| Author | Message | ||
     Hdbobwithabuell |
Attention North Carolina Motorcyclists 07/27/2009 Information Bulletin - Motorcycle Learner's Permit and Endorsement Bill Moving in Legislature More Info Senate Bill 64, sponsored by Senator Harry Brown (R-Jacksonville), would change the law for anyone seeking a motorcycle learner’s permit or a motorcycle endorsement on a driver’s license. The most significant change would be a requirement for all first-time endorsement applications to provide proof of completion of a Basic RiderCourse or Experienced RiderCourse in North Carolina. While the AMA strongly supports rider education, it does not support mandatory rider education for adults. See our position statement on Rider Education at http://www.amadirectlink.com/legisltn/positions/ri dered.asp. Senate Bill 64 was to be considered in the House of Representatives on July 27, but was postponed until July 28. If you believe mandatory rider education will cause problems for motorcyclists and the North Carolina Motorcycle Safety Program, contact your state representative to voice your concerns. Enter your Zip code in the “Who Represents Me?” box at http://www.ncleg.net to obtain contact information for your representative. You can read the bill text at http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2009/Bills/Senate/PD F/S64v4.pdf. | ||
| Ironhead1977 |
We have that in FL now. It is no big deal as the tank top,flip flop in a pair of shorts riding folks are still out there. Just fewer of them as time goes by. | ||
| Glitch |
Why not mandatory classes? Personally I believe it would do a lot of good. I'm tired of seeing people learn to ride trying to get to "bike night" | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I don't like the government making it mandatory. If it MUST be done, I would also request that EVERY new driver be required to attend as well with emphasis placed upon rider visibility and motorcyclist awareness. What's good for the goose is good for the gander. Considering most on the road motorcycle accidents involve a car, it would be good to educate the other half of the equation. | ||
| Xb9ser |
I live in NC and think it it is a good idea. The kids have to take drivers ed to drive a car.Last year when my daughter wanted to learn to ride. First thing I did was sign her up for Riders Edge class.Maybe they will offer it in the schools along with drivers ed. The school my kids went to offered hunter safety class which is required for a hunting licence | ||
| Hdbobwithabuell |
It's true that you are required to take driver's ed to get your license before your 18th birthday. What kind of reception would a law requiring EVERYONE to take a $150-$250 class before getting a driver's license get? | ||
| Hughlysses |
IIRC, some states have been providing the BRC for free. No idea if that will be true in NC or not. I imagine a lot of this is NC trying to address a problem we also have in SC. I've seen it stated that something like ~70% of the people riding motorcycles here don't have a motorcycle endorsement on their license. Most just get a beginner's permit and renew it yearly. If they at least forced them to take the riding test to get the motorcycle endorsement that would weed out a lot of the guys who have no business riding. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
It only cost 25 bucks to take the class in Ohio. But I think they are going to up the fee to 50 or 100 bucks. I hope raising the tuition will prevent all the no shows for class.... Our program is also funded by motorcycle riders. Every time you renew you license plate 6 bucks goes to Motorcycle Ohio. Plus, Being a MSF instructor.... making it mandatory would sure help my bottom line. | ||
| Froggy |
NY picks up part of the tab for the BRC. | ||
| Thetable |
You can't legislate against stupid, it just doesn't work. Let Darwin work his magic. | ||
| Ulywife |
Living in NC and having just gone through the MSF course, I think it's a good idea. For me, it was $110 well spent. I'm still surprised that after 2 days of instruction, if you pass your written test at DMV, then you are free to ride on your own. Some people take to riding very quickly...others, well it takes them a bit longer. I'm always scared when I see someone taking off on a motorcycle and it looks just like my 5 year old learning to ride without training wheels...wobble, wobble, wobble. If you have to take a driving course to get a driver's license, why should motorcycles be any different? | ||
| Fast1075 |
The US is one of the most liberal countries in the world with respects to the required qualifications to ride bikes...there are too many people that ride that are not qualified at all...and too many that are not qualified to ride the bike(s) they have. MSF courses do a good job. I applaude them as a step in the right direction...what is needed is graduated licensing...letting a noob loose on a superbike should not be allowed...Level 1 license...up to 250cc..and so on....the costs for the instruction and training shouldn't be a problem...if someone can afford the coin for the super-hyper bike...they should be able to afford the required minimum number of track days to qualify. | ||
| Crackhead |
I really like the graduated licensing systems. Except start the learning process at a younger age, say 13 when the mind can easily pick up new processes. I wounder how many Blast would be sold with the graduating system. (Message edited by crackhead on August 04, 2009) | ||
| Mark61 |
If states would require prof of motorcycle operators license BEFORE being able to BUY a motorcycle it would go a long way to helping! mark61 | ||
| Bbbob |
I live in Fla & sell motorcycles here, it hasn't negatively effected sales & a majority of people do take the course seriously even though they "have to take it"& are better riders for it. There will always be a small % of people that think they know better, mandatory course or not, they are destined to be a statistic. | ||
| Iamike |
Even though I had been riding about 20 years when my son took the MSF class so that he could get his license at 16 I took it with him. I had a ball and the instructors kept telling me that I was having too much fun. But I took it seriously and feel that I learned some. The hardest drill was where we had to stop in 25'. Those Honda Shadow 250's with drum brakes would only stop if you squeezed the lever to the grip. It took me about 5 tries before I could do it. I told the instructor that if I did that with my Buell that I'd be laying on the ground with my bike on top of me. Even though I am against the government telling me to do things, when people act as irresponsible as so many motorcyclists do... I just wish that the G would go after the irresponsible motorists too. I'm tired of reading about all these accidents caused by people driving without licenses, insurance and it isn't their first offense at it. | ||
| Hdbobwithabuell |
I took the course very seriously even though I had several years riding experience when I took it with my wife. I discovered almost immediately that they had something to teach me that I thought I already knew. Little things like "looking through turns"... We all know these classes are very worthwhile. But don't let government single out motorcyclists as being a distinct and separate problem child. There are those out there that would BAN motorcycles from public streets for what can be made to sound like very logical reasons. | ||
| Tnxbrider |
great thought but not practical. How many new and used motorcycles sell each year in any state? Now how many slots in a MSF or other training classes at maximum capicity could you possibly train? You would have a 10 year backlog in year one. I do love the idea of training, it simply is not possible or practical to think it can effectively happen. | ||
| M2nc |
NC resident and I would support the law. Riding a bike is much more complicated and dangerous than driving a car. There is driver's ed for cars, MSF for bikes just makes sense. Even though I picked up the skills to ride pretty quick and was already riding on the street before I took the course, I learned a lot in MSF. I think all riders should take it and say so to anyone getting into riding. | ||
| Gregtonn |
When I was high school (IA) the school provided Drivers Ed courses. Why not Riders Ed as well? G |
