Safety Classes copied from MPN

[blues2cruise]

It'd be great if the course were mandatory to getting a license.

I agree. It should become manadatory.

People who don't wear them don't seem to care. I have seen stickers and patches that say "helmet laws suck." I don't think promotion is going to reach that crowd.

They will never care regardless of promotion or laws.

[Skier]

It'd be great if the course were mandatory to getting a license.

I agree. It should become manadatory.

On the surface it appears to be a great idea. Looking closer shows how terrible it would be.

Even if the site problem could be resolved, there's the instructor problem. There would to more instructors or instructors that work full-time. If there's more instructors, they would have to be trained. But training doesn't mean experienced. So that's one issue. Another issue would be the number of those who would want to do this full-time. Say that dimension can be happily resolved…

If they do work full-time, they would be fools if they didn't demand benefits such as medical insurance, unemployment benefits, worker’s comp and so forth adding additional overhead and cost to the small business-owners that run these sites.

If sufficient instructors are available to work part-time, though, this may not be so. But, chances are, site owners who bought in for a penny under how the current program is run would have to be in for a pound to cover the higher overhead increased demand would necessitate. While there would be more students to share these additional costs, it’s very likely that the cost of training would have to rise as a result. Remember, there is no price cap in FL.

[SHADOW1100T]

What makes it even worse is that in Wa. if you go to Oregon and have a Wa. Lic. and take a the course which is basically the same course, Wa. won't recognize it, a few people looking out for number one got the ear of the law makers and going in total stealth mode got laws passed that (1) made Wa residents take a Wa. course, and (2) made it mandatory if you have 3 wheels to get a special lic. with the schools funded by registration costs, in my case it cost $456. to register my 1999 Shadow and sidecar set up, the school is a 2 day school, the schools are taught by 2 instructors, the waiting list is around 4 to 5 months, you have to get a temp lic. that's only good for 2 months and it has to be valid to take the school, once the temp lic. has expired you have to wait 4 months to get another one and this applies to all MC registered with 3 wheels, the school cost another $265 plus lodgeing and food,,,,,and you think you have problems.

[Skier]

What makes it even worse is that in Wa. if you go to Oregon and have a Wa. Lic. and take a the course which is basically the same course, Wa. won't recognize it, a few people looking out for number one got the ear of the law makers and going in total stealth mode got laws passed that (1) made Wa residents take a Wa. course, and (2) made it mandatory if you have 3 wheels to get a special lic. with the schools funded by registration costs, in my case it cost $456. to register my 1999 Shadow and sidecar set up, the school is a 2 day school, the schools are taught by 2 instructors, the waiting list is around 4 to 5 months, you have to get a temp lic. that's only good for 2 months and it has to be valid to take the school, once the temp lic. has expired you have to wait 4 months to get another one and this applies to all MC registered with 3 wheels, the school cost another $265 plus lodgeing and food,,,,,and you think you have problems.

The Oregon state motorcycle safety program uses a different curriculum than Washington state. Oregon uses a TEAM OREGON developed course, from Oregon State University. Washington uses the standard MSF BRC.

Washington state does accept other rider training for their endorsement: Idaho STAR, based off TEAM OREGON's course, is accepted in Washington. A year or two ago my GF passed the Idaho state course and received her Washington endorsement.

As for the three-wheel endorsement in Washington, if you were not grandfathered in five or six years ago, you have the option of taking the sidecar/trike safety class. You can get a learner's endorsement for the sidecar/trike and then take a test at a properly equipped DOL office. It's very similar to receiving your two-wheel endorsement.

The Washington state DOL page states all rider training courses now cost $125.

[MZ33]

They will never care regardless of promotion or laws.

No, but when it comes to riding without a helmet, its pretty easy to spot. If its illegal, that's a fairly easy one to catch.

If mandatory MSF classes would result in flooding a market that cannot handle it, what you're telling me is that there are flood of untrained riders out there. If waiting lists become unbearable, pressure will build to alleviate that. Riding isn't a right, any more than driving is. It's a privilege.

[Skier]

They will never care regardless of promotion or laws.

No, but when it comes to riding without a helmet, its pretty easy to spot. If its illegal, that's a fairly easy one to catch.

If mandatory MSF classes would result in flooding a market that cannot handle it, what you're telling me is that there are flood of untrained riders out there. If waiting lists become unbearable, pressure will build to alleviate that. Riding isn't a right, any more than driving is. It's a privilege.

There are floods of untrained riders out there. Plenty of ones without proper licensing, as well. Adding another hoop to jump through won't improve the skills of riders due to the watering down of the courses to shove riders through.