Motorcycle Safety course New York

IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 28, 2009 - The Motorcycle Safety Foundation has been deemed the winning bidder for a five-year contract by the state of New York's Department of Motor Vehicles to administer the state's motorcycle safety program beginning this spring. Established in 1996, the New York State Motorcycle Safety Program trained 16, 363 riders in 2008 using MSF's Basic RiderCourseSM curriculum.

The MSF proposal outlined its 20-plus years of combined management of four state motorcycle safety programs, which currently deliver training to more than 100, 000 students annually - nearly a quarter of all riders trained in the United States. For more than 35 years the MSF has been the nation's preeminent motorcycle safety organization, with a growing international presence. More than 400, 000 riders nationwide take training each year using Motorcycle Safety Foundation curricula, which is available in all 50 states, and used by the Armed Services to train military personnel worldwide.

"In each state program it has managed, MSF has increased student-training numbers through more sites, more RiderCoaches, and improved operational efficiencies and quality control, while reducing operating costs and lowering costs to these rider-funded state programs, " said Robert Gladden, director of program administration for MSF. "We are excited to have the opportunity to do the same for the New York State Motorcycle Safety Program."

MSF's overarching goal is to increase availability and accessibility of training to prospective or current riders, to help reduce the number of motorcycling accidents and injuries in the state.

"We are also looking forward to working with the dedicated, high-quality training providers in the state, " Gladden said. Gladden added that the MSF RiderCourse Enrollment System, an online enrollment program for riders, will be made available at no charge to all New York State Motorcycle Safety Program subcontracted training sites to permit students to enroll in courses via the internet. This will enable MSF to transmit pertinent course completion information to the New York Department of Motor Vehicles within one business day of course completion.

A Quality Assurance Program will be implemented to provide for process improvement and oversight of facilities and equipment, RiderCoaches and curriculum delivery to ensure the best possible learning experience for the students.

"The Motorcycle Safety Program, the state of New York, and especially the riders and potential riders of New York will realize the many benefits of the state-of-the-art training and administrative practices MSF provides, " Gladden said. "We intend to provide both easy access to safe, high-quality training as well as a renewed emphasis on motorist awareness of motorcyclists on the roadway."