Humber’s kick-start to the motorcycle journey

May 16, 2018 | News, Sports

Motorcycles from Motorcycle Rider Training Program, Humber College. (Harmanjeet Singh/HumberNews)

Harmanjeet Singh Gurm

Humber College offers a summer treat for motorcycle enthusiasts with a rider training program on Harley-Davidsons.

The motorcycle rider training program is a seasonal program organized by Humber that provides an opportunity to learn the basics and become a licensed motorcyclist.

“This program was started in 1982 and it begins during the first week of April every year and runs till the end of the October during the weekends,” said Andy Hertel, Program Manager of Motorcycle Rider Training Program.

Hertel said that the program is a need within the community, where they teach people how to ride a motorbike safely by providing knowledge of all the rules and regulations.

“Lots of people learn motorcycle riding from their friends or relatives but they may not be learning the safety measures or rules & regulations,” he said. “So, there was a great need at the time to have professional instructors to teach in very systematic and chronological order. We adopted that and we have gone with it over the years.”

“This program consists of two courses. One is the basic riding training program and that gets people up to the M2 level of license, which means they have to go to the driving test centre and clear an M1 exit test,” he said.

Stephen Martin, Program Service Officer at Transportation Training Centre, Humber College with his motorbike. (Harmanjeet Singh/HumberNews)

Stephen Martin, program services officer at the Transportation Training Centre, said that people who are 16 years or above and possess an M1 written permit test are eligible to join the program.

“In our first course, we provide basic riding lessons to the M1 holder students, who have no prior experience of riding a motorbike,” he said. “We provide a theory class for the first day followed by the two days of full training on the motorcycles and after this training students obtain the M2 license.”

“The second course is to obtain a permanent Ontario driver’s license as with M2 people can drive for only five years and they have to upgrade it in order to continue their driving permit,” he said. “After two or five years of riding, students come back to us and we guide them to get the permanent M license.”

Hertel explained that the program provides a foundation for the students and does not set to make them an expert. He said that the program gives basics skills to the students so that they can go out and practice to learn on their own.

“It bring enhancement and something extra to lives.  Let’s face it, people take these courses in the same sense as they learn rock climbing, guitar or even photography,” he said. “They want to learn and also enjoy it and we provide them with both opportunities.”