What does the second COVID-19 lockdown mean for motorcycles
With the UK being placed into a second COVID-19 lockdown this week, Visordown looks at how it will affect the world of motorcycling
ON Friday Boris Johnson announced that the UK would be placed into another national lockdown to try and prevent a second wave of COVID-19. He announced that as of Thursday, 00:01 am 5th November, the current tiered system would be replaced by an England-wide lockdown.
From Thursday, people are being advised to stay at home except for a specific set of circumstances. Those include education, going to work – if the work cannot be completed from home, exercise and recreation, medical and healthcare reasons, shopping for essentials, and to provide care for others. The rules will also prevent people from separate households mixing outdoors.
For motorcyclists specifically, the opportunity to get away this weekend on a short motorcycle tour – be it the UK or abroad – has almost certainly sailed. The advice from the government is that people should reduce the number of journeys they make, be it in or out of their local area. The guidelines will also forbid travel to second homes, and overnight stays away from a person’s primary residence.
Will motorcycle dealerships close?
One of the measures used to try and stop the spread of COVID-19 is the closure of non-essential businesses, venues, and shops. With car and motorcycle dealerships being classed as non-essential retail, most will be forced to shut their doors. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that will stop trading altogether. During the first lockdown, many dealerships remained open, although only for online sales being fulfilled by post.
This style of trading may not be the norm across the entire country though, so the public should check their local lockdown restrictions in detail.
When will the lockdown the COVID-19 lockdown end?
The idea is to bring the country back to an even keel as soon as it is safe and feasible to do so. The formal restrictions will end on the 2nd of December. There is a chance though that the easing of restrictions, and the opening up businesses and venues, will not be instantaneous. The government and its advisors will likely lower the restriction levels slowly and cautiously.
For more help and advice on how to stay safe during Coronavirus, head to gov.uk
Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
