Motorbiking: the safe way

Biker Down: Firefighters are working with bikers to reduce the number of motorcyclists killed or injured on Scotland’s roads.

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Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) crews regularly respond to serious collisions knowing those on two wheels are by far the most likely to be involved in a tragedy.

As many riders travel in pairs or groups a fellow biker is often the first person on scene following an incident involving a motorcycle.

In a pilot project firefighters in Argyll and Bute, Edinburgh and North Lanarkshire are running Biker Down courses, giving riders potentially life-saving skills to help them make the scene of a collision safe and protect a casualty.

The initiative first came to Scotland in 2015 when Firefighter John Branney of North Lanarkshire’s Cumbernauld Community Fire Station sought permission to replicate the Kent Fire and Rescue Service project.

His team of volunteers – all firefighters and members of the SFRS Bikers Section – has delivered numerous courses over the past year. Their efforts have been bolstered with crews at Oban and South Queensferry also now delivering the courses.

Dozens of motorcyclists from across Scotland have taken part, with the firefighters sharing their experience of attending serious road traffic collisions to make them aware of the dangers that face casualties and those coming to their aid.

Area Manager Iain McCusker, the local senior officer for North Lanarkshire, said: “Motorcyclists are around 38 times more likely to be killed than people in cars, because a collision that would barely damage a vehicle could easily claim a biker’s life.

“Our crews are all too familiar with the devastating aftermath of incidents on the roads. Firefighters are often needed to help people who are trapped and injured following a crash, but sadly there are times when their specialist rescue skills just aren’t enough.”

He continued:  “Biker Down isn’t about lecturing riders on the consequences of things going wrong – it’s about equipping them to make a difference if they encounter an emergency.

“If someone there when a crash happens has the skills to manage the scene and provide first aid it could save a life.”

Participants learn ways of making a scene safe, first aid appropriate to common types of injury and how to safely remove a helmet.

The course also helps bikers make it less likely they will become a casualty, by covering ways those on two wheels can get noticed by other road users.

Station Manager Gordon McGuire, of the SFRS service delivery team in North Lanarkshire, wants other motorcyclists to come forward to learn potentially life-saving skills.

He said: “Every day around 30 bikers come to harm on Britain’s roads.

“Biker Down gives an insight to what it’s like at the scene of an incident and what steps can be taken to help prevent them becoming tragedies.

“Learning some basic first person on scene techniques could make all the difference and keep a casualty alive until specialist medical helps gets to them.

“The course is designed by bikers for bikers and we want people to get in touch if they are interested in taking part.”

Courses are currently scheduled to run in Motherwell on Saturday 13 August and in Oban on Sunday 14 and Sunday 28 August.

Dates are yet to be confirmed for the next course in South Queensferry.

Anyone interested in taking part in a course can contact the teams operating in the west and east of Scotland by email to w.bikerdownscotland@firescotland.gov.uk (West) or e.bikerdownscotland@firescotland.gov.uk (East).

Firefighter Branney said: “Our advice for motorcyclists is always to anticipate the actions of others, make sure they could slow down and safely stop if the unexpected happens, and to position their bike in the safest place to maximise their visibility.

“They should always take a ‘lifesaver’ glance over their shoulder before carrying out manoeuvres, so they know where others are and what they’re doing.

“Because bikers are particularly vulnerable we also need drivers of other vehicles to ‘Think Bike’ and carefully look for motorcyclists, especially at junctions, when changing lanes or turning in the road.”

More information on the courses is available by visiting the ‘Biker Down Scotland’ Facebook page: www.facebook.com/Biker-Down-Scotland-100598230291251/.

More Hidden Gems Walks

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Following the success of last year’s Hidden Gems walks PCHP are running another series of six walks discovering parts of North Edinburgh you never knew existed! Even people who have lived in North Edinburgh all their lives are guaranteed to find out new things about their local area. 

“I can’t believe I learned so much about the area I lived in considering I have been here all my life” said Kathy, who joined in with last year’s walks.

All walks are led by PCHP’s award-winning walk leaders and will be at an easy pace. All walks start at 7pm except the first one (21 July) which starts at 6.30pm

The first walk takes you to Lauriston Castle. Meet up at Silverknowes Golf Course at 6.30pm on Thursday (21 July). The walk will take about an hour to an hour and a half.

21st July           Meander Round Lauriston Castle  Gardens  1 mile

NB this walk starts at 6.30pm not 7pm

Meet Roundabout  Silverknowes Golf Course  Silverknowes Rd, EH4 5ET

28th July          All that Sparkles Art Walk                   2 and ¾ miles

Meet North Edinburgh Arts Centre  15a Pennywell Rd, EH4 4TZ

4th August       Discovering Granton’s Industrial Past  1 mile

Meet north side Granton Square by Lochinvar Drive          EH5 1HE

11th August     Long Gone Schooldays                     1.4 m

Meet north side Granton Square by Lochinvar Drive EH5 1HE

 18th August     North Edinburgh’s Lost Medieval Walled Garden   2m

Meet Prentice Centre            1 Granton Mains Ave, EH4 4GA

25th August     Foraging for Free       3 miles                       

Meet North Edinburgh Arts Centre 15a Pennywell Rd, EH4 4TZ

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For more details please contact 0131 551 1671 or email admin@pchp.org.uk

Clare Symonds (Development worker – Physical Activity)

Move It, Pilton Community Health Project

73 Boswall Parkway, Edinburgh EH5 2PW 

0131 551 1671 

http://www.pchp.org.uk/

Cracking down on motorbike crime

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Young people riding motorbikes dangerously on our streets, green space, cycleways and even pavements has been causing anger and alarm in North Edinburgh for a long time now, so local residents will be delighted to hear that city police have launched a new operation dedicated to tackling motorbike theft and associated antisocial behaviour in the Capital. Continue reading Cracking down on motorbike crime