Motorcycle skills course now offered at BCC

 SUPPLY—Have you ever wanted to learn to ride a motorcycle? Or are you looking to sharpen your motorcycle driving skills?

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Brunswick Community College will begin to teach motorcycle rider education and safety courses for beginners and experienced riders.

“With all of the motorcycle enthusiasts in the county, we think the county has been needing this for a long time,” said Lori Summerlin, program coordinator. “In the last few years there has been an increase in the volume of people in this area on motorcycles.”

The program has been in the works for more than a year. BCC has teamed up with the Motorcycle Safety Foundation and the North Carolina Motorcyclists’ education foundation to bring classes to BCC’s campus.

“This is the first time these classes have ever been offered in Brunswick County,” Summerlin said.

The basic rider course is a 23-hour course aimed at beginner riders of all ages. The course includes classroom and riding time. Riding time is geared toward developing practical riding skills in a controlled off-street environment.

Courses will be 6-10 p.m. Fridays and 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

Class size is limited to six to 12 students.

Graduates receive a waiver card for the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. Riders will not have to take the NCDMV riding test, but they will still have to pass the NCDMV written and vision exam to obtain the full endorsement.

“The best part is you don’t have to have your own motorcycle to take the course,” Summerlin said.

Motorcycles are provided. There will be several N.C. Department of Transportation approved helmets for students to use, but students are encouraged to bring their own.

All students must wear a helmet, over the ankle footwear, long pants, a long-sleeved shirt or jacket, full-fingered gloves (leather is recommended) and protective eyewear.

Anyone operating a motorcycle on a public roadway is required to have a valid driver’s license and motorcycle endorsement.

“All of our rider coaches are experienced and have rider coach credentials,” Summerlin said. “We are very excited to offer this course.”

The first basic rider course will be Oct. 28-30 with classes to follow on Nov. 4-6, Nov. 11-13, Nov. 18-20, Dec. 2-4 and Dec. 9-11.

The intent is to begin classes every weekend at BCC starting in February.

Also in February the first experienced rider course will be taught. Classes are rain or shine and will be in parking lot H on the BCC campus.

The experienced course is for seasoned riders to “hone their skills and fine-tune the mental skills needed for survival in traffic.” The course is a one-day class.

Additional details and registration information for both courses is available by contacting (910) 755-7408 or online at www.brunswickcc.edu/ContinuingEducation/Programs/MotorcycleTraining.aspx. Registration packets are also available online.