Met pull out of Bikesafe

I’ve done bikesafe. It’s brilliant. Great idea to get a 1 to 1 with a really professional rider. Give you an idea of what’s acceptable and what they will throw the book at u for. My takeaway is to ALWAYS know what’s going on around you 360 degrees. For those of us who cut their teeth on roads with Morris minors and ford cortina’s modern traffic is much better at the traffic light Grand Prix and modern drivers WILL slam the door on you. JJH
 
Originally, the Met courses were funded by TfL, with a team of eight riders, plus the PS, Paul Mostyn, who set it up. They targeted road safety operations during the week, and then the Bike Safe on the weekends. As a volunteer not on the team, I attended occasionally to assist with the courses, first at The Ace, then at Alperton traffic garage.
When there was occasionally money to pay overtime, those who had previously volunteered had first refusal.

The rising costs of these courses, coupled with cutbacks and staff shortages everywhere, mean that things like BikeSafe, with no immediately demonstrable benefit for the bean counters, is always going to be a casualty.
 
Engineer said:
Well that's not good.
Click to expand...
Why not? What's the alternative, no bikesafe courses in those areas at all or at best more limited places available for bikers wanting to improve/get feedback?

All IAM Observers are now accredited to a national standard as a minimum. Granted it's not perfect but what is, for instance are all driving instructors and DFT examiners the same? No they're not and they're paid, while the IAM Observers do it for free (at the most they may get a contribution towards their petrol costs or a "free" breakfast). Personally I think you're doing them a disservice.

And breath....... :D
 
littleade said:
Why not? What's the alternative, no bikesafe courses in those areas at all or at best more limited places available for bikers wanting to improve/get feedback?

All IAM Observers are now accredited to a national standard as a minimum. Granted it's not perfect but what is, for instance are all driving instructors and DFT examiners the same? No they're not and they're paid, while the IAM Observers do it for free (at the most they may get a contribution towards their petrol costs or a "free" breakfast). Personally I think you're doing them a disservice.

And breath....... :D
Click to expand...
Maybe I am doing some of the unpaid individuals at the 'coalface' a disservice, in which case I apologize to them. However the IAM has become, in my opinion, an organization run for the benefit of the few (very) well paid individuals at the top of the organisation and the motivation to increase the membership is not as altruistic as maybe it should be.
Just check them out here:
register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk

THE INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED MOTORISTS LIMITED - Charity 249002

Charity details for THE INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED MOTORISTS LIMITED - Charity 249002
register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk
 
Engineer said:
Perhaps they do not have enough volunteer officers to carry on? They are all volunteers aren't they.
Click to expand...

When i did mine the guy i was with mentioned that they were volunteers.

It was in Manchester a few years back, it started at the Barton aerodrome which was great.
I sat there with a coffee watching helicopters and light planes taking off before it started.

The cop was great and i did learn something from it, shame on the MET
People will have to travel further now to do it.
 
Barnoe said:
The cop was great and i did learn something from it, shame on the MET
People will have to travel further now to do it.
Click to expand...

for those residing in London, that is not necessarily a bad thing. Would you fancy doing an observed ride as far as Slough then being told you are turning around and riding back to base as you have run out of time!

Instead, head to Cheltenham and make a weekend of it, enjoying the ride there through the Cotswolds. Take the observed ride in lovely countryside in the Cotswolds or Forest of Dean.
 
wessie said:
for those residing in London, that is not necessarily a bad thing. Would you fancy doing an observed ride as far as Slough then being told you are turning around and riding back to base as you have run out of time!

Instead, head to Cheltenham and make a weekend of it, enjoying the ride there through the Cotswolds. Take the observed ride in lovely countryside in the Cotswolds or Forest of Dean.
Click to expand...
Agreed.

Riding in the centre of London is done out of necessity not pleasure.
As you say there is better alternatives.

Who doesn't like a ride out to somewhere easy on the eye.
 
Engineer said:
Maybe I am doing some of the unpaid individuals at the 'coalface' a disservice, in which case I apologize to them. However the IAM has become, in my opinion, an organization run for the benefit of the few (very) well paid individuals at the top of the organisation and the motivation to increase the membership is not as altruistic as maybe it should be.
Just check them out here:
register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk

THE INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED MOTORISTS LIMITED - Charity 249002

Charity details for THE INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED MOTORISTS LIMITED - Charity 249002
register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk
Click to expand...
I get that, it's the same as many charities these days and the fact the few as you put it get very well paid, when the Observers, be that for the cars or bikes are doing the heavy lifting for nothing does grate with the local groups. I don't think they're looking to get paid as for many it's a vocation they'repassionate about, more that without the observers there would be no IAM in it's present form and they feel under valued.
 
littleade said:
I get that, it's the same as many charities these days and the fact the few as you put it get very well paid, when the Observers, be that for the cars or bikes are doing the heavy lifting for nothing does grate with the local groups. I don't think they're looking to get paid as for many it's a vocation they'repassionate about, more that without the observers there would be no IAM in it's present form and they feel under valued.
Click to expand...
What would irk me, if I was a member, is that I as well as volunteering I would also be paying fees to keep these few at the top in comfortable lifestyles - and what for? So I could tell my mates that I was an 'advanced rider'? I guess some people enjoy being part of 'church'.

I leave it there.
 
RoSPA & IAM tutors are involved with the Wiltshire Bikesafe.
 
Engineer said:
What would irk me, if I was a member, is that I as well as volunteering I would also be paying fees to keep these few at the top in comfortable lifestyles - and what for? So I could tell my mates that I was an 'advanced rider'? I guess some people enjoy being part of 'church'.

I leave it there.
Click to expand...
Forgetting the politics within the IAM, surely helping the associates becoming better and safer riders is a worthwhile cause.
 
dommiek said:
Forgetting the politics within the IAM, surely helping the associates becoming better and safer riders is a worthwhile cause.
Click to expand...
I'd rather have a Bike Safe course run by solely by police motorcyclists - the one I did many years ago was. The volunteer police officer's motivations were to reduce accidents, plain and simple.

I think the main motivation amongst those in the IAM is different - it is more like a cult, hierarchical, exclusive, political and of variable quality.

I always take the micky out a friend who is a significant person in the IAM by asking him when his next church meeting is. :) He gets the humour and partly agrees with me, but there are others that take great offence when their 'church' being criticized.
 
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