WYDOT provides motorcycle training

May is Motorcycle Awareness Month, and the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) is committed to removing barriers for riders on the path to the freedom of the open road on a motorcycle.

Starting this spring, motorcycle safety classes through WYDOT will now include an online component for a portion of the classroom learning. A three-hour online course is required to be completed 30 days prior to the class and replaces what was previously a Friday evening classroom session.

The hands-on safety riding instruction will still require face-to-face time with riding coaches, after the online learning portion, to get students acquainted with the motorcycles during a low-risk exercise at the beginning of class.

This past weekend saw 11 riders utilizing the local WYDOT office and parking lot for their learning. The curriculum employed by WYDOT is provided by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF). The updated curriculum is the result of extensive research which has been successful at a national level, WYDOT Motorcycle Safety Program Manager Jennifer Goodrich said.

The updated curriculum, including the online, classroom and on-cycle training is dynamic and engaging, Goodrich added.

All motorcycle trainers are MSF certified RiderCoaches and the training team is excited about the changes, Goodrich said.

To sign up or learn more about the new motorcycle safety online training program, go to http://www.dot.state.wy.us or contact Goodrich at 307-777-4874 or email jennifer.goodrich@wyo.gov.

WYDOT offers training from certified rider coaches who focus on the factors found to cause crashes, and teach the skills that can help prevent crashes. Among the training is the Basic Rider Course (BRC). Students must be at least 15 years of age; students under the age of 18 must have the written consent of a parent or guardian.

There is a three-hour online course, and motorcycles and helmets are provided. The course is 15 hours classroom and riding, covering risk assessment and management, riding gear and motorcycle basics, street strategies, advanced skills and special situations, and basic understanding of braking, cornering and swerving.

Successful completion of the BRC will allow a waiver of all testing requirements for a Class M endorsement provided completion card is presented to a Wyoming Driver Services within two years of course date.

This summer, WYDOT will host a course on July 28 and 29. To reserve your spot in a class, go online to http://www.dot.state.wy.us/basic-rider

The second course, known as the Experienced Rider Course (BRC2), helps riders improve their skills by focusing on fine-tuning the basic techniques such as braking, counter steering and cornering as well as bringing out some more advanced techniques.