Educator Topic

In this article, I’m going to try and give you a small amount of information that you may not have known about before, or possibly forgotten.

Did you know that ALL of the Rider Courses offered in the United States are open to the general public? This is so we maintain our compliance with our not-for-profit status. Even though our courses are designed as defensive driving/riding courses focused on member education and safety, this should not be interpreted as a GWRRA “driving school.”

How about some initials you’ve heard or seen, but don’t know what they mean:

Advanced Rider Course (ARC)

Trailering Course (TC)

Trike Riders Course (TRC)

Trike with Trailer Rider Course (TTRC)

Parking Lot Practice (PLP)

Experienced Rider Course (ERC – this is part of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation training and not GWRRA)

GWRRA CPR/First Aid Medic First Aid Programs (MFA)

Of course everyone knows that before you can participate in any of our courses, you must hold a valid operator’s license with a motorcycle endorsement as required by your home state. You already also know that all Riders and Co-Riders must wear “proper” riding gear while riding. This will include at a minimum, a DOT approved helmet, eye protection, full-fingered gloves, over-the-ankle foot protection (boots preferred) with the balance of the body fully covered (leather or abrasion-resistant attire preferred; denim accepted.) Jackets or shirts should be a single piece of apparel and not be modular (i.e., no “riding sleeves”). Although long sleeved t-shirts technically fulfill the requirements they are discouraged from use where and when practical. While these requirements shall apply at any GWRRA-sponsored Rider Education or competitive riding event, they do not apply to any “non-educational” or “non-competitive” riding activity, such as a Chapter ride, parade, fun/poker run, etc. (Except for Level IV riders where this applies at all times.)

For those of you who wish to take some time on a Saturday, GWRRA also offers Motorist Awareness Seminars. We can find a willing instructor and have this class at a Senior Center, Mall Shows or even a local High School. These Seminars would be:

Think Motorcycles

Share the Road

During our Chapter rides, we have some excellent people that lead and tail-gun our rides. Did you know however, that there is a class specifically designed for this purpose? Just because you know where the ride is supposed to end up, doesn’t mean that you have to lead the ride. It just means you need a CB radio, which coincidentally is one of the requirements for a Road Captain Course.

On my personal website at www.ka4cpo.com you’ll see an ad for “Air Evac Lifeteam.” Under this you’ll see upcoming events, but what I want you to do is watch the little thing I found on You-Tube about motorcycle crashes. It’s listed as a link “Have You Seen That Motorcycle Today.” Click on it, cringe, and then leave comments under the visitor section back at the top of the page. Also please pass this link on to anyone who you think might enjoy or learn something from this.

I have a whole book on things we should all at least be familiar with as a Rider or Co-Rider. I would be more than happy to let you look at it any time. I just really want to remind you that just because you can ride, doesn’t mean you can ride safely.

If we get lost, we just change our destination – Don & Sheila Luth

Nashville Traffic Cams