When I first heard of this concept, it intrigued me…not because of the fact that it would be taking students out in real life ever changing conditions, but because it would save lives.  My biggest concern with motorcycling has and will always be safety, the fact it is ridiculously easy to get our endorsement and a free ticket to ride any displacement machine we wish…  It is almost a joke that we learn the basics of motorcycling in a parking lot where we don’t ever cross the threshold speed of 30 mph or ever encounter traffic, cars, pedestrians, animals, and cyclists.  Then we are given our endorsements where we face these real life conditions on a daily basis and may not have the necessary knowledge or tools needed to be able to ride competently.  I’ve ridden like I am invisible to drivers from day one and it has saved me numerous times, but this class was a concept based on how to be seen by drivers, making my presence known, now that caught my attention.  This was something I truly wanted to be a part of and to change riders attitudes on the road and improve their odds of making it home daily to their families safe and sound.

I took this course with two other instructors (Hines Staylen and Tracy Jeffries) and we learned how to communicate our thoughts concisely into words through a push to talk system that would allow us to be heard by the students.  We went through routes practicing various road challenges, how to convey those thoughts, what we would use as a strategy and then explain why we chose to execute that plan.  It was revolutionary in the way the class would be taught and while I played student for part of a day, it made me realize, that this would provide those much needed tools so many riders lacked when putting on their helmet to negotiate the roads daily.  I learned the hard way, lots of seat time and basically through survival (being small you have to demand to be seen), I learned how to make motorists see me and am always hyper aware when riding, these are things that are learned through time, but I was shocked at how much more I learned through this concept.

I am proud to be a part of Chris Johnson’s, owner of WMST, vision in helping to educate riders and save lives.  When we offer this course, it will be through WMST and I will be teaching it with Tracy Jeffries.  We will be offering “Women’s only” courses so please join us in our continuing effort to educate and empower women riders.  I will be posting the schedule for this course later this year or early next year and we urge you to spread the word to other women riders that this class will save their lives.  Whether you are a newbie or a seasoned rider, this class is for every skill level.  As women we have our families and loved ones we want to come home to safely everyday, why not ensure that we have the skills necessary to make this possible?  Ride safe Vixens!!!