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Introduction to Scooters (IS) is a half-day, hands-on, entry-level, scooter training and education course, designed to help riders acquire skills and learn about important street-riding strategies. The four-hour, 10-lesson course is conducted on pavement, in a controlled site that is marked and equipped for the course. Students may use their own scooters, and in some locations loan scooters are available.
Call toll-free 800.446.9227 to locate a course near you, or see the provider listing at the bottom of the page.
Click here to view a PDF version of the Tips and Practice Guide booklet.
Scooterists completing IS will receive instruction in and an opportunity to demonstrate basic skills for scooter operation and control; safety considerations for operating a scooter legally on the street; the importance of a positive riding attitude; safety habits to reduce risk; and overall, acquire the basic knowledge and skills to be a safe, responsible scooterist.
Specifically, students will practice starting out and stopping; riding through curves, stopping quickly, changing lanes and making tight turns, and avoiding hazards and obstacles. Two brief group discussion periods will help participants increase safety awareness, help identify their personal riding abilities and their scooter's capabilities, and provide guidance for developing riding strategies to manage risk.
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Introduction to Scooters is patterned after the highly successful MSF Basic RiderCourse (BRC) for novice motorcyclists using the same principles of adult learning, motor skills development, and safety and risk management. However, unlike the motorcycle course, Introduction to Scooters is not designed or intended to be a license waiver program. RiderCoaches are properly certified to conduct Introduction to Scooters at any existing MSF recognized training site.
The course includes a You and Your Scooter: Riding Tips booklet that is given to each participant. A participant completion card and Introduction to Scooters evaluation postcard are included in each booklet.
No. This is not a license waiver course and does not require passing a knowledge or skill test for completion. Scooterists and prospective scooterists should check with their state's Department of Motor Vehicles for laws affecting scooters in their state.
Courses generally cost about $75, but actual course fees will be determined at the local site conducting the training.
To enroll, participants must be old enough to legally operate a scooter on the street in their home state. Scooterists and prospective scooterists should check with their state's Department of Motor Vehicles for laws affecting the use of scooters in their state.
A scooter used in IS, whether it is provided by the training site or by a student, must have a gasoline-powered engine with an engine displacement between 50-200cc, be of
a step-through design, and be manufactured to meet U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations for use on public streets and roads. Scooters certified to be used on the street will have "DOT" stamped on the
rear wheel.
Gopeds, skateboards and electric-powered types of scooters available for private property use do not meet DOT criteria and cannot be used in Introduction to Scooters.
Participants must be able to balance and ride a bicycle, and are required to wear personal protective gear during the riding portions of the course (DOT-compliant helmets, eye
protection, long-sleeved shirt or jacket, long pants, gloves, sturdy over-the-ankle footwear).
Some sites provide loan scooters and riding gear. For more information and to enroll, call the nationwide toll-free number 800.446.9227 or visit any of the websites listed below.
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nearest you.