The (R)Ides of March

Today is a very special day for me. Eight years ago today, I successfully challenged my motorcycle road test in British Columbia, obtaining my motorcycle licence. I’ve written about this briefly before, and in slightly more detail before that, but I think it’s interesting to look at what I’ve said above, in comparison to obtaining a licence in the United States.

My only experience with licencing in the US is what I’ve read, listened to, and watched online. It would appear that most states simply require the completion of both a written test, and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Basic Rider Course; in place of completing the course, a rider can come up and perform a basic skills test. Essentially, a rider needs to demonstrate slow speed maneuvering, and that is enough for a full licence, barring issues around age restrictions.

Here in British Columbia, the road to a motorcycle licence is much longer. In order to obtain your motorcycle learner’s permit, you need to complete a written test. Once you have that, you must complete a motorcycle skills test – similar to the states above. You can’t take the skills test for 14 days after you take your written test – unless you take a motorcycle course, which finishes with the skills test. During that time, you must ride while being supervised by a rider with a full licence – either on another bike, or in a car. for me, that was my girlfriend (now wife), who was wonderfully encouraging. You are also limited to riding no faster than 60 km/h, riding without passengers, and only riding between sunrise and sunset (not dawn-to-dusk).

Once you have passed the skills test, you have your New Driver level of graduated motorcycle licencing. This also carries the same restrictions, although there is no longer a need to have a supervisor, and you are no longer limited to 60 km/h. After 30 days, you can challenge a road test, in which you are equipped with a fetching yellow safety vest and a walkie talkie that you clip to your shoulder. The following vehicle has the test administrator and a driver in it, and the administrator has the other walkie-talkie, providing you with your instructions: turn here; enter the highway; change lanes; exit the highway.

My test was full of some craziness. I was asked to turn left, then get into the right lane, which I did – and then a bus promptly signaled (you MUST allow them in in BC) to leave the bus stop and enter the lane in front of me. On the binders, and I let the bus in as I should. Then, when coming to a four way stop, a bonehead ahead of me that was clearly not in the midst of a road test entered the intersection and performed a U-turn. I left them well enough space. Then there is the command everyone dreads: when you are ready, make a U-turn. If you put your foot down, it’s an automatic fail. I did not put my foot down.

I passed my road test, with the only comment from the administrator that he knew my bike was new to me (I had only bought it four days before), and that I had to be careful with the speed and the acceleration. Otherwise everything was fine.

Other jurisdictions in Canada have similar rules, and all of the provinces that I’m aware of have a road test, especially Ontario, Manitoba, Quebec, and Alberta. Road tests make all sorts of sense, for confirming that an operator can operate a motorcycle at speed, in traffic, with confidence and ability to make safe choices. Like mandatory helmet laws, I think they make better, safer, more protected riders.

But this is a day to celebrate, for me. Today is my licence day. Happy riding, to me!