Police go to motorcycle school

YorkRegion.com
Aug. 14, 2014
Jeremy Grimaldi

Since the beginning of the motorcycle season, there have already been seven death on York Region roads.

For York Regional Police officers who ride bikes for the force, this is a shocking loss of life that may have been avoided with the right training, according to Staff Sgt. Dave Mitchell.

As he spoke about the perils of motorcycle riding, officers from around the continent engaged in the 16th annual Great Lakes police motorcycle training seminar's most lively event, called Last Man Standing, wheeled, avoided and crashed behind him.

During the competition, three officers driving 900 pound Harley Davidsons simultaneously wound their way through a tiny obstacle course, coming within millimetres of each another.

It's this kind of intense training that all motorcycle riders should be put through to ensure they're ready for the road, he believes.

"What these events are enforcing is total control over your motorcycle," he said, while hosting the event at the AMC movie theatre parking lot, just off Interchange Way, in Vaughan. "These guys have been riding their bikes for big parts of their lives, but, after the winter, you can see the rust on them. Imagine for your average rider. I know someone who's had a class M license for 25 years and is allowed to ride, but has barely turned a wheel."

Looking at this year's statistics, a number of the local motorcycling deaths occurred at the beginning of the season, as bikers pull their machines out of winter storage.

This year, a 31-year-old man was killed May 24 in Vaughan, one of the first sunny days in the GTA.

Throughout the training seminar, officers from Ontario, Quebec and afar afield as Florida and Chicago, went through a number of events to sharpen their skills, including intense obstacle courses and unrehearsed challenges.

In the past, Mitchell said officers have had to perform tasks, including riding a course while armed with a paintball gun, used to hit planted targets.

Although this sort of training may not be suitable for your average rider, Mitchell said most people need to be constantly brushing up on their skills.

That may include riding up and down side streets while turning, braking, emergency braking and engaging in intricate steering.

"It's a perishable skill. Unless you constantly rehearse and practice that skill, you will lose it," he said.

The event ends tomorrow and spectators are welcome.