Last updated 5th November
The open road beckons once again, albeit with a little caution. Now that we’re going into a second lockdown in England, you might be wondering how you can use your motorbike, and whether the rules are different from the first lockdown.
The Government has advised to only travel for necessary purposes including travelling to work if you’re unable to work from home, travelling to your support bubble, travelling to education, hospital appointments or to buy essentials such as groceries and medical supplies, travelling to veterinary appointments or travelling for exercise, locally.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has now announced that the second lockdown will involve eased restrictions, with no limits to the number of journeys you make each day, but the government has advised to keep travel local where possible.
One of the biggest changes compared to the first lockdown is that schools, colleges and universities are remaining open during this period. Whilst the Prime Minister has urged educational institutions to try and hold online lessons instead, if you need to travel to your school, college or university, you can use a private vehicle like your motorbike or scooter to do this if you can’t get there by bicycle or walking.
While being told to “stay alert and stay safe” bikers can now:
- Ride out for exercise locally
- Ride to outdoor open spaces, beaches, the countryside and beauty spots, but checking before setting out that car parks and other facilities are open to visitors
- Ride out to play sports with members of their own household
- Meet one other person from a different household outside, if they maintain social distancing of two metres
- Ride with a pillion passenger, if that passenger is a member of their immediate household
The lockdown means that bikers cannot go on holiday (either in the UK or abroad) nor visit and stay overnight at a holiday home, second home, or the home of a friend or relative that they are not a permanent resident in. And they cannot meet with more than one member of another household for recreational purposes.
The government is urging that those venturing out on their bikes, either for leisure or to return to work, should exercise caution at all times.
Motorcycles can also be used by ‘key workers’ to travel to work. This term includes emergency services staff, government officials, teachers, health and social workers, supermarket and pharmacy employees, transport employees and key public services workers (i.e. judges, charity workers, journalists, broadcasters, religious staff and keyline service workers).
If your motorcycle insurance lapsed during lockdown, now is the time to renew. For all your insurance needs Bikesure is here to help.
Read the government’s latest advice in full.
