New Motorcycle Rider Class at ACTC

A Basic Rider 1 Course for motorcyclists is being offered this fall by ACTC.

The twenty-hour course is designed to fit into a weekend, with class sessions on Friday from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The course is offered five times this fall: Aug. 26 to 28, Sept. 16 to 18, Sept. 30 to Oct. 2, Oct. 14 to 16 and Oct. 28 to 30.

The course is for non-riders, new riders, or someone wanting a refresher course. No prior motorcycle experience is required. Those who successfully pass the course will get a waiver for the motorcycle license skills tests and may be eligible for reduced insurance rates.

The Basic Rider 1 Course is part of Kentuckys Motorcycle Rider Education Program (KMA), which uses standards established by the national Motorcycle Safety Foundation. Basic Rider courses are now used in 48 states to teach basic skills or boost existing skills while emphasizing safety.

Participants will learn to maneuver and operate a motorcycle in a course that includes about five hours of classroom instruction and 15 hours of riding exercises in a controlled environment.

Classes are at the KYOVA Mall on U.S. RT 60 about six miles west of Ashland and two miles east of I-64 exit 185. The Friday evening class will meet in Room 440 near the food court. The Saturday and Sunday classes will be in the malls back parking lot.

All classes must be attended in order to complete course requirements. Kentucky circuit court clerks will accept only KMA course completion cards as a waiver for the license skills test. Ohio and West Virginia also recognize the KMA course completion cards.

Each course is taught by two certified Rider Coaches. The coaches go through an initial 60-hour training workshop, pass written knowledge and riding skill tests, and successfully conduct student teaching assessments. They must also participate in professional development sessions and re-certify each year.

The first night of classroom work includes information about riding gear, controls, braking procedures and street strategies for road safety. Saturday and Sunday class sessions focus on riding skills. Participants get experience in using the controls, straight line riding, braking, shifting and turning, cornering and u-turns, with pointers about braking on curves, swerving, running over obstacles and other situations.

On the riding skills days, students must bring eye protection and wear over-the-ankle boots or shoes, long sturdy slacks, long sleeve shirt or jacket, and full fingered gloves with a vinyl or leather palm. Helmets and motorcycles are provided, though students may choose to bring their own DOT approved helmet to the class.

The Basic Rider I fee is $100 for KY residents and $125 for OH or WV residents. Pre-registration is required, and fees must be paid by the Wednesday before a course begins. To register or for more information, contact ACTC Lifelong Learning, 606-326-2072, 800-928-4256 ext. 62072 or email: as_LLL@kctcs.edu.

Any individual, 16 years of age or older, may participate in the Basic Rider 1 Course. Those under age 18 must have the written permission of a parent or legal guardian ,and this waiver form must be notarized. Waiver forms may be obtained from Lifelong Learning.