Bike PAC of Oregon
PAC 00019
Motorcycle Safety Foundation asks
to have its course certified in Oregon
Friday, October 21,
MSF's Oregon lobbyist formally presented a report
asking MSF's Beginning Rider Course (BRC) motorcycle
training program to be certified by ODOT. This manuscript
is a self-critique by MSF evaluating their program
against Team Oregon. Team Oregon is currently the
only state approved rider training which can grant
DMV skills test waivers for getting driver's license
motorcycle endorsements. MSF is asking to be able
to issue DMV test waivers as well.
BikePAC received a
copy of this book and it is currently under review.
According to Ken Ray, Executive Director of BikePAC,
there will be more detailed information in the future
about the contents. Ken does believe there are several
items in this document that bear some initial scrutiny.
For example under section IV, Comparing BRC to Team
Oregon, MSF believes that an acceptable training
motorcycle for a first-time rider is one that is
500cc and 30 inches high at the seat. Also the MSF
document has quite a bit of condemnation of Team
Oregon and the methodology of Oregon's study which
evaluated rider training in the state. A National
research group affiliated with the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration recently declared
Team Oregon as having the highest national ranking
in promising practices in motorcycle safety and
rider training. BikePAC therefore finds MSF's criticism
out of place in a document purported to be an objective
side-by-side evaluation. However, the proposal must
be examined at face value and objectively assessed.
BikePAC has full confidence
that the Governor's Advisory Board on Motorcycle
safety will evaluate this proposal thoroughly. As
BikePAC's primary desire is for the most effective
rider training to be in place in Oregon, we welcome
a fair, thorough and objective appraisal. It was
made clear that there will be an opportunity for
public input and the views of all of us will be
taken into account. It will be crucial for every
rider in Oregon to stay on top of this issue. Motorcyclists
in Oregon created the Oregon motorcycle safety program
from scratch some 20 years ago and we are all the
caretakers of it for the future.
For more information,
contact:
Ken Ray, Executive
Director, 503 351 8193
www.bikepac.com
