National Association for Bikers with a Disability
Encyclopedia
The National Association for Bikers with a Disability or NABD is a Registered Charity
(No. 1040907) in the United Kingdom and (No. SC039897) in Scotland. The NABD gives technical advice and financial grants to help to adapt motorcycle
s, sidecar
s and trike
s for use by disabled riders. It also gives advice on training and rider assessments. It owns a fleet of learner-legal motorcycles adapted for various disabilities, which it loans free of charge for training and tests.
The NABD is routinely consulted on issues relating to disabled motorcycling by the DVLA
, DfT
, VOSA
, DSA
, and MAVIS (the Mobility Advice and Vehicle Information Service).
and Manchester
who would not accept the idea that disabled people could not ride motorcycles, scooters, or trikes.
The initial project was to find a way to adapt a motorcycle for a rider who had suffered the amputation of his lower left leg in an accident. A fund raising party was organised and publicised locally and this prompted several other disabled people to contact the group asking whether it was possible for them also to ride motorcycles. Within 12 months the NABD had just over 100 members and had helped three disabled people to adapt motorcycles and ride independently. Each adaption had to be designed from scratch, the money raised and the engineering problems solved, but from this small beginning the NABD was later to become the World leader in motorcycling for disabled people.
The membership of the NABD has now grown to more than 5,000 individual members and has more than 200 affiliated clubs and businesses. Since its foundation the NABD has directly helped over seven thousand disabled people to enjoy the freedom and independence of motorcycling.
The NABD has been instrumental in the founding of similar groups in Norway, Sweden, France and Japan.
The administration costs of the association are met from other sources. NABD does not spend donated money on wages and plush office accommodation. The NABD has one full-time office administrator. The first post was initially financed by a grant from the National Lottery
Community Fund, and this post is now wholly financed by the proceeds of the NABD's national rally. Everyone else who works for the NABD is a volunteer.
in Cheshire
one weekend in May each year. This is both a social and a fundraising event that raises thousands of pounds for the charity. The NABD holds a number of smaller rallies in different parts of Britain during the course of each year for the same purpose. A number of motorcycle clubs also donate profits from their rallies, custom motorcycle shows and other events to the NABD.
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
(No. 1040907) in the United Kingdom and (No. SC039897) in Scotland. The NABD gives technical advice and financial grants to help to adapt motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
s, sidecar
Sidecar
A sidecar is a one-wheeled device attached to the side of a motorcycle, scooter, or bicycle, producing a three-wheeled vehicle.-History:A sidecar appeared in a cartoon by George Moore in the January 7, 1903, issue of the British newspaper Motor Cycling. Three weeks later, a provisional patent was...
s and trike
Trike
Trike can refer to:* Trichloroethylene* Tricycle* Three wheeled car* Three wheeled motorcycle* Ultralight trike, an ultralight aircraft with a hang glider style flexible wing* Trikke* Triceratops* Trike, an album of Bob Log III...
s for use by disabled riders. It also gives advice on training and rider assessments. It owns a fleet of learner-legal motorcycles adapted for various disabilities, which it loans free of charge for training and tests.
The NABD is routinely consulted on issues relating to disabled motorcycling by the DVLA
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency is the organisation of the UK Government responsible for maintaining a database of drivers and a database of vehicles in Great Britain; its counterpart in Northern Ireland is the Driver & Vehicle Agency...
, DfT
Department for Transport
In the United Kingdom, the Department for Transport is the government department responsible for the English transport network and a limited number of transport matters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland which are not devolved...
, VOSA
Vehicle and Operator Services Agency
Vehicle and Operator Services Agency is a non-departmental public body granted Trading Fund status in the United Kingdom sponsored by the Department for Transport of the United Kingdom Government.-History:...
, DSA
Driving Standards Agency
The Driving Standards Agency is an executive agency of the UK Department for Transport .DSA’s vision is 'Safe Driving for Life'. Its overall mission is to contribute to the public service agreement objective to achieve 40% reduction in riders and drivers killed or seriously injured in road...
, and MAVIS (the Mobility Advice and Vehicle Information Service).
History
The NABD was set up in April 1991 by six motorcyclists in StockportStockport
Stockport is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on elevated ground southeast of Manchester city centre, at the point where the rivers Goyt and Tame join and create the River Mersey. Stockport is the largest settlement in the metropolitan borough of the same name...
and Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
who would not accept the idea that disabled people could not ride motorcycles, scooters, or trikes.
The initial project was to find a way to adapt a motorcycle for a rider who had suffered the amputation of his lower left leg in an accident. A fund raising party was organised and publicised locally and this prompted several other disabled people to contact the group asking whether it was possible for them also to ride motorcycles. Within 12 months the NABD had just over 100 members and had helped three disabled people to adapt motorcycles and ride independently. Each adaption had to be designed from scratch, the money raised and the engineering problems solved, but from this small beginning the NABD was later to become the World leader in motorcycling for disabled people.
The membership of the NABD has now grown to more than 5,000 individual members and has more than 200 affiliated clubs and businesses. Since its foundation the NABD has directly helped over seven thousand disabled people to enjoy the freedom and independence of motorcycling.
The NABD has been instrumental in the founding of similar groups in Norway, Sweden, France and Japan.
Expenses
The NABD does not charge any administration fees for its services. It ensures that 100% of all financial donations from individuals, clubs or companies are used 100% for the benefit of, and services for, disabled riders.The administration costs of the association are met from other sources. NABD does not spend donated money on wages and plush office accommodation. The NABD has one full-time office administrator. The first post was initially financed by a grant from the National Lottery
National Lottery (United Kingdom)
The National Lottery is the state-franchised national lottery in the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man.It is operated by Camelot Group, to whom the licence was granted in 1994, 2001 and again in 2007. The lottery is regulated by the National Lottery Commission, and was established by the then...
Community Fund, and this post is now wholly financed by the proceeds of the NABD's national rally. Everyone else who works for the NABD is a volunteer.
Fundraising
The NABD holds a rally at Astle Park near ChelfordChelford
Chelford is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It is near to the junction of the A537 and A535 roads, about six miles west of Macclesfield, and six miles south-east of Knutsford. It is served by a small railway...
in Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
one weekend in May each year. This is both a social and a fundraising event that raises thousands of pounds for the charity. The NABD holds a number of smaller rallies in different parts of Britain during the course of each year for the same purpose. A number of motorcycle clubs also donate profits from their rallies, custom motorcycle shows and other events to the NABD.
Patrons
The NABD currently has nine patrons:- Billy ConnollyBilly ConnollyWilliam "Billy" Connolly, Jr., CBE is a Scottish comedian, musician, presenter and actor. He is sometimes known, especially in his native Scotland, by the nickname The Big Yin...
, comedian and actor, - Gary HavelockGary HavelockRobert Gary Havelock is a speedway rider who currently captains the Redcar Bears in the British Premier League...
, motorcycle speedwayMotorcycle speedwayMotorcycle speedway, usually referred to as speedway, is a motorcycle sport involving four and sometimes up to six riders competing over four anti-clockwise laps of an oval circuit. Speedway motorcycles use only one gear and have no brakes and racing takes place on a flat oval track usually...
rider, - Neil HodgsonNeil HodgsonNeil Stuart Hodgson is a former British motorcycle racer who won the 2000 British Superbike Championship, and the 2003 Superbike World Championship titles. Neil then went on to have a moderately successful 4 years in the American Superbike Championship, with a best 5th place championship finish...
, 2003 Superbike World ChampionSuperbike World ChampionshipSuperbike World Championship is the worldwide Superbike racing Championship. The championship was founded in . The Superbike World Championship season consists of a series of rounds held on permanent racing facilities...
, - David HoldingDavid HoldingDavid Holding is a British wheelchair athlete. Holding was born with spina bifida, a birth defect that affects the spinal cord, and has been in a wheelchair since childhood. An accountant by training, he competes as an amateur athlete in wheelchair races of all distances...
, Paralympics gold medallist, - Sammy MillerSammy MillerSamuel Hamilton "Sammy" Miller, MBE is a championship winning motorcycle racer, in both road racing and trials. He was awarded an MBE in the 2009 New Year Honours.-Career:...
, former international motorcycle trialsMotorcycle trialsMotorcycle trials, also termed observed trials, is a non-speed event on specialized motorcycles. The sport is most popular in the United Kingdom and Spain, though there are participants around the globe....
champion and grass track rider, - Mark O'SheaMark O'SheaMark O'Shea is a herpetologist, photographer, author, lecturer, and television personality.Originally from Wolverhampton, Mark O'Shea moved to Shropshire in 2001...
, herpetologistHerpetologyHerpetology is the branch of zoology concerned with the study of amphibians and reptiles...
and television presenter, - Suzi PerrySuzi PerrySuzi Perry is an English television presenter, best known for covering MotoGP for the BBC for 13 years and The Gadget Show.-Early life:...
, sports television presenter, - Robin, Third Baron RotherwickBaron RotherwickBaron Rotherwick, of Tylney in the County of Southampton, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 8 June 1939 for the shipping magnate and Conservative Member of Parliament, Sir Herbert Cayzer, 1st Baronet. He had previously represented Portsmouth South in the House of...
, member of the House of LordsHouse of LordsThe House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
, - Mik Scarlet, TV presenter and disc jockeyDisc jockeyA disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...