Team Oregon
Encyclopedia
Team Oregon Motorcycle Safety Program, known as Team Oregon, is an American
, Oregon
-based motorcycle safety
partnership between the Oregon Department of Transportation
(ODOT) and Oregon State University
. Headed by Steve Garets, it is funded by ODOT through motorcycle endorsement (license) fees and student tuition. Team Oregon's training materials have been used in other states, including Idaho
and Illinois
, and it is the only official motorcycle safety program in Oregon. The program began in 1984.
Team Oregon was nationally recognized through the Motorcycle Safety Foundation
(MSF) and sponsored by the Oregon Traffic Safety Commission. In December 2006, Team Oregon and Oregon State University were sued by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation for copyright infringement
in the United States District Court for the Central District of California
. MSF alleged Team Oregon used their materials to develop their own program. Team Oregon and MSF settled the lawsuit out of court in December 2008.
Some training programs are sponsored through local colleges, including Lane Community College
, Chemeketa Community College
, and Portland Community College
.
Team Oregon supported 2009 Oregon Senate Bill 546, introduced by Senator Vicki Walker
, which requires mandatory rider education before endorsement. The bill was signed into law on July 23, 2009 by Oregon governor Ted Kulongoski
and will be fully phased in by January 1, 2015. Walker is an avid motorcyclist who sponsored the bill to stem the rise in Oregon motorcycle fatalities.
In 2011, student tuition for the BRT is $179.
The Basic Rider Training, known as BRT, is the most popular program offered by Team Oregon, with 89% of all students enrolling into the BRT. It is required for new riders under 21.
The Intermediate Rider Training, known as the IRT, is a full-day training program for students who are familiar with a motorcycle, but who need more practice, evaluation, and guidance to become comfortable and safe on the road. The IRT or BRT are required for riders under 31.
The Rider Skills Practice, known as RSP, is a short day of exercises to tune up rider skills. It's recommended a student have 3000 miles of recent on-road motorcycle experience. The class is 5 hours.
The Advanced Rider Training, known as ART, is aimed at riders who have at least 12,000 miles of on-street riding experience. It consists of a two-hour classroom session and 4-5 hours of on-track education. Since the ART takes place on go-kart tracks in order to teach riding proficiency at higher speeds, it is only taught at Pat's Acres in Canby
and in Medford.
. The study identified three "best practices" areas of program administration, rider education, and licensing. Oregon received a score of 24, versus a mean score of 14.6 with a standard deviation
of 4.9.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
-based motorcycle safety
Motorcycle safety
Motorcycle safety concerns many aspects of vehicle and equipment design as well as operator skill and training that are unique to motorcycle riding.-Accident rates:...
partnership between the Oregon Department of Transportation
Oregon Department of Transportation
The Oregon Department of Transportation is a department of the state government of the U.S. state of Oregon responsible for systems of transportation. It was first established in 1969. It had been preceded by the Oregon State Highway Department which, along with the Oregon State Highway...
(ODOT) and Oregon State University
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
. Headed by Steve Garets, it is funded by ODOT through motorcycle endorsement (license) fees and student tuition. Team Oregon's training materials have been used in other states, including Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
and Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, and it is the only official motorcycle safety program in Oregon. The program began in 1984.
Overview
Since Oregon implemented the Team Oregon Motorcycle Safety Program, motorcycle fatalities have been reduced by 50%. However, motorcycle fatality rates are rising in both Oregon and nationally. Team Oregon's position, as well as that of the Oregon Department of Transportation's Traffic Safety Division, is that rider judgment and skill are critical in avoiding motorcycle accidents and fatalities. Approximately 70% of Oregon's riders receive training through Team Oregon.Team Oregon was nationally recognized through the Motorcycle Safety Foundation
Motorcycle Safety Foundation
The Motorcycle Safety Foundation is a United States national, not-for-profit organization, founded in 1973, and sponsored by the U.S. manufacturers and distributors of BMW, Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Kawasaki, KTM, Piaggio/Vespa, Suzuki, Triumph, Victory and Yamaha motorcycles...
(MSF) and sponsored by the Oregon Traffic Safety Commission. In December 2006, Team Oregon and Oregon State University were sued by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation for copyright infringement
Copyright infringement
Copyright infringement is the unauthorized or prohibited use of works under copyright, infringing the copyright holder's exclusive rights, such as the right to reproduce or perform the copyrighted work, or to make derivative works.- "Piracy" :...
in the United States District Court for the Central District of California
United States District Court for the Central District of California
The United States District Court for the Central District of California serves over 18 million people in southern and central California, making it the largest federal judicial district by population...
. MSF alleged Team Oregon used their materials to develop their own program. Team Oregon and MSF settled the lawsuit out of court in December 2008.
Some training programs are sponsored through local colleges, including Lane Community College
Lane Community College
Lane Community College is a two-year college located in Eugene, Oregon. Its slogan is "Transforming Lives Through Learning."-Education:Lane Community College offers a variety of Associate's Degrees, such as:...
, Chemeketa Community College
Chemeketa Community College
Chemeketa Community College is a community college located in Salem, Oregon, with smaller campuses in McMinnville, Dallas, Brooks, and Woodburn, and the Northwest Viticulture Center in Eola...
, and Portland Community College
Portland Community College
Portland Community College is Oregon's largest community college, located in Portland, United States. It serves over one million residents in the five county area of Multnomah, Washington, Yamhill, Clackamas, and Columbia...
.
Team Oregon supported 2009 Oregon Senate Bill 546, introduced by Senator Vicki Walker
Vicki Walker
Vicki Lynn Walker is an American politician and administrator from Oregon. She is the Oregon State Director for Rural Development with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. A member of the Democratic Party, Walker previously served in both houses of the Oregon Legislature and briefly served as chair...
, which requires mandatory rider education before endorsement. The bill was signed into law on July 23, 2009 by Oregon governor Ted Kulongoski
Ted Kulongoski
Theodore R. "Ted" Kulongoski is an American politician, who served as the 36th Governor of Oregon. A Democrat, he has served in both houses of the Oregon Legislative Assembly, as the state Insurance Commissioner, the Attorney General, and an Associate Justice on the Oregon Supreme Court.-Early...
and will be fully phased in by January 1, 2015. Walker is an avid motorcyclist who sponsored the bill to stem the rise in Oregon motorcycle fatalities.
Student profile
As of 1993, approximately 1800 students were receiving motorcycle training per year. In 2001, 89% of 5044 students were enrolled in the 16-hour basic riding skills course. Of these students, 70% were male (versus 87% of endorsed motorcyclists), and 85% of students completed the program. Student tuition was $95, and the cost for Team Oregon to train one student was $135. As of 2008, Team Oregon was teaching 8000 students per year.In 2011, student tuition for the BRT is $179.
Programs
Classes often take place in parking lots, such as those at community colleges and schools, except for the most advanced classes, which use go-kart tracks.The Basic Rider Training, known as BRT, is the most popular program offered by Team Oregon, with 89% of all students enrolling into the BRT. It is required for new riders under 21.
The Intermediate Rider Training, known as the IRT, is a full-day training program for students who are familiar with a motorcycle, but who need more practice, evaluation, and guidance to become comfortable and safe on the road. The IRT or BRT are required for riders under 31.
The Rider Skills Practice, known as RSP, is a short day of exercises to tune up rider skills. It's recommended a student have 3000 miles of recent on-road motorcycle experience. The class is 5 hours.
The Advanced Rider Training, known as ART, is aimed at riders who have at least 12,000 miles of on-street riding experience. It consists of a two-hour classroom session and 4-5 hours of on-track education. Since the ART takes place on go-kart tracks in order to teach riding proficiency at higher speeds, it is only taught at Pat's Acres in Canby
Canby, Oregon
Canby is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. The population was 15,829 at the 2010 census. It is located on Oregon Route 99E, two miles northeast of Barlow.-History:...
and in Medford.
Results
Team Oregon was recognized as the "best in the nation" in a 2004 American Institutes for Research study sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is an agency of the Executive Branch of the U.S. government, part of the Department of Transportation...
. The study identified three "best practices" areas of program administration, rider education, and licensing. Oregon received a score of 24, versus a mean score of 14.6 with a standard deviation
Standard deviation
Standard deviation is a widely used measure of variability or diversity used in statistics and probability theory. It shows how much variation or "dispersion" there is from the average...
of 4.9.