British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced changes to the Government’s Covid-19 response, altering the message from ‘Stay Home’ to ‘Stay Alert’ and many motorcyclists are asking what this means to them.

Having spent seven weeks in ‘lockdown’ many bikers are itching to get out on a ride and, for those based in England, they are now able to head out on a ride for fun from tomorrow (Wednesday 13 May).

Despite some suggestions to the contrary, motorcycles were never ‘banned’ during the lockdown, however unnecessary journeys by any form of transport were. Motorcycles could still be used for essential journeys, such as going to work, for voluntary work or to buy shopping, but non-essential journeys – such as simply going for a blast or heading out to a biking hotspot were not allowed and could attract a fine.

The relaxation of the rules has changed that, in England at least, and now citizens are able to ‘drive to outdoor open spaces irrespective of distance’ as long as they respect social distancing when they get there.

The term driving has also been confirmed as including motorcycles, meaning that riders in England can go for a leisure ride as long as they respect social distancing at their destination. Riders should not ride in groups, as social distancing means that you must only ride on your own or with members from your household.

It is important to note that the other nations of the United Kingdom have not changed their guidance, and therefore riding in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales remains on an ‘essential journey’ basis only. The rules have not changed for riders in those countries, and riders are not permitted to head over the border from England into Scotland or Wales on a leisure ride, and vice versa, and will risk a fine if they do so.

I’m in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. Can I ride my bike?

Yes, you can but only on an essential journey. This has currently not changed, so you can ride directly to and from work, to do essential shopping, to get medical assistance or to provide assistance to a vulnerable person. If you are caught riding (or indeed driving any vehicle) and it’s not for one of the aforementioned reasons, you may be fined and ordered to return home.

Should I ride my motorcycle?

Only you can answer this question. Just because you can do something, doesn’t mean you should and just because the regulations have been relaxed it does not mean that the virus has been eradicated.

The virus is still in the community and the guidance in all four nations is to stay at home unless you have to go out, even though Prime Minister Johnson’s guidelines gives more personal choice to those in England. If you do choose to ride your bike in England it is advisable to follow the social distancing guidelines, indeed failure to do so can result in a £100 fine. This means that you should avoid large gatherings and maintain a 2m distance between yourself and anyone from outside your household. Care should also be taken when filling up with petrol, for example, and riders should ensure that they wear gloves and regularly sanitise their hands and riding equipment.

One area where riding may be beneficial is for commuting to work. The government is encouraging those who cannot work from home to get back to work, while also advising commuters to avoid public transport – as capacity will be restricted and social distancing will be difficult to maintain.

The government is encouraging workers to walk or cycle to work, but commuting by motorcycling has long been proven to be good for mental health, allowing workers to reduce the time it takes them to get to work and enjoy a flexibility that’s not possible with a bus or train. With a summer of disruption ahead, maybe now is the time to think about commuting to work – especially during this period of good weather.

Commuting by motorcycle is a naturally isolating experience, with riders typically wearing their own protective clothing. If you don’t usually ride to work, please check with your insurance company to ensure that you are covered for commuting purposes.

Customers of Carole Nash can find out more at: https://www.carolenash.com/contact-us/