the drama unfold on TV.NEC show - Although it doesn't take place until later in the year, you can think about getting your tickets for the biggest UK motorcycle show. Find out more on www.motorcycleshow.co.ukOff-Road There are lots of ways for people to enjoy two-wheels without even riding on the road, Popular forms of off-road activity include ; moto-cross (scrambling), Trials, Enduro and Supermoto - which is one of the newest and fastest forms and is a mix between road racing and motocross. For more information check out the website
Parking Motorcycles take up much less space than cars. In a typical car park you can get around 5 motorcycles per car in each space.Queues You are less likely to sit in queues if you ride a bike, scooter or moped. The You Gov survey found that almost one in five people are jealous of bikers getting through traffic more quickly.Ride to Work
Riding on a powered - two wheeler can help you win bonus points with the boss. The You Gov survey found over two-thirds ( 67% of motorcycle commuters said they were never late for work. Ride to Work Day is 15th July 2009.Scooters These practical urban machines range from 50cc to 400cc. A stylish and affordable mode of transport, they were made popular by the MODs in the 1960's.Track Day One of the most exciting ways to hone your skills in a safe environment is at a track day. You can find out how to improve your cornering and get experienced at the hands of the experts with www.thesuperbikeschool.comUrban Mobility The number of people riding a powered -two wheeler in London has increased since the introduction of the congestion charge. This has also led to a reduction in casualties. An increase of +20% in motorcycle and scooter mileage in London corresponded to a reduction of 13% in fatalities. Volunteers Powered Two Wheelers are used for a variety of life-saving activities. Blood and organ deliveries are often carried out on bikes and scooters. The fire service and police also have fleets
Women Female riders account for around 15% of the 1.5 million active riders. Famous women riders include: MP Hazel Blears, TV presenters Vicky Butler-Henderson and Suzi Perry, and Patsy Quick, Paris Dakar rider. The MOTO GP is the bike equivalent of Formula 1 car racing. It is one of the most exciting spectator sports that generates millions of pounds for the industry. Some famous winners include the legendary Barry Sheene, and other UK champions Mike Hailwood and John Surtees and more recently the young Italian Valentino Rossi who has won a staggering eight times.Your turn
Last year the number of people who took their test increased by 18 per cent. More people are opting for two wheels or considering it as a viable option for their commute. In a recent YouGov survey, Bicycle commuters and tube travellers were the most willing to switch to two wheels. Eighteen per cent of pedal cyclists and 20 per cent of underground users said that they would consider commuting by motorcycle or scooter to avoid traffic and delays.
Zero Emissions
The motorcycle industry already has good green credentials and the manufacturers are doing a lot of research into alternative fuels. For the eco-minded commuter there are even electric motorbikes which have zero emissions.
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Natalie Cassidy presents a series of films about young Britons, introducing 'Sparky', a regular and frequent visitor to Ace Cafe London, who is determined to make it as a top stunt rider.
Natalie Cassidy's Real Britiain
BBC3
8pm
Thursday 2nd April
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