Safety focus of cycle training

Paying $4 a gallon for gas can take a toll on a student’s wallet.

On April 2, AAA’s Daily Fuel Gauge Report showed $3.64 as the average gas price.

The highest recorded price was $3.98 for unleaded fuel on July 16, 2008.

If students are looking for an economical way to save money at the gas pump, then riding a motorcycle could provide relief.

Totalmotorcycle.com states motorcycles average about 50-80 miles per gallon.

Cars range from 15-40 mpg for 2012 upscale sedans, fueleconomy.com reports.

If students are thinking about investing in a motorcycle, The Motorcycle School should be the first step.

Catherine Bochat owns The Motorcycle School at 4918 Fredericksburg Road.

She stresses that anyone who wants to ride a motorcycle should know the risks.

“The hardest thing to get people to realize when gas prices get high is the risk of riding a motorcycle,” she said. “They just want to save gas money.”

According to a 2009 report by edgarsnyder.com, there were 4,502 fatal collisions across the country.

“Don’t be stupid on a motorcycle,” Bochat said. “Our job is not to teach you how to ride a motorcycle. Our job is to teach how to be aware and how to reduce the risk.”

Riders must always inspect a bike before they ride.

A flat tire on two wheels can be more costly than on four because of the risk of flipping the motorcycle and incurring more serious injuries than those suffered inside an automobile during an accident.

The school, open since April 22, 2006, teaches fundamentals of riding a motorcycle.

As of September 2009, Texas state law mandated riders be certified in a motorcycle safety course, which the school offers.

If participants are 16 years old or older, the only prerequisite to taking the course is knowing how to ride a bicycle.

The basic course costs $195, and a helmet and the motorcycle are provided.

Classes are throughout the week at various times to fit a student’s schedule.

It is a two-day, 15-hour course in which students spend five hours learning material in a classroom and 10 hours training on a motorcycle.

There are 14 instructors, each with more than six years of experience, and the school has a 92 percent pass rate.

Robert Resendez, aviation sophomore at Palo Alto College said he was taking the course for economic reasons.

 “This course is badass,” Resendez said. “It’s tough but fun.”

For more information, visit themotorcycleschool.com.