To keep you up-to-date with the latest government advice, we regularly update this page with a comprehensive assortment of information, links to the relevant government pages and any additional information we receive from the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA).
Read below for the most up-to-date motorcycle and general business guidelines on managing COVID-19:
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Updated 19/05/2020
Car showrooms allowed to open
Providing stringent guidelines are met, car showrooms (and therefore motorcycle showrooms) are allowed to open. See our Retail Safety Products here: https://www.bickers-online.co.uk/covid-19-retail-safety-products-i65
Working from Home
Anyone who can work from home should continue to do so.
Anyone who cannot work from home should be actively encouraged to go into work if the business is open.
Public transport
Public transport should be avoided if possible.
Going outside
The public are allowed outdoors for unlimited periods of time, with a 2m distance maintained at all times.
Travelling by motor vehicle
The public are allowed to travel by motor vehicle to visit a variety of outdoor spaces, with a 2m distance maintained at all times.
This means that motorbike workshops are allowed to reopen if they were previously closed. Motorbike shops may reopen if they wish but there are stringent measures to be followed. Read more on this below.
Risk Assessment
All employers must undertake a risk assessment before re-opening their workplace. Employers with less than 5 workers or self-employed individuals do not need to create a written risk assessment.
Communication of risks to workers
You can read detailed advice on working safely during the coronavirus outbreak and how to communicate with your workers about working safely during this time here: https://www.hse.gov.uk/news/working-safely-during-coronavirus-outbreak.htm
Consulting with a health and safety representative
You must consult with the health and safety representative selected by a recognised trade union or, if there isn’t one, a representative chosen by workers. As an employer, you cannot decide who the representative will be. There is more information on health and safety representatives here: https://www.hsa.ie/eng/Topics/Safety_Representatives_and_Consultation_/
Taking Steps to Reduce Workplace Risk
The main steps in reducing workplace risk during the coronavirus outbreak are as follows:
Further steps apply regarding PPE and inbound/outbound goods. For these details please see here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/shops-and-branches
The MCIA has been working to push PTWs (powered two-wheelers) as a solution to public transport, especially in major cities, and you can help.
We all have the ability to grow our industry at this critical moment in time, and all it takes is an e-mail to your MP.
How can I help my industry grow?
Dear Mr/Ms (INSERT YOUR MP’s SURNAME HERE)
I am writing to you as one of your constituents who is employed in the Powered Two Wheeler (PTW) industry. The PTW industry collectively generates net annual sales in excess of £7 billion, while employing around 50,000 people across approximately 5,700 businesses in the UK and I am requesting your assistance in getting PTWs recognised as a serious transport mode for our time.
PTWs, in the form of low and zero emission scooters and light motorcycles, are a clean and efficient transport mode that require little road space for travel or parking and which can meet the needs of a variety of commuters, while at the same time fulfilling their social distancing and environmental obligations.
In the current climate they are the perfect alternative for those who would usually use public transport, but for whom walking and cycling are not viable options. Access to small PTWs is straightforward, with most requiring just the completion of a one-day training course, called CBT.
With so much going for them, it could be assumed that they would be heavily promoted by Government, as the country works towards easing lockdown, but unfortunately that is not the case.
In his briefing on Saturday, 9th May, the Secretary for State for Transport, the Rt. Hon. Grant Shapps MP, when promoting alternatives for public transport, extolled the road congesting private car and fast-tracked the consultation on un-regulated e-scooters, but ignored PTWs, even though they are already the choice of more than a million road users, legal and regulated.
Consequently, I would very much appreciate your assistance in encouraging Government and others to promote PTWs as a valid alternative to public transport and beyond.
Yours faithfully
(YOUR NAME)
To enable social distancing measures, MoTs due between 30 March and 30 September have been granted an automatic 6-month extension.
MoT Due 29 March or Earlier
If your customer wants to bring their bike out of the garage for essential travel, but the MoT was due before 29th March, their vehicle still needs a fresh MoT.
This is because the law changed from 30th March. Any vehicles with an MoT due 29th March or earlier can still be prosecuted for being used without an MoT.
MoT Due From 30 March to 30 September
If your customer had their MoT due from 30th March – 30th September, they are allowed to use their vehicle without having an MoT test. However, if their vehicle is stopped and found to be unsafe, they can still be prosecuted.
The rider’s MoT expiry date will be updated around 7 days before it was originally due to expire. Riders must check their MoT three days before their MoT was originally due to expire. If the expiry date has not been extended, they must e-mail covid19mot@dvsa.gov.uk
What happens from 30 September?
Every rider/driver with an MoT due between 30 March and 30 September has been granted a 6-month extension on their original MoT date. This means that a vehicle with an MoT expired in May will be due its MoT in November. Combined with those vehicles originally due an MoT in these post-lockdown months, it is anticipated the demand for MoTs from October 2020 – March 2021 will almost double.
If you are a certified MoT tester, you will need to prepare for this increased demand.
The government is offering assistance to businesses impacted by the coronavirus outbreak.
See below a list of useful links and resources:
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme
Until 31st July
The existing furlough scheme is unchanged until 31st July, with no employer contribution to the cost of the scheme required.
From 1st July
Flexible furlough scheme allows part-time working. The employer must pay for the days worked, while non-working days are covered by furlough. Employers must place new employees on the current furlough scheme by 10th June.
Further guidance on the flexible furlough scheme will be published on 12th June.
August 2020
Government furlough contribution will remain at 80%, but employers will be required to pay National Insurance and employer pension contributions.
September 2020
Government furlough contribution will be 70%, with employers contributing 10%.
October 2020
Government furlough contribution will be 60%, with employers contributing 20%.
The furlough scheme is currently planned to close at the end of October 2020.
