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In a new initiative, the British Motorcyclists Federation has launched an on line rider survey which is designed  to help motorcyclists tackle problem situations over which they may currently feel they have little or no control on our British roads.

The idea grew from an impromptu ‘What’s Bugging You?’ survey of visitors to the BMF’s stand at last year’s International Motorcycle Show from which four particular broad issues were identified as worthy of closer study.  They will be tackled one at a time over the next year.

The new project is called ‘Rider Active’ and the aim is, as well as gathering useful information, to analyse and use it develop techniques for handling these situations from which participants should benefit.  It’s not an instant analysis and feedback system of course, because the questions have to be posed to lots of riders and the answers then analysed before the constructive part of the project can start.  But in due course it should deliver new and very useful information and advice for safer riding and riders who participate in the survey should learn something from it in due course.

Launched in its on-line form today, the Rider Active Survey will also be carried in the BMF’s Motorcycle Rider Magazine when the next (and re-vamped) issue comes out later this month.

Chris Hodder, the BMF’s Government Relations Executive said: “This represents a new way of working for the BMF, empowering local riders and putting the resources of the BMF in their hands. In this way we will be addressing the issues that they really care about.”

A total of four important areas of concern were identified from the initial study for more detailed investigation, the first one of which is about road users who get distracted and therefore don’t notice motorcycles when they should.

In order to discover the ways in which the problems show themselves around the Country the detailed study will need to involve as many riders as possible so the more the merrier – including you if you live in UK.

As you will probably know, the BMF is the leading representative UK biking organisation – indeed that’s its main purpose – as well as providing important services for bike clubs.   Both the Federation of UK GoldWing Clubs and GWOCGB are affiliated to the BMF as a way of getting club insurance , so Members of all Federation Clubs and GWOCGB are automatically Associate Members of the BMF.

To take part in the on line survey, all you need to do is click here.