Bike Plus

'Bike Plus' is a scheme that aims to help newly qualified, and inexperienced bikers stay safer when they take to the road.

Bike Plus logo

The scheme was launched in January 2005, and is the first of its kind in England to offer a subsidised post test development course for bikers’. 

Like the Driving Standards Agency's (DSA) Pass Plus for drivers, ‘Bike Plus’ offers post-test guidance to people who have passed their bike test, or those who are returning to riding after an absence.  

Qualified instructors work with bikers, on a maximum 2:1 ratio, to develop their riding skills and improve their awareness of potential hazards on the road. 

Bike Plus group image

The cost of a rider development course varies between different training organisations.

At present the current cost of ‘Bike Plus’ is £180, however if you live and ride in Derbyshire the course will be subsidised by over 70 per cent meaning you pay £50.

If you live outside the county and ride on Derbyshire’s roads you will be eligible for a 50 per cent discount meaning you only pay £90 (subject to approval).

All subsidies/discounts are subject to availability of funding and may not always be available. 

The on-road training covers:

  • hazard awareness
  • forward planning
  • road positioning
  • overtaking
  • rural/urban riding
  • bends and cornering.
The course is given by fully qualified motorcycle instructors, registered and approved by the DSA, who have registered to take part in the scheme and agreed to an additional code of conduct.

Bikers continue to be over represented in road accident casualty figures both nationally and locally. ‘Bike Plus’ is a practical initiative offering potentially long-term benefits to the safety of riders. 

Figures show that 21 per cent of crashes in Derbyshire over the last three years have involved either an inexperienced rider.
 
Motorcyclist

Accident figures for urban roads also show more than half of the riders were aged 16 to 20 years old, mainly on smaller bikes. 

For further information or for an application form contact us on:

Tel: Call Derbyshire on 08 456 058 058
email: roadsafety@derbyshire.gov.uk

You can read more about the launch of the campaign by reading the press release in our news section.

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