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It was a great day, worth every penny. The police guys were a top-notch bunch of humans, very amusing and hugely talented riders. They came across as motorcyclists who happen to be police officers too.

I hope the scheme continues as this morning I nearly got wiped out by a twist-n-go loony as the lights turned to amber from red, not unusual in London these days, they are more of a danger than most of the cars.

I will advise my friends as to what a great day it was.

Thanks again.

Matt Binnie

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Letters Of Appreciation

Just thought I’d drop you a line and give you some proper feedback following my attending Bikesafe on 17 May 2003 at the Ace Cafe. Filling out a questionnaire is ok but sometimes it’s a rush job and everyone normally ticks the 'right' boxes.

Anyway I thought it was a great idea, as like many bikers I haven't bothered with any training since passing my bike test.

Thanks for your input on my riding style and pointers to make me a better & safer rider. I enjoyed the whole day? Strange experience having a police bike follow you whilst 'progressing' and no flashing lights!

I will try the country road riding technique when I get a chance and may well follow up your suggestion of further training. I might even try the Advanced Test? Something I've been considering over the last few years.

Although some of the things covered was common sense like planning ahead, hazard awareness, riding smoothly, I was intrigued to see whether the content of the day would make a difference or whether I would end up reverting back to the old riding style.

A week has passed and hopefully some good habits are sticking. Firstly I have stopped undertaking the 2nd & 3rd lane owners club in the usual spot on the way home no matter how frustrating it still is. Secondly I have refrained from sitting ahead of the white line at traffic lights despite occasional 'pressure' from behind (other motorcyclists).

I’m also more conscious of my road positioning and pay more attention when filtering. In addition, I've made a conscious effort to keep my speed down in residential areas.

For the first few days going past lamp posts, bus shelters etc reminded me of the case studies and how vulnerable you can be to serious injury, if you make a mistake. Whilst some people may not agree that the content was appropriate, I think 'shock' tactics work? Well they do with me anyway.

I’ve even discussed with friends if they come across an accident, whether to remove a motorcyclist’s crash helmet or not and explained the correct method of removal by providing a neck brace with your hands etc (as demonstrated regularly in Casualty).

It was also refreshing to see that motorcycle police are not necessarily a biker's 'enemy' they are just fellow bike enthusiasts doing their job.

Whilst you may have different view on 'rideouts', I attended my first one -a SV650 rideout on Sunday to Box Hill. It was quite educational? It was well organised and they were not all speed freaks. It was a steady enjoyable ride with a mixture of road types and speed limits etc. It gave me the opportunity to practice some country lane riding / bend management etc, which I don’t get a chance to do when commuting. Although I might need more practice, I think I'm getting better and safer.

Even my girlfriend, who sometimes goes on the back, has noticed a difference, so Bikesafe must have had a positive influence on me.

Anyway I hope you continue to receive good feedback and hopefully the number of accidents involving motorcyclists will reduce in the future.

Thanks again

SV650S rider

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Thanks for a brill time last Thurs. I had a great day. I was nervous about the day, being a new rider, but you and the team really put me on ease and I am so glad that I was able to attend in Jason's place. At the weekend I went to Wales on the bike for a spot of camping with friends so I was able to put into practice what I had learnt from the day - came in particularly useful when stuck on the M42 and had to filter for 25 miles!

Many many thanks once again to everyone who helped make the day so enjoyable. I've recommended it to my two other female friend riders so we will see what happens; I hope they book. I will definitely pop back again for sure; perhaps when you have a new route. I am looking into Advanced and when I have the funds I plan to pursue that in earnest.

A brilliant day. A brilliant idea - let me know when your setting up BikeSafe-surrey!

Kind Regards, (the SV rider!)

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Please pass my thanks on to the " ace " team, I attended the skills day on the 6th June @ the ace cafe. Wot a brilliant day, even if the rain god came out to play! Your team of officers were brilliant, helpful, friendly and very approachable, nothing was a problem, even if I
thought the question I was asking seemed dumb! Once again thank you all for my newly taught skills, this is one course that I will remember and encourage my friends to participate in. and as Ted said to me @ ally pally, if your riding is that good, come and show us.... and he was right, it just got better.... thanks again

Red Triumph Sprint Rider

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I could not recommend this day more highly. It is a superb introduction to advanced riding. Whether you are a total novice on a 250-commuter bike or Giacomo Agostini on an R1 you're bound to pick up some points of value and at £25 for the whole day including lunch it's the bargain of the year. The Police riders I rode with just asked me to ride as I normally would but keep the speed down in the built up areas. If you see the opportunity for an overtake, take it. Oh and don't worry you won't loose us! As a result we had a "brisk" ride out, I learnt a lot and not a sign of a ticket, great fun.

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Hiya, just wanted to mail you to say thanx for a great day today, I had lots of fun and learnt quite a bit, mostly about the police force. I have to admit I've always been a bit weary of the police but today you have shattered all my fears and I've realised that you are in fact human like the rest of us and have a passion for bikes the way I do. I've mailed most of my bike mates about today ranting and raving about your scheme and you will prob get a load of bookings out of them.... he he..... Don’t worry they are not all as disruptive as me Anyway thanx again your all doing a great job there. Take Care
Tammy
I have just completed the skills day workshop at South London and I cannot say how impressed I was with the whole day. Not only have I noticeably improved my riding but also it was so encouraging having police motorcyclists teach in an informed and realistic manner. They were never patronising and always made it an enjoyable learning experience.

I shall recommend it to everyone. It's the best £25 I have ever spent, and you get lunch!

Please pass on my thanks to the whole team, especially to Nick who has made me a better rider.

Best wishes

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Just came back from the BikeSafe day at The Warren and would like to say what a fantastic day it was. Nick, the officer doing the observations for myself and Simon the other rider, was incredibly encouraging and helped to make the day thoroughly useful to us both.

I hope the programme is a success and I will certainly be recommending the day to anyone I know that rides a bike.

Thanks very much, I really got a lot from it.

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Wish to thank all for a good day last Thursday. Learnt a lot especially from Norm.

Many thanks and regards

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Just wanted to write a quick note to say thanks for the BikeSafe course I attended at the weekend. I found it very informative and all the officers have a really good sense of humour so it was brilliant fun too!
Since the course I have noticed that I’ve been more aware of positioning myself on the road so that I have the optimum view of what’s ahead of me and so give myself more time to deal with any potential hazards, although I still have a long way to go. I’m sure as my experience increases other things we were informed about will click into place and further training is a definite investment I will be happy to make whenever I have some spare pennies!
I think this course would be a brilliant refresher course after a long winter where my bike will be hibernating. Be expecting my call to book my place early next year!

Thanks again for a brilliant day

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Just a quick note to say that I completed a motorcycle training / awareness day last Thursday, run by a group calling themselves BikeSafe for London (http://www.bikesafe-london.co.uk) and you can book direct via the website. The instructors (although they do stress that they are not instructing, merely observing and advising) are all motorcyclists for the Metropolitan Police.

I cannot stress how excellent, useful and good value this day was. For £25.00, which includes coffee, lunch (excellent!) and tea (all at the Ace Café), several informative presentations plus 2 observed rides (2 ‘students’ with 1 police observer but I was lucky enough to get a 1 on 1).

Regards

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Thanks so much for the blood, sweat and tears that went into BikeSafe London. It managed to be interesting, hugely informative and a good laugh as well – not an easy combination to achieve. I learned a vast amount in a very short time, and I am heading out on my second observed run with the IAM tonight – something I wouldn’t have had the confidence to do without BikeSafe.

Setting the entry price at £25 is a great idea as well. It makes sure that you can reach the ridee4rs who just manage to scrape by; they can afford £25, where they might struggle at a slightly higher price. There is no reason that they should end up as an accident statistic simply because they cant afford the course.

All the best

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Thank you and the team for a very informative and beneficial day at the Ace Café.

I have become so aware of the number of drivers using mobiles, the main point I learnt from the day is that observation is so important, the chats with the various PCs has really helped.

I have passed on so much of what was covered to my biking pals. Please pass on my thanks to Paul Tanner (PC 153) whose comments on filtering and overtaking are much appreciated.

Regards

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Just to let you know that I found the BikeSafe course very helpful. I attended the sessions and ride outs from the Ace Café on Tuesday 15th April. I was very impressed with the course. I have been riding a CB500 for a year and a half, commuting from Harrow to The City. While my around town riding is fine, the course was very helpful at lifting my confidence at high speeds. The A road and country road tuition was very good. I’ll try and practice more at the weekends, and enjoy the bike more.

The accident investigation session was very useful I wasn’t surprised that a lot of accidents involving PTWs do not involve any other vehicle. Learning how to handle these machines on bends is very important.

Well done to you and the team. I’ll certainly recommend the course to friends and I’ll attend again myself.

Bye for now.

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I enjoyed the day and great bunch of police officers. Nice to meet them out of their "official" roles and as expert riders with a sense of fun. I will be recommending it to others.

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I’d just like to say a big thank you for the course I attended yesterday. Not only was the route of the run and excellent choice, I also found the day extremely interesting and informative, proving there is always something else to learn and another view to consider.

I would regard the day as a vital tool in accident prevention and excellent value. Please pass on my thanks to Keith for his input and feedback, and congratulations on putting together the whole project.

Good luck in the future!

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Having just completed what I believe was the first BikeSafe at The Ace on Tuesday, would just like to thank you and your officers for a great and worthy day. Certainly what I learnt has put a new slant on things and I feel more aware already and not in such a rush as to take unnecessary risk.

Would particularly like to thank PC Keith for his time and professional advice, as I didn’t get to thank him at the end.

It was great to meet yourselves too and see that you are there for our interests too not just for handing out tickets.

Hope the scheme is a success and that your message passes to bikers throughout the capital and nationally saving lives in the process. I will certainly recommend to family and friends

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Excerpt from VFR Owners Club website

Attended the Met BikeSafe-London rider skills day at The Ace Café, very worthwhile day out and a bargain for £25 Inc lunch. An enjoyable day with a balanced mixture of lectures, discussion and two decent observed rides

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I did mine last week, also at The Ace, must agree, a great day out and fun into the proceedings, just proves you’re never to old to learn!

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Had a great day, would recommend this to anyone in and around London area. Good solid practical advice on protecting yourself on the roads.

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Just a brief note to thank you and your team for an excellent and informative day last week.

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It was thoroughly enjoyable, the weather was great, the spirit was good and Paul Tanner was lovely!

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I have already passed on a few leaflets to some members of the IAM Motorcycle division of Milton Keynes, whom I rode with yesterday and told them all about it – and will continue to tell others.

I’ll be back – and bring along other bikers

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It was a pleasure to meet you on the BikeSafe course, 16th April and I would like to convey my thanks to you for organising the course and to all the officers who were on the course as observers.

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My thanks to everyone for being aware of my deafness and speaking clearly. I did not really miss much at all, during the presentations and I would like to say that I thought the course was really well presented and organised.

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The best part of the day was being on the road and observed by a class 1 police motorcycle rider. It was worthwhile having my riding assessed and considering I have not been a member of the Kent Motorcycle Group for some 12 years, I was not honestly expecting to have done so well! I really surprised myself! I was expecting to have an armful of horror faults pointed out to me! It does show that I have not forgotten much from the advanced riding lessons I did over the years! But it was nice to know that my riding is of a good standard.

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Please give my thanks to PC Ted Stringer, who was my observer on the day. It was a real pleasure to hear him say that I had given the best ride so far! Mind you I did learn a few things from him in the afternoon.

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Once again, many thanks to you and everyone for a worthwhile and brilliant day. And I trust that the Bikesafe courses the success it deserves to be.

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Thank you for a very rewarding day at The Ace Café. It was better than I had anticipated. It is uncanny the number of safety elements to riding you forget, what better way to rekindle the memory than a day with London’s best.

Once again, thank you very much

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It was a great day, worth every penny. The police guys were top-notch bunch of humans, very amusing and hugely talented riders. They came across as motorcyclists who happen to be police officers too.

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I hope the scheme continues as this morning I nearly got wiped out by a twist and go loony as the lights turned from amber from red, not unusual in London these days, they are more of a danger than most of the cars.

I will advise my friends as to what a great day it was.
Thanks again

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Just a quick one to thank you and all the other officers for a great day. I really enjoyed myself and although I like to think I am a careful rider I learnt a great deal from one and all especially Neale my tutor for the day. A top man and a good laugh.

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When I set out from my home I was feeling quite nervous, but once we got into the swing of things I was very relaxed and enjoyed it tremendously. If only we could have one of your boys out riding with us all the time it would be a lot safer on the roads for us bikers.

Once again cheers for a fun day

All the best

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Excerpt from The Blackbird Owners Club website

Highly recommended
I’ve never learnt so much.
My instructor was a top bloke and anyone who says a BM cant shift needs to do this day and find out.
And The Ace Café food was excellent.

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I recently undertook a BikeSafe training day held by your officers, and I am writing to express my thanks to your team for what was a thoroughly enjoyable, informative and professionally executed event. I have to admit to being a ‘mere scooter rider’ I approached the day with some trepidation, but your team are incredibly even handed and treated each rider with respect. Furthermore, the relaxed and inclusive learning environment enabled each rider to get the most from mutually shared experiences.
The key learning experience for me was the observed rides, and whilst I appreciate that you are a team, I would like to single out PC J Birbeck for particular praise. His teaching style is impressive, confident in front of an audience, a keen eye for detail on the road, and an innate ability to drive home learning points. As a direct result of his input I believe I am a much better rider.

The Bikesafe event is not only excellent value for money, but also a unique opportunity to gain access to the Police. Such initiatives can only increase confidence between the Police and the ‘biker’ community, and ultimately lead to a safer road environment. The success of the event is undoubtedly down to the experience, openness, dedication and sheer professionalism of your staff – I will have no hesitation in commending this course to any rider.

Thank you for your team’s efforts. The police are one of the few ‘world class’ acts that this country can boast, and your officers do much to enhance that reputation

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Katrina

Thank-you to you and your whole team for a terrific day. I really didn't expect the entire package to be
so polished given the age of the program.

The instructors were top notch, they shared their enthusiasm and professionalism in generous measures making the whole experience a pleasure.

I was impressed how much you managed to get into a short day both in the classroom and on the road. The presentations were clear and concise - without being too heavy or condescending. The student to instructor ratio was brilliant. It allowed the opportunity to advance for less experienced riders or to reaffirm skills for veterans.

Regards

Nick Page

A.D. Chelsea and Fulham HOG
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