MCIA issues lockdown advice

Because of the lockdown situation (current at the time of writing this editorial), the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) has issued some practical ‘do/don't' advice for riders. We don't have room to publish the full letter, so what follows is an abridged version: Dear Rider,

One unexpected consequence of the current situation is that bikes are showing their true worth; whether they’re delivering essential medical supplies, food, or taking care of self-isolation on key workers’ commutes, powered two-wheelers shine in a crisis.

It’s great to see most riders are complying with the Government’s instructions about essential travel and when riding are doing so responsibly, but unfortunately some aren’t. The sun is shining, you’re bored of lockdown, the roads are empty and your bike is itching to go. It’s very tempting, but before you grab your keys and helmet, consider this:

As riders, we all have a responsibility if we are to survive without restrictions. We are ambassadors for two wheels and how we ride and what we ride (and at the moment, the fact that we’re riding at all) creates a perception about us. In the eyes of many, PTWs are noisy, anti-social, dangerous and often ridden irresponsibly – is your leisure ride reinforcing that view?

We know that bikes are perfect for selfisolation, but what if you have a breakdown or a puncture? You’ll probably need the help of someone to sort the problem.

If you haven’t ridden for a while, you may be a bit rusty. It’s easy to get overconfident when the sun is shining and traffic is light, so what happens if you pitch off? Police, recovery truck, paramedics could all be involved – and you may have noticed that the NHS is a little preoccupied at the moment and could probably do without any self-inflicted cases taking up beds.

For the good of riding and its place in the future transport mix, let’s all stick to the rules. They don’t discriminate against riders, most leisure activities are disrupted, so clean your kit, watch scooter videos and wait until we can all get out on the road again.