A Day with BikeSafe – Karl’s Journey to Safer Riding
At BikeSafe, we’re proud to support motorcyclists across Ireland in becoming safer, more skilled road users. Every session is an opportunity for riders to build confidence, sharpen their awareness, and learn from Advanced Garda motorcyclists. This week, we caught up with Karl, who took part in one of our BikeSafe workshops. His experience offers a great insight into why the programme continues to make such a positive impact.
Karl has been riding motorcycles for about four years. Like many riders, he’s aware of the risks involved and the importance of continual learning. Speaking to us on the day, Karl said:
“I’m here today at BikeSafe to improve my riding skills, to make myself a better rider, a safer rider. As a motorcycle user, you know, we’re a very vulnerable road user. So I’m here to learn new skills and hopefully improve safety on the road.”
The day kicked off with a classroom-based theory session, where riders discuss key topics like rules of the road, best practices, and how to avoid common hazards. This is followed by the practical riding session – a cornerstone of the BikeSafe programme – where participants head out on the road alongside an advanced Garda motorcyclist.
Reflecting on the day, Karl shared his thoughts:
“There was a theory element first, where we talked about best practice, rules of the road, what to do, what not to do. And then there was a practical element where we went down on the bikes with a Garda motorcycle rider. I think the practical element was very good. The Garda sees what you do and then gives you constructive feedback afterwards.”
That kind of real-time feedback, tailored to each rider’s own style and habits, is what makes BikeSafe unique. Karl appreciated the advice he received, especially around road positioning – something that can drastically improve a rider’s field of vision and reaction time in bends.
“I found the practical element very helpful. The Garda gave me very good feedback on my riding, road position, especially to maximize your vision in bends. So yeah, I’ve got some good things to go home and practice on myself.”
One of the key messages we share during every BikeSafe session is that rider development doesn’t stop at the end of the day – it’s an ongoing journey.
“I think it’s very important as a rider to always keep on practicing yourself. And the opportunity to improve my skills at BikeSafe I think is very valuable. And I recommend everyone to try it.”
Thank you, Karl, for joining us and for sharing your experience. If you’re a motorcyclist looking to boost your skills and stay safer on the road, why not sign up for BikeSafe? It could be the best decision you make for your riding journey.
