CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – (CLARKSVILLENOW) The warmer weather of spring brings a lot of people outside and oh yes, one more thing, motorcycles on the streets and roads. Motorcycles are of course exciting but they can also be a problem to ride, especially in heavy traffic areas.
Appleton Harley-Davidson, at 2501 Highway 41A Bypass in Clarksville, is in their tenth year of the the Harley-Davidson Riding Academy. Safety on the roadways is a top priority and Appleton’s is already underway with this year’s classes which provides Motor Safety Foundation certification.
The riding academy features a basic riding course and a skilled riding course and they can also issue your Tennessee motorcycle driver’s license once you have taken the course. Tia Suiter with Appleton’s talked about the huge success of the safety classes at Appleton’s.
“We are one facility, one site in Tennessee we have no combined numbers and we were two people shy of hitting 900 people out of that dealership last year. Other sites with combined numbers didn’t even come close to us. We were number four in the nation with Harley-Davidson,” said Suiter.
Suiter said she would like for the instructors at the riding academy at Appleton’s to be recognized, especially Jeff Seal who has been an instructor since the program began in 2007. None of the instructors are employees of the dealership but they sometimes travel long distances to teach the course.
Another instructor, Will Nepler was just recognized as the Instructor of the Year for Tennessee. Leah Ward is the Program Manager for the riding academy and Suiter thanked all of them for their hard work.
Suiter also praised State Representative Joe Pitts for his work in the legislature to help teens use available grant money for motorcycle safety classes. “Joe has written up a bill that proposes that anybody under the age of 18 is able to use that grant money to take the safety courses,” said Suiter.
Suiter talked about the motorcycle course saying that Harley Davidson said they would allow active duty or retired military to take the $300 motorcycle safety course for $99. That also included Homefront Heroes which are members of law enforcement, firefighters and EMTs.
This year, spouses will also be able to take the course. “So for $99 you’re getting the safety course which helps with the discount on your insurance, and you’re also getting your license issued straight from the dealership since we hold licensing power,” Suiter said.
Suiter said she and her husband are both instructors because she said she believes in the riding academy. “I believe in the safety. I don’t think we need to be selling something that we don’t realize what it is that we’re trying to push to another individual,” Suiter said.
Being on a motorcycle on the streets and roads in Tennessee, Suiter talked about being more vulnerable because your body is open and exposed. She encouraged all riders to take the class and learn the fundamental skills, the safety skills and their reaction skills.
For more on the riding academy go to the Appleton Harley-Davidson website.