OFF THE WIRE
VIEW BEFORE YOU RIDE: From left, Gurminder Marwaha, inventor of the iBiker app for Android and iPhone, John Siddle, of Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership, and Lincolnshire Police Advanced Motorcyclist PC Peter Wing with a GoPro camera mounted on the front of his bike. Picture: Anna Draper
Lincolnshire Police motorcyclists will capture county roads on video and provide a commentary covering sharp bends, hidden dips and refreshment stops for the benefit of the biker community.
The information will be available via the iBiker app for Android and the Apple iPhone.
One popular biker route to be filmed is the A631 between Caenby Corner and West Rasen, and then into Market Rasen and on to Louth.
Particular hazards to be highlighted along the way include the speed camera at Bishopbridge and the sharp turn at West Rasen.
The commentary will also flag up Willingham Woods, just outside Market Rasen, a popular meeting point and rest-stop for bikers. The use of technology is part of ongoing police education and enforcement campaigns to get riders to make better riding decisions and avoid going too fast.
Detective Inspector Rob Grace, of Lincolnshire Police, said: "The iBiker app is an innovative, forward-thinking, consumer-friendly app and an excellent way motorcyclists can preview roads from a bikers' perspective and plan journeys on what may be an unfamiliar road, all from video run-throughs.
"It complements Operation Octane in seeking to reduce those killed or seriously injured on Lincolnshire's roads, particularly among the vulnerable user group of motorcyclists."
Gurminder Marwaha, formerly of Cheshire Safer Roads Partnership, developed the iBiker app. He visited Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership to explain the technology.
He said: "The bikers like the cool stuff like plotting and planning their routes and sharing the information with their mates by Facebook and Twitter.
"But equally, there's the road safety element. It identifies the riskiest roads and routes, and some bikers won't have that local knowledge."
So far this year, three motorcyclists have been killed in crashes on Lincolnshire's roads and four have been seriously injured.
Last year, ten bikers or passengers were killed and 106 people seriously injured in bike-related collisions.
In 2009, five bikers were killed in crashes and 91 seriously injured in Lincolnshire.
This compares with 13 biker deaths and 75 serious injuries the year before. In 2007, 22 motorcyclists died and 85 were badly hurt.
The information will be available via the iBiker app for Android and the Apple iPhone.
One popular biker route to be filmed is the A631 between Caenby Corner and West Rasen, and then into Market Rasen and on to Louth.
Particular hazards to be highlighted along the way include the speed camera at Bishopbridge and the sharp turn at West Rasen.
The commentary will also flag up Willingham Woods, just outside Market Rasen, a popular meeting point and rest-stop for bikers. The use of technology is part of ongoing police education and enforcement campaigns to get riders to make better riding decisions and avoid going too fast.
Detective Inspector Rob Grace, of Lincolnshire Police, said: "The iBiker app is an innovative, forward-thinking, consumer-friendly app and an excellent way motorcyclists can preview roads from a bikers' perspective and plan journeys on what may be an unfamiliar road, all from video run-throughs.
"It complements Operation Octane in seeking to reduce those killed or seriously injured on Lincolnshire's roads, particularly among the vulnerable user group of motorcyclists."
Gurminder Marwaha, formerly of Cheshire Safer Roads Partnership, developed the iBiker app. He visited Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership to explain the technology.
He said: "The bikers like the cool stuff like plotting and planning their routes and sharing the information with their mates by Facebook and Twitter.
"But equally, there's the road safety element. It identifies the riskiest roads and routes, and some bikers won't have that local knowledge."
So far this year, three motorcyclists have been killed in crashes on Lincolnshire's roads and four have been seriously injured.
Last year, ten bikers or passengers were killed and 106 people seriously injured in bike-related collisions.
In 2009, five bikers were killed in crashes and 91 seriously injured in Lincolnshire.
This compares with 13 biker deaths and 75 serious injuries the year before. In 2007, 22 motorcyclists died and 85 were badly hurt.
