radak5osu wrote:Where does being 21 come into play? That seems like a rather arbitrary age to choose. I'm only 20 and bought my bike when I was 19 and I've never had any problems learning to ride by myself after my brother took me around for about half an hour in a parking lot to get me started. If I had to ride with an escort I'd be totally sunk. At college most of my friends don't even have cars on campus, and nobody else has a bike (yet). I'm not flipping out here it just always offends and bothers me when people assume that since I'm younger than them I'm not as responsible. And it's easy for someone to throw out a random age like 21 when you're already older than that. I've really enjoyed my riding the past couple of years and I look to enjoy many more years of responsible motorcycling. If you made anyone under 21 have an escort you would reduce the number of accidents, but you could reduce the number even further if you made everyone under the age of 50 have an escort. We as a society accept 16 (in many states) as an acceptable age to begin driving/riding, and this is a good thing as it gives teens a time to learn while still under parental supervision. Before you're 18 your parents control your license and your car. The people on the road that worry me more are actually the very old drivers who can't see or react at all (and all seem to drive Cadillac boats). But we shouldn't put an age cap on when you can drive. It should all be based on ability.
Point taken. Perhaps 21 isn't the right point. But it should be somewhere.
Also agree with you on the aged. My college age daughters worry me less than my parents.
Yeah, the whole "riding with an escort" thing is also apparently a rule in Colorado. I didn't know that until I had the license itself. While I had my permit I only went on one ride with another person on a bike, and that person didn't have a bike license. I also agree that if someone is made to ride with an escort they'll do too much too soon for their abilities. I probably would have if I had ridden with an escort.
Also agreed on the age thing. I can sit in ANY friend's car and feel perfectly comfortable riding around. (Well, except for one) but put me in ANY of my grandparents' cars and I'm downright terrified. Especially since my grandma can't seem to figure out where the lane line is or which pedal to keep pressed when and drives a stereotypical Cadillac Seville!
Wrider
Have owned - 2001 Suzuki Volusia
Current bike - 2005 Kawasaki Z750S
MMI Graduation date January 9th, 2009. Factory Certifications in Suzuki and Yamaha
In Michigan with a the "TIP" or temporary instruction permit, you must have a licensed rider in view of you at all times. You are not allowed a pillion rider, nor are you allowed to ride at night.
I can clearly see the no pillion and no night riding, but don't really get the point of the licensed rider. I mean it's not like a car where they're sitting next to you and can grab the wheel or stomp the brakes if you screw up, they just get to witness you screw up from a bit of a distance with nothing they can do for you at all.
You'd be well advised to take a look at what the local regulations say with regard to penalties, and find a way to check if your insurance would cover an unlicensed operator whether they're named on the policy or not, if you want to ride with no license.
I can't imagine any place that would require a pillion rider with a new/inexperienced/unlicensed rider. That just sounds dangerous, even with an experienced pillion who knows what to do, etc.
We have fun rules down here. Basically, you have to have at least a permit, but all the laws are specific to under 21 (helmet), 18 (practice 40 hours with a licensed parent or guardian plus 10 hours at night) and 15 (the age at which you can get a permit). And, because I have a full driver's license, a lot of restrictions go out the window, like crossing state lines and riding at night.
The down side? People here just renew their permits indefinitely. There aren't any restrictions, so riders figure why bother with the road test. I think the law is changing next year, though.
2008 Suzuki S40-for sale
2007 Road King-waiting until mid-May
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SCgurl wrote:We have fun rules down here. Basically, you have to have at least a permit, but all the laws are specific to under 21 (helmet), 18 (practice 40 hours with a licensed parent or guardian plus 10 hours at night) and 15 (the age at which you can get a permit). And, because I have a full driver's license, a lot of restrictions go out the window, like crossing state lines and riding at night.
The down side? People here just renew their permits indefinitely. There aren't any restrictions, so riders figure why bother with the road test. I think the law is changing next year, though.
Geez, that sounds exactly like the rules in Pennsylvania (except for the riding at night). I'm having a deja vu episode (since I was originally a South Carolinian).
I don't want to keep renewing my permit, though--I work on a military base and can't ride to work without a regular license and an MSF course card.
Wow I never realized the rules were so different in so many states. Finally something Ohio does right! With your permit you are restricted to no passengers, no night riding and no freeway. You have to wear a helmet with your permit and for the first year that you have your full license. There are still tons of people that simply don't have a license, and for a lot of people the only motivation for a license is so they don't have to renew their permit every year when it expires. But there's no way I could have had an escort when I learned. I simply just would have broken the law because it would have been nearly impossible to follow. Not enough people ride bikes. My parents don't. In fact it's my brother and I that are trying to convince my dad to get a bike, haha.
Here in ontario the system is worked out pretty well.
Get your M1 which is basically a learner's permit, in the spring. You can ride without a buddy, but no riding half hour before sunset, and half hour after dawn. No passengers, and no highways with speed limits above 80Km/h.
You keep that for 60 days, then you can go do the road test to get an M2, which is basically a probationary license. Almost no restrictions, except no blood alcohol level.
You can also do the motorcycle safety course on the M1, and when completed you get paperwork that will automatically upgrade your license to the M2.
Pretty good system. The M2 lasts for 5 years, so plenty of time to hone skills, and just zoom through the final test.
cfr250ryan,
Have you tried looking outside of Edson. Anywhere with a registries office shoud have soemone who does the road test. You may be able to get a better time if you ride an hour or so...
In Alberta you can get your license with either the road test or the skills test, plus the written test.
Good luck!
Just don't try to beat out the guy with the $15,000 speeding ticket!
I live by Millet, the bustling metropolis between Leduc and Wetaskiwin!
I live on a acreage a few miles out of town. Not as many neighbors to anger when the bikes start up.
I think the law is changing next year, though.
