Topic: *warning* long post - national bikesafe event 2008

[david916]

Hi London Bikers,

 I am the appointed single point of contact and principle liaison for Bikesafe-London with motorcycle manufacturers, dealers, etc for the forthcoming National Bikesafe Event to be hosted by us and held in London for 2008. As you are hopefully aware, 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 will be FREE, as will exhibiting.
 
 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 two years the event has been hosted by Gloucestershire Constabulary and held at Cheltenham Racecourse. It has developed and grown over time and they hosted it again in 2007. Over 16,000 people visit Cheltenham Racecourse during the two days this year, which is over a thousand more than last year. 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. Bikesafe-London will take over for 2008 and 2009, maybe even 2010, but I retire from the Police that year so I may well have other things on my mind then.
 
 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. We 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."
 
 We would naturally like our event to be the biggest and best that there has been and with your help we believe that it will be. For the manufacturers who attended this year and on previous occasions you will see significant changes for 2008 as we endeavour to improve and update the event. For those who have not been before we hope that they will decide to participate and become part of this unique experience.
 
 My plan is to have as many different motorcycle manufacturers there as possible in order to provide a wide range of numerous bikes for motorcyclists to enjoy and ride. As well as serving the purpose of bikes for riders to use for our assessed rides it gives each manufacturer the opportunity to promote and ultimately sell more of their machines. In addition to each manufacturer with their road bikes I envisage a number of local motorcycle dealers in attendance also, representing some of the manufacturers to promote their respective bike brands. These carefully selected and mutually agreed dealers would not provide bikes for ride-outs, but would display different bikes from the ones already there, perhaps an off-road range, smaller capacity bikes (or scooters), even quad bikes as well as other bike related products and clothing. There will be a lot of other things to see and do for all the family, not just motorcyclists. There will be many different trade stands, food and drink stands, race teams/bikes, classic bike displays, car skid pans, police dogs and horses, police and air ambulance helicopters, the police Historic Vehicle Fleet, motorcycle wall of death, stunt shows (the army White Helmets motorcycle display team), a host of Celebrities, plus much more....  
 
 This rather lengthy e-mail is really to give you some idea about the 2008 event and let you all know what is going AND ALSO TO ASK WHETHER THE LONODN BIKERS WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND WITH A STAND TO PROMOTE YOURSELVES.

 If you do wish to come then with regard to your display/stand, what size footprint would you ideally require (we will endeavour to meet your requirement, but may not be able to). All the manufacturers and dealers will be located outside with their rigs and trailers as will many other exhibitors through choice, convenience and necessity, but many others will be located inside large marquees. We will try to accommodate you inside if that is what you want, but obviously space will be demand led for the inside plots! Power will be available should you need it, if you could let me know what type of connection you need? Please note that we will only supply space and power with hard standing as required. We will not be responsible for building your stand/display. We will also require you to have suitable risk assessments and liability insurance in place please. If you wish to bring your own Gazebo then that is fine (we have ordered 12 hours of sunshine each day for that weekend in March!'>.

 If you could give me some indication of how many of staff will be attending and whether you will be bringing a marquee, awning, display, etc? Also, the number and type of support vehicles that you will be bringing including registration numbers (for passes)?

 Set up for the event is planned for Friday 28th March from about 9am, so there should be no rush to get there or pressure to set up for the event. Breakdown will be at the end of the event on Sunday.  

 Any questions regarding the event, in particular about risk assessments, can be made to me (details below). You will be supplied with a copy of the Exhibitor Manual nearer the time!

 With regard to accommodation, there is none available on site and there will be not be any camping allowed for insurance liability and health and safety reasons. In fact, you will not be able to stay on site in the evening or overnight. Indeed the site will be closed and securely locked down when the show closes each evening and will be opened up again the next morning. The Metropolitan Police Training School will be patrolled by Metropolitan Police Security throughout, so you will be able to leave any stalls, equipment, trailers and vehicles and other property in situ however. There is loads of accommodation nearby, from cheap and cheerful to 'if you have to ask then you probably can't afford it'. Obviously I can't recommend anywhere specific, but you can try the links below for starters:

 I hope that this answers many of the questions you might initially have and clarifies a few points too. I look forward to hearing from you.
 
 Many thanks and kind regards,

 David.

Contact me at david.carter2@met.police.uk

Accomodation

More accomodation

[Mr Rizla]

Come on boys n girls, what you think, can we do better than last years AllyPally

[Weaver]

Great idea a Bikesafe event - did the course myself this year and learnt a lot and would like to support anything that promotes it.

Having a TLB stand sounds a good idea, though I admit there is not much I can do to assist, but if we have one and I can assist, I will.  

 '>

[trouty]

i have a big banner, and the facility to do lots of printing and vinyl's...  cant commit at this point as dont know the race calendar yet...

[andyblade]

sounds like a good idea, maybe worth looking into a bit more

[HellsBells]

Im up for it had a blast at the Ally Pally '>

[STEM-VFR]

TLB's

We have already been in contact with Paul Mostyn and are organising a ride in and are also considering a stand at the event. We can make an announcement in a few weeks time once all is sorted.

I have also replied to Dave Carter expressing our interest in attending.

Have a word with OMD if you need more info



Steve

[TallGuy]

I'll be there whatever. Could do with getting TLB, Unity Foundation, Oxford Ambulance (FBoS) and Art Motorcycle Training all together.  

Now how to we phrase the risk posed to members of the public by the TLB girlies..... collisions and neck injuries likely though lack of observation in direction of travel whilst walking past stand.


At least the weather will be better than Cheltenham. '>

[Stu]

Triggs says we'll be helping out but I should point out, that she may not be able to so comprehensively plagiaries the mets risk assessments on this occasion, but however she will do the health and safety bit since it on her manor in in senses  

Is there a bar?? '>

[Biker Biker]

Nice one Stem... at least we have abit more notice this time

'> A personal Mini bar can be arranged for Tiggs

Scorps 'ave you still go my kettle from Ally Pally and were there any Marshmallows left '>  :