Motorcycle riding course offered

The Wyoming Department of Transportation will be providing a Basic Rider Course in Thermopolis on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 17 and 18 at 8 a.m., at the WYDOT parking lot.

The Basic Rider Course (BRC) was developed by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. The course is designed for those who have little or no riding experience, although most experienced riders will also benefit from the course. It contains approximately 20 hours of instruction, both in the classroom and on-cycle.

A mandatory e-course is completed within 30 days of the class. The e-course will take about three hours and must be completed the Wednesday prior to class. On Saturday morning of your class, you’ll have an opportunity to familiarize yourself with the motorcycle with a low risk, hands on exercise. The class will continue through Sunday afternoon.

Motorcycles will be provided to use during the course. Successful completion of this course will allow a waiver of all testing requirements for a Class M endorsement provided completion card is presented to a Wyoming drivers services within two years of course date.

To qualify, you must:

•Be at least 15 years old on the day the course begins.

•Be able to ride a bicycle. This course is not designed to teach balance or coordination. Students with balance or coordination problems may find this course prohibitively difficult.

•Wear proper protective clothing during the on-cycle instruction, including: a helmet that meets U.S. DOT standards (one will be provided if you don’t have your own); eye protection (face shield or glasses); over-the-ankle sturdy footwear; a long-sleeved shirt or jacket; long, non-flare denim pants or equivalent; and full-fingered gloves, preferably leather.

•Have your parent’s written permission to attend the course if under 18.

The fee for the course is $50 for Wyoming residents and $150 for non-residents.

You can view a schedule of classes and locations and register for a class online at http://www.dot.state.wy.us/basic-rider,call 307-777-4874 or email jennifer.goodrich@wyo.gov.

Check out General Information about attending class on the site and print out a waiver before class. Class availability can change quickly, so continue to check website often if your preferred class is full. Walk-ins will be accepted on a first come first serve basis.