12/11/09

Story by Peggy Graham

JCCC to offer motorcycle training

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — Get ready to ride. With the high cost of gas and efforts toward sustainability, more people are choosing motorcycles as their mode of transportation.

On Dec. 10, the Johnson County Community College board of trustees approved funds for the college to institute a motorcycle training program beginning March 2010 on the JCCC campus.

The course, which provides 20 hours of instruction including eight classroom hours and 12 hours of range instruction, is designed for the beginning motorcyclist who wants to operate his or her motorcycle safely and efficiently. A Kansas Division of Vehicles certificate of completion will be issued upon successful course completion.

The three-day classes are scheduled from 6-10 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Riding and maneuvers, including 17 exercises, are scheduled all day Saturday and Sunday in the JCCC parking lot. Two Motorcycle Safety Foundation certified instructors will teach a maximum of 12 students per class.

Bikes and helmets are provided. Stan and Elaine Rogers, who formerly owned Midwest Motorcycle Training Center, donated nine Honda Rebel 250 CC bikes to JCCC after their training program closed.

For more information, contact Phil Wegman, program director, skills enhancement, JCCC, at 913-469-4446, or pwegman@jccc.edu. To register, call 913-469-2323. Cost is $199. Classes for the spring semester will be March 26-28 (class filled), April 9-11, April 16-18, April 23-25, April 30-May 2, May 14-16 and May 21-23.