New motorcycle classes to begin at Springfield campus

OTC’s Community Enrichment Center will soon begin offering basic motorcycle instructions at the OTC Springfield campus.

The beginner classes give new riders a chance to prepare for the required state street test in order to gain a motorcycle license. In addition, students are taught basic survival skills in motorcycle driving.

“Everything you learn in the class can translate into how you use your bike. You drive over 2 X 4s, and you learn how to handle locked brakes,” said Lori Minor, community safety specialist for the CEC.

The classes had been held at the College’s TTI center in Ozark but had to be stopped because of parking lot conditions. Classes are still being held at the MODOT headquarters on East Kearney Street.

The new classes will be held in the CEC building and the full-sized test range being stripped on Parking Lot O, just southwest of the CEC offices.

Beginners don’t have to own a motorcycle in order to take the class. Motorcycles and helmets are provided during class.

“It will help some who are deciding if they want to buy a bike,” Minor said.

Students can use their own bike but the motor has to be less than 500ccs. Owners of the scooter-type 49cc models can also take the class for riding basics.

For the first time, the program will offer classes in driving the popular three-wheel motorcycles.

“It’s a new category for us. It can be the traditional-style bike with two wheels in the back or the new ones with two wheels in the front,” Minor said.

Taking the class will help riders obtain a discount from their insurance carriers in most cases, Minor said.

Some riders are required to take the class if they fail to pass the state’s street test three times. Others, who are ticketed for careless and imprudent driving, can take the class to have their sentence reduced.  The CEC program is only one in the state where ticketed drivers are sent from the court..

The classes are a total of 18 hours and are held over a Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The new classes are expected to begin in early August. More information is available by calling 447-8888.

Steve Koehler is coordinator of media relations for Ozarks Technical Community College. Contact him at koehlers@otc.edu.