The Gloucestershire Road Safety Partnership we be at the event with their stand showing ‘Motorcycling Through the Ages’. As well as a display showing how motorcycling casualties have reduced and the work the partnership has done with motorcyclists, we will also have a small display of bikes through the years.

We will be running a free prize draw to win a pair of tyres and fitting up to the value of £240 courtesy of Chris Mullins Tyres. Why not come along to the stand and enter yourself into the draw! For Terms and Conditions please click here.

The team will also be on hand at the stand to give out advice, crash cards and other freebies.

Our stand is in the ‘Orchard’ we look forward to seeing you there!

Using the phrase LOOK and LOOK again, the signs are there to warn all road users to take extra care in heavy traffic and follow the advice before turning or manoeuvring.

Over the last couple of years, there has been an increase in the number of collisions involving motorcycles and mopeds – especially on urban routes. In Gloucestershire, two thirds of all motorcycling collisions occur in urban areas.

The routes where the Look, Look Again signs will be used are:

• Sections of the A46 in Cheltenham, Bath Rd
• Sections of the B4073 in Gloucester, Barton to Abbeydale, and
• Sections of the A430 in Gloucester, Cole Ave to Bristol Rd and Llanthony Rd – South West bypass.

All these routes have a recent history of motorcycling-related injury collisions. The signs will be in place at the start of September and will initially remain until the end of October.

Chris Harrison, our Motorcycling co-ordinator, said: “There are various ways we as riders can reduce the risk of being involved in a collision, developing our own skills is essential. There is training available locally to riders through Bikesafe, IAM or RoSPA.

“For younger riders on machines up to 125cc we can offer free one to one rider assessments giving the rider advice and tips building on the basic training they have already received.

“Should you be involved in a collision the wearing of clothing designed to protect riders could reduce the level of injury or indeed save our lives.”

More advice and information about motorcycling.

Within the next few weeks, signs will appear along stretches of the A419 and the A435 in an attempt to make drivers and riders more aware of each other and to take more care.

The signs, which have previously been on routes in the Forest and Gloucester, ask drivers to THINK BEFORE TURNING; THINK BIKE, LOOK TWICE; and warn riders of BENDS ahead.

The stretch between Brimscombe and Chalford on the A419 has seen a considerable number of motorcycle-related collisions in the last three years, as has the A435 between Seven Springs and North Cerney.

In previous years, collisions on the routes which have been signposted, have been reduced. Let us know what you think of the signs, contact us or join the discussion on our Facebook page – Glos ThinkBike.

The CRASH card is the size of a credit card and fits inside the crash helmet. It provides personal details to help ambulance crews if the motorcyclist is injured in a road traffic collision, saving valuable time and helping treatment, especially if the rider is either unconscious or unable to communicate.

The card comes with a self-adhesive green dot which is stuck onto the helmet to alert paramedics to look for the card to check the motorcyclist’s medical history.

Chris Harrison, Gloucestershire Road Safety Partnership’s (GRSP) Motorcycle Coordinator, said: “The CRASH card is designed to save precious time in the minutes following a serious collision and improve the medical care received at the roadside.

“All bikers are encouraged to carry the card, which also gives helpful advice if a rider comes across a road traffic collision so that they can relay important information when dialling 999.”

The card was launched at the Biker’s Nite at the Lower Lode Inn in Forthampton on Wednesday, 1st June

PC Simon Ross from Gloucestershire Constabulary, said: “Carrying the card within your helmet and affixing the green dot to the right hand side of it gives immediate medical information for the attending paramedics and medical teams, as well as providing the Police with information about the identity of the wearer.

“The card is designed for all sizes of powered two wheelers, mopeds to superbikes and cruisers to tourers, and for all motorcycle journeys. The scheme is for both riders and pillions.”

The cards are available to order here and can be picked up at motorcycling events throughout Gloucestershire through the summer.

Photo shows L to R: Chris Harrison from the Road Safety Partnership,
Pc Simon Ross from Traffic Police, and paramedic Kev Dickens from Great
Western Ambulance Service, handing out CRASH cards to bikers at the
Lower Lode Inn, Forthampton on June 1st.

The routes for the first three months of this year’s campaign are: 

• A38 between Longford and Norton near Gloucester, as well as the A38 near Ripple and over the county boundary into Worcestershire;
• A48 between Minsterworth and the county boundary at Tutshill, Forest of Dean;
• And the A3136 to B4234 road near Drybrook in the Forest of Dean.

All these routes have a history of motorcycle collisions and the signs are there to remind all road users to take more care and be aware of each other.

The signs being used this year include THINK BIKE, LOOK TWICE; DRIVERS THINK BEFORE TURNING; and THINK! BENDS.

At the end of the three months, the signs will move to other high-risk routes in another part of the county.

Between 8.30am and 5.30pm, we’ll have people on hand to discuss the training opportunities available to you, our campaigns, our work with younger and novice riders, and if this doesn’t tickle your fancy, come and find us anyway – we can talk for hours about all-things-motorcycles!

It promises to be a cracking show, and for more information or to buy tickets, check out the official website at: http://www.prescottbikefestival.co.uk/

Called Glos Thinkbike, the site is proving to be popular with motorcyclists and moped riders of all ages. If you have a Facebook account, why not log on and become our friend.

Open between 10am and 5pm, it promises to be fun for all the family and family discounts are available on the door. There will be stunt trials displays, quad bike demos and the chance to meet the TAG Triumph Race team – there’s nowhere better for big thrills on two wheels.

The Road Safety Partnership will be there so why not come along and chat to us about training opportunities and circuit based rider improvement days. We’ll also be giving away our THINK BIKE car stickers and bike pucks.

We’ll even be offering free of charge accompanied ride outs on the day with Police or advance riders (depending on availability), so we do hope to see you there.

They also discuss how motorcycling has changed over the years, with the differences in clothing, bike size and power, and how track days and training can help riders to keep their skills up to date, and hopefully, out of trouble. See the film on YouTube.