Bike video drives home safety tips

NANTICOKE – Urging motorcyclists to put safety first and take free training courses as part of a motorcycle safety campaign, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is driving home the point with a new motorcycle safety video documentary.

State motorcyclists, their friends and family members tell their own stories in the documentary, which debuted Wednesday at www.LiveFreeRideAlive.com.

“The Live Free, Ride Alive campaign is a major component of PennDOT’s efforts to reduce motorcycle crashes and fatalities on Pennsylvania roadways,” PennDOT Secretary Allen D. Biehler said in a press release.

In addition to the documentary, the website offers other resources, including sections on motorcycle gear and upkeep, rider tips and information about popular motorcycle routes in the Keystone State.

Riders can also enhance their driving skills and safety awareness by taking free training courses offered locally at Luzerne County Community College through PennDOT’s Motorcycle Safety Program.

Certified rider coaches Harry Salmon of Kingston and Walt Lansberry of Nanticoke led students through exercises in an LCCC parking lot Tuesday evening.

“A rider who never sat on a bike, we get them riding in under an hour,” Lansberry said.

Larry Golden, 39, of Sweet Valley, said Tuesday was his first time on a motorcycle as an adult, adding that his wife, Melanie, who also is taking the course, has been talking about learning to ride for the past 10 years.

“It’s better than trying to learn it by yourself. You have somebody watching over you. It’ll definitely improve your safety on the road,” Golden said.

Inside the college’s Educational Conference Center, Jason Wasmanski of Kingston taught another group of students about strategies for riding safely.

“We teach them about the types of motorcycles, controls on a motorcycle, scenarios on the road, how we would mitigate risks and, in general, the basics of motorcycling,” he said.

The courses are free to state residents and go from March through October at about 70 sites across the state. Motorcycle permit holders who successfully complete the course will be issued a motorcycle license.

The 15-hour Basic Rider Course consists of five hours of in-class instruction and 10 hours of practical riding experience under the watchful eyes of certified rider coaches. The course is a comprehensive safety and skills overview that provides valuable training for new riders.

It’s also helpful to more experienced riders, allowing them to polish their skills and recognize any unsafe habits they might have picked up. Motorcycles and helmets are provided for students taking the basic course.

A free, six-hour Experienced Rider Course is available to riders who completed the basic course; it helps refresh their safety knowledge and hone their skills on a riding range under the guidance of certified rider coaches.

Students taking the Experienced Rider Course must provide their own motorcycle and helmet.