This is the statement from Jay on the news of ABATE not bidding on the training contract. READ IT> From Jay Jackson, ABATE Executive Director: ABATE of Indiana is not going under and our Motorcycle Safety Division did not drop the ball. In fact, our rider education program has trained about 125,000 students and received hundreds of national awards. We arent going away. We have offered rider courses since the 1970s, before the state program existed, and intend to continue to offer training with, or without, a contract. ABATE of Indiana lobbied to create the state program in 1987 and has worked closely with the program since the inception. Changes in administration (Tony Bennett at the Department of Education and a move to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles a few years ago) have dramatically altered the way rider ed is viewed and delivered in Indiana. The most recent request for proposal (RFP) from the state contained several requirements that led the ABATE Board of Directors to determine this contract was not in the best interest of the organization or the motorcyclists of Indiana. The BOD then voted unanimously to not respond to the RFP. I wont beat up on the BMV or the MSF, but will share just a couple of facts that are not contained in the release from the state. The BMV has excluded anyone that does not have an Indiana license from qualifying for a rider course. Without taking several pages to explain this, it includes: people that have recently moved to our state, people that work here but live in another state, college students and active duty military personnel. ABATE of Indiana is extremely grateful for the sacrifices made by those that serve our country and could not tolerate charging them $115 more than someone who happens to have an Indiana license. Additionally, as we are just enacting moped (motor driven cycle) legislation, anyone under 16 is also denied the benefit of a class under contract, despite the fact that 15 year olds are legally allowed to operate these vehicles. ABATE went to great effort, and considerable cost, to accommodate these riders in 2014 as they were not provided for in the contract. Recently, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation was not reissued a contract for the two largest programs under their control, Pennsylvania and California. There was also some question regarding the contract for the management of the New York program. It is interesting to note that the MSF did not submit a proposal for the California program, which is in their home state. Attend a local ABATE Meeting or watch our website at abateonline.org for the most up to date information as it becomes available. Rest assured, ABATE of Indiana is here to stay and will remain active in motorcycle safety and rider training.
Posted on: Thu, 18 Dec 2014 22:59:55 +0000
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