Playing it safe on two wheels
Non-profit has been teaching people to ride for decades
Instructors at KDSC are a curious mix of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. But in a good way. Kelowna District and Safety Council has been teaching motorcyclists to ride safely since the 1980s. It not only offers superb instruction, it does it relatively cheaply since, as a non-profit, it doesn’t charge taxes.
When the instructors are in Dr. Jekyll mode, they teach lessons that are as applicable to life and driving a vehicle as they are to motorcycle riding:
• Look ahead; see what can go wrong.
• It’s easy to miss something you’re not looking for.
• Let your eyes lead the brain. The bike (your car, your life) will go where you look.
• Speed narrows peripheral vision — and peripheral vision diminishes with age.
• Alcohol and motorcycles (alcohol and cars) do not mix.
• The most crucial control on a motorcycle (car or life) is self-control.
Mothers seem to know intuitively that what KDSC teaches can keep their motorcyclists stay safe — and alive.
“We are the mom wall,” said Bill Downey, who started riding in the 1980s, and instructing at KDSC in 2008.
“A lot of our students attend because a significant other (often mom) has stipulated this as a requirement for them giving permission.”
Ella Law, Shae Ryga and Davin Blasar, all 16, were told to go by their mom or dad; Bruce Taplin, 59, by his wife.
“Last October, I had a heart attack, and spent a week in hospital.” said the retired web designer. “I’m fine now, but that kind of thing definitely puts life into perspective. YOLO, right? So I put my saggy ass in gear and started the learning process.
“Many riders I spoke to while researching bikes (he bought an Indian Scout) spoke favourably of KDSC’s expertise. I read a story ... in late March extolling their virtues, and had seen them in the Farmers’ Market parking lot for years.”
Al Theriault, 36, took the course, not because his wife told him to, but
because he wanted to ride with her.
Theriault used to ride 15 years ago, but sold his Harley-Davidson Fat Boy when his life circumstances changed and he let his licence lapse.
But his life circumstances changed again.
“My wife was selling her bike because she had no one to ride with. The day someone was coming to look at it, I bought a Honda 1800 VTX. She didn’t sell her bike, so I practised riding with her.”
Since he had ridden before, had practised with his wife and had the outline of the Motorcycle Skills Assessment, he felt confident when he headed to ICBC to take the test that would lift some restrictions on his learner’s permit.
“I choked,” he said. “I couldn’t keep the bike straight; I ran over cones. I was a nervous wreck.”
His friend, Gordy, who crashed 30 years ago and hadn’t ridden until last year, gave him some life-saving advice.
“He said, ‘Al, you need to go take the same course that I took last year with KDSC.’
Theriault not only got his confidence back, he learned new skills and unlearned old ones.
“I had a great time learning; learnt some things I had forgotten — clutch control was a big one — got rid of some bad habits, like putting two feet down, and not putting my feet back on the pegs.”
With just two days of instruction and practice at KDSC, he aced the test three weeks ago, on a Sunday afternoon.
Sunday afternoon is when the transformation happens: Dr. Jeykll instructors, who are nice, encouraging, forgiving and motivating, turn into Mr. Hyde. They become agents of ICBC while giving the MSA, which involves 15 manoeuvres focusing on speed control, and steering/balance.
Some people lacked Theriault’s confidence and riding skills — at least in first gear (the instructor’s walking pace), where most of the test is conducted.
Forget to put up your kick stand, you fail.
Put your foot down, one demerit. Stall, demerit.
Run over or miss a cone. Demerit. And there are a lot of cones.
Two demerits in one manoeuvre, hasta la vista, baby.
Six demerits, you’re done. Fortunately, riders get two chances on a Sunday afternoon, which might explain why there is a 98 per cent pass rate for people who train with KDSC instructors.
And, if riders buy the KDSC gold package, and fail, they can re-take the course again.
Theriault didn’t need to, but is still happy he bought the gold package.
“I am looking forward to passing my road test July 16 (with ICBC). I’ll be using the bike provided by KDSC because I bought the gold package.”
Like McDonald’s, KDSC offers a full-meal deal — but without the calories.