An initiative to promote the use of PTWs as a means to cut congestion, emission and parking problems could be jeopardised by the shortage of Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCIA) approved rider training facilities in the county.
Training schools are set to play a key role in the Motorcycle Northants campaign (see March BDN) by providing free taster sessions on safe ground to newcomers.
Trainer Geoff Wylie, who runs Academy Bike Training Corby, said he was happy to offer free rides to newcomers as part of the initiative, but warned that more schools would be needed if the scheme were to take off.
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Wylie was speaking at a recent meeting of the campaign’s prime movers – Northamptonshire County Council (NCC), the MCIA and Northants Motorcycle Trade (NMT), which is made up of dealers, trainers and other industry players in the county.
NCC, keen to be seen taking a responsible campaign approach in what many will see as a radical initiative, is recommending only training schools approved by the MCIA. But of the 11 training schools in the county, only one has MCIA approval — Karmenz, run by Karl Mendez (pictured) in Northampton for 20 years.
Mendez, who employs three full-time instructors, says: “Some training schools are absolute nightmares,” he said at the meeting. “We are trying to promote a very positive, professional standard for everybody involved.”
While a member of the public can select his training from any ATB site, NCC and NMT are recommending only higher standard MCIA-approved training schools as part of the Motorcycle Northants campaign.
Said NCC road safety officer Keith Millard: “The local authority will only recommend (MCIA) approved training schools. We want more people on board with accreditation.”
Full story in the May issue of BDN.
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