MC Training FYI

Just saw this article.... Looks like NH is trying to solve the increasing
deaths to motorcyclists...

Rex S.

http://tinyurl.com/7568c

http://news.yahoo.com/s/usatoday/20050906/bs_usatoday/moremotorcycledeathsp
romptpushfortraining

 

‘‘Rex wrote: Just saw this article.... Looks like NH is trying
to solve the increasing
deaths to motorcyclists...
Rex S.
http://tinyurl.com/7568c

‘‘Rex, without reading the article, I read where there's
more folks killed in boating accidents,than any sport, in my area and
around the great state of Arkansas.’’ Another view point is, There's
an increase of Motorcyclist, that stands to reason, why!
(BJAY)

 

(BJayKana) wrote in 3331.bay.webtv.net:

BJay,

The jest of teh article is exactly that.. there IS an increase in
motorcyclists.. and inmany cases it's people that maybe rode back when they
were teenagers.. and now they're *just* hitting retirement age, and are
buying bikes.. but maybe need a refresher MSF type course to get tehm up to
speed in regards to learning how to react in a way that will possibly save
their lives in panic-type situations...

I don't know where they got this statistic: "A 2003 survey by the
Motorcycle Industry Council found that 62% of motorcyclists had never taken
a training course." - Because they never asked *me* whether I took the
class or not.. and I'm sure they didn't ask most of the people where..
maybe a cut of a cross-section of people with the motorcycle endorsement on
their licenses...

Another interesting part of the article is something that I think would
greatly interest Bill Walker... While Bill is known to be fully in support
of people having traingng to ride their bikes.. there's always been the
issue of the cost of such training, and whether people are forced to take a
class to get their license... Let me quote again from the article:

"The foundation, funded by 10 major motorcycle manufacturers, has a
training curriculum that is used in nearly every state. Foundation
President Tim Buche says his group would support mandatory training if
states would come up with economic models that would make it possible. For
example, some states don't let trainers charge tuition and rely on license
fees to fund training programs. It can also be difficult to find enough
places to do the training, which requires a parking lot or other area at
least 160 by 260 feet in size."

I don't know what that will do for the cost of a new license - I'm sure
it'll raise it quite a bit for people getting the "M" endorsement on their
license if they are to take a class that's paid for in the cost of getting
the license... But then again... Many are already doing pretty close to
that... Pass the course, and Texas hands you a license endorsement after
answering a few questions successfully, and paying the state fee for the
endorsement. The main difference I see is to whom the $ is paid for the
class - and whether the rest of the taxpayers are footing the bill for a
new person to take the class. I'm vehemtly against paying for someone
elses' classroom time with my tax money. But given that.. It means that
the new bike endorsement recipient will shell out a chunk-o-change (at
least $185 here in Dallas for the course)...

Hmm - Boating deaths being higher? I certainly believe that for Lake
Lewisville. But then again - I don't consider riding a bike to be a
"sport". It's transportation to me... so it may not figure into that
statistic you cited...

Rex S.

 

‘‘Bjay,Another interesting part of the article is something
that I think would greatly interest Bill Walker... While Bill is known
to be fully in support of people having traingng to ride their bikes..
there's always been the issue of the cost of such training, and whether
people are forced to take a class to get their license... Let me quote
again from the article: REX

‘‘Rex, to my knowledge, and I could have overlooked a post or
two, Bill Walker hasn't taken the MC Training Course you are refrring to
above’’ I havent either, don't intend to. I understand theat about
85% of the training is riding around in some walmart parking lot. my
daughter just bought a 600 Shadow, after learning on a 250 Honda. We
went out on the rural roads, and that's where she learned, The curves
etc. Then we went onto business city roads, redlights, thick traffic,
all that stuff, that tends to make any of us nervous. She passed her
test, and is a bonified licensed motorcyclist.’’ BJAY