“I’m only going to the corner dairy, so I only need to wear my helmet!”

“I can’t afford to buy all of the protective gear.”

“Wearing all this safety gear isn’t cool – none of my friends do.”

Kia ora,

While they will use helmets, young people who ride motorcycles often use phrases like these when asked why they don’t use other protective gear like gloves, boots and proper jackets and pants.

In the last five years in Porirua, there have been 47 crashes involving motorcycles and 38% of them have involved riders 16 – 25 years old, including five serious crashes and one fatality.

It is so important that these young riders understand the importance of wearing all the gear all the time, so Council is holding our first-ever Young Motorcyclist Safety Event on Tuesday 31 March after school to help educate our rangatahi to keep them safe on their rides.

Aotea College has kindly offered to lend us their car park, and The Motorcycle Collective will be bringing their mobile motorcycle workshop trailer to do free bike safety checks. We will be also offering information about protective gear and Ride Forever courses, a helmet cleaning station, free motorcycle safety packs and free pizza.

Please encourage any young rider that you know, aged 16 – 20, to come to bring their bike to this event so that they can obtain valuable guidance from experienced riders about staying safe on the road.

Gear up and chill out!

Free safety day for young motorcyclists.

Roll up for free gear, a free bike check, prize draws, motorcycle safety packs, and free pizza!

Tuesday 31 March, 3-5.30pm

Aotea College, Okowai Rd, Porirua

For riders aged 16-25 years