ALL too often the reaction to Bikesafe and similar organisations trying to educate riders and improve motorcycle safety on the road is "Load of do-gooders trying to stop me from having fun on my bike."

How do I know? Simple. I've had those thoughts in my younger years when confronted by campaigns to improve the lot of the rider.

Normally I'd add the pithy remark that it's drivers mowing us down that causes most of the problems, so someone ought to teach them to look out for us.

Am I older and wiser to now write about and support Bikesafe?

Older obviously, wiser I doubt, but mainly I would like to see people enjoying motorcycling - including scooters, mopeds, trikes and outfits - for a long time in good health.

At On Two Wheels we have been talking to Bikesafe coordinator PC Mick Gear about the aims of Bikesafe and Edge 44, and what support we can provide.

The outcome is that we will bring the wisdom of these organisations to you in these pages on an occasional basis.

No preaching, just sense from professionals who know what they are talking about.

How you act upon it is up to you. It's your life, we'd just like to see you all enjoy it.

Edge 44 in Hampshire is run under the Bikesafe initiative in partnership with the Road Safety Unit of Hampshire County Council and the police, and supported by the Motor-cycle Industry Association.

Part of the service provided is rider assessment that we covered last year.

There are also rider workshops staffed by traffic police officers and first aid courses run by the Bikesafe team and paramedics with a doctor from the Basics charity.

This is just a preview. We'll cover all that in detail later, including clothing, bike preparation and rider skills.

Bikesafe will also be found at bike events, such as the Poole Quay gatherings, to inform riders of some of the best ways to keep enjoying riding.

Information about all this can be found at: www.bikesafe.co.uk. Follow the link to Hampshire for our region.

Bikesafe/Edge 44 are not touting the message that bikes are dangerous and should be off the road - far from it.

Having spoken at length with Mick Gear I assure you that they are not out to get us or stop us having fun either.

Their intention is to help us get the most from our riding, safely and preferably legally.