People looking to save money on gas this summer are turning to scooters and small motorcycles, and training instructors say riders need to think about safety as well as savings.
Instructors from the American Bikers Aimed Toward Education are teaching aspiring motorcyclists how to ride in a beginning course throughout summer. The organization offers two three-day sessions each week until September.
Site administrator and instructor Kim Wilkerson said most of the people she sees in the courses fit the Ball State student age range.
"I would say that we have a lot more of the younger generation, and I say we have a lot more women riding," she said. "A lot of it is due to the gas prices."
People interested in learning how to ride a motorcycle can go through a training session at Northside Middle School on Bethel Avenue. The session costs $50 for ABATE members and $75 for nonmembers.
The organization provides Suzuki 125 motorcycles, along with gas, for students to use. Sessions are broken into about seven hour days either Wednesday, Thursday and Friday or Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday.
The first day begins with about four hours of book work. Then participants go out to the parking lot to watch instructors demonstrate how to turn correctly, as well as other important beginner lessons. After the demonstration, the students execute the same moves with two instructors close by.
Wikerson said it is important to learn how to ride a motorcycle correctly, and ABATE's nationally certified instructors are a good source to learn the proper way.
"I learned in the backyard," she said. "Of course, [my father] said ‘This is what you do," and that is what I did. Come to find out years and years later, I was doing it all wrong."
By the end of the three-day course, participants are ready to ride a motorcycle independently.
"By taking this class, we supersede the state test," site coordinator and instructor Jerry Romine said. "If you come through here and graduate, then we give you a card at the end of the class that you take to the [Bureau of Motor Vehicles], and they validate your license."
Sophomore business accounting major Allie Craycraft said the class is an opportunity for Ball State students to learn how to ride a motorcycle safely in a fun way.
"[I want to get a motorcycle] for gas mileage and for fun," he said. "I wanted to do something entertaining over my summer, so I thought this would be something fun to do."
People can sign up for the beginning rider class at abateofindiana.org.
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