Economy hits motorcycling: enrollment in motorcycle safety courses is down.

October 7, 10:10 PMBaltimore Motorcycle Travel ExaminerTom Bachur

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Students practice crossing obstacles during a BRC class at Derby     Motorcycle School in Louisville, KY  (Photo/David A. Davis)                  Click Here To See A Slidehow of Other Photos

Maryland Motorcycle Safety Program Training Centers are reporting lower than normal enrollment for this time of year. Typically, motorcycle safety courses fill early and remain that way through the end of the training season.  The training season runs from late March to late October at most of the seventeen Maryland Training Centers.

Similar trends are being reported by motorcycle training programs nationwide.  The economy is considered the most likely culprit, although some speculate that increased media focus on motorcycle crashes may be scaring away potential riders.

The "Basic Rider Course" encompasses seven hours of classroom and ten hours of on-motorcycle instruction.  Motorcycles are provided by the training center.

Students successfully completing the Maryland Motorcycle Safety Program Basic Rider Course are provided a Maryland Completion Card and a Completion Certificate to take to the Motor Vehicle Administration to obtain a Class M (motorcycle) license.

Visit the Maryland Motorcycle Safety Program's website for additional information, other courses and motorcycle safety tips.

Although there are only a few weeks remaining in the 2009 training season, it is a very good time to register and take a Motorcycle Safety Course.

The seventeen Maryland Training Centers are:

1. Allegany College of Maryland
Center for Continuing Education
12401 Willowbrook Rd, SE
Cumberland, MD 21052
http://www.allegany.edu/acce.htm/business/motorcyclesafetyprogram.shtml
For more information, call (301)784-5341

2. Anne Arundel Community College
101 College Parkway
Arnold, MD 21012
www.aacc.edu/motorcycle
For more information, call (410)777-2325

3. Carroll Community College
1601 Washington Road
Westminster, MD 21157
www.carrollcc.edu
For more information, call (410)386-8100

4. Cecil Community College
One Seahawk Drive
North East, MD 21901
www.cecil.edu/programs/programs-05-07/transportation-logistics/motorcycle-safety.asp
For more information call:  (410)392-3366

5. College of Southern Maryland
Continuing Education (ARR)
8730 Mitchell Road
La Plata, MD, 20646
www.csmd.edu/ContinuingEducation/programs/drivertraining/motorcycle/

6. Frederick Community College
7932 Opossumtown Pike
Frederick, MD 21702
www.frederick.edu/courses_and_programs/ce_motorcycle.aspx                                                                         For more information call: (301)846-2427

7. Glen Burnie MVA
Motor Vehicle Administration Headquarters
6601 Ritchie Highway
Glen Burnie, MD 21062
For information call:  1(800)638-1722 (in Maryland) or (443)572-8236
Registration information
Schedule for classes

8. Hagerstown Community College
11400 Robinwood Drive
Hagerstown, MD 21742
www.hagerstowncc.edu/coned/motorcycle                                                                                                                    For more information call: (301)-790-2800 x236

9. Harford Community College
401 Thomas Run Road
Bel Air, MD 21015
http://www.harford.edu/Schedule/U_noncrweb.asp?SelectionType=4&GroupChoice=MO
For more information call: (443)412-2376 or (443)412-2241

10. Harley Davidson/Buell of Annapolis
30 Hudson Street
Annapolis, MD 21401
www.annapolishd.com                                                                                                                                                  For more information call: (410)263-3345 x225

11. Harley Davidson of Maryland
7010 Troy Hill Road
Elkridge, MD 21075
www.harleydavidsonofmaryland.com

12. The Harley Davidson/Buell Store
8845 Pulaski Highway
Baltimore, MD 21237
www.hdstore.com

13. Montgomery College
Business Training Center
12 South Summit Ave, 4th Floor
Gaithersburg, MD
www.montgomerycollege.edu/wdce/bits/motorcycle.html

14. Old Glory Harley-Davidson Buell
11800 Laurel-Bowie Rd.
Laurel, MD 20708
www.oldgloryhd.com
For more information call:  (301)575-0575.  Ask for Anna Carter or Brad Jordan.

15. Prince George’s Community College
301 Largo Road
Largo, MD 20774
http://academic.pgcc.edu/transportation/index_files/motorcycle.htm                                                                   For more information call: (301)322-0650

16. The Rider School at Howard Community College
10901 Little Patuxent Parkway
Columbia, MD 21044
http://riderschool.org                                                                                                                                                       For more information call:  (410)772-4808 or by email to:  ride@howardcc.edu

17. Wor-Wic Community College
32000 Campus Drive
Salisbury, MD 21804
www.worwic.edu/academics/continuingeducation/motorcyclesafety.aspx
For more information call:  (410)334-2815

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