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DickyC · # 4 07-09-13, 12:11

Our motorcycle licence here in Guernsey must possibly be the most streamlined and simple process in Europe I suspect.

Category P - 50cc/4kw two wheeled vehicle. No test, other than a multi guess theory, required but you do have to attend a CBT (compulsory basic training) which is a two day (one day on a car park and one day on the road) course. Most pass. You can then ride on L plates for up to two years or take test and ride with a full P category.

Category A1 - Light motorcycle, with or without sidecar up to 125cc not exceeding 11kw. 16 years old if you have had a full P licence for 12 months or 17 years old on L plates after a theory test and a CBT.

Category A - Any motorcycle. Must be 18 years old. If you have had a full A1 licence for 12 months then you do not need a CBT or theory. You can buy any bike you like and ride on L plates. If you are totally green you can do a CBT and theory with a borrowed 250cc or similar then go out and purchase a GS1200 if you wish and ride on L plates!

Total cost for a full A licence is under �100. You must ride on L plates for a minimum of one month or a maximum of two years before taking your test. If you do not take a test for whatever category you are choosing within two years then you must wait another year before applying for a new provisional licence. You cant ride off Guernsey with L plates. If you have a ful car licence then you get a P category thrown in gratis.

So if you want to come to Guernsey and work for the summer in some sort of seasonal/short term job and get a full bike licence . . . why not . . . except there are some really bad 14 year old scooter riders buzzing around like wasps riding 30 centimeters from the bumper of the car in front! In fairness with a 35 mph speed limit the accidents, whilst common for scooter riders, are fairly low consequence. But I am not a fan of 14 year old's on our reasonably busy roads. Especially when you see them off to school in the short skirts, bare legs and arms and school bags dangling from one side. Cor I sound old! Needless to say my 14 year old daughter hasn't got a scooter and whilst I let my son ride the trials bike off roads, he too is not having on.

There are 6,000 registered two wheeled vehicles in Guernsey. That's one bike for every ten people approximately. That is a lot of midlife crisis riders who only ride on sunny Sunday's. All the secondary schools have large scooter parking for students as well.