A History of ABATE of Colorado's Rider Education Division (Part Five)

Greetings, once again, readers of the Spokesman. Welcome to another installment of ABATE’s Rider Ed history. The last one was in 2003 has it really been that long? so it’s time for an update.Picking up where we left off last time, we shall start with 2004. ABATE had training sites at Arapahoe Community College (ACC), Pikes Peak Community College (PPCC), Longmont High School, Red Rocks Community College (RRCC), Aims Community College, Colorado State University (CSU) at Pueblo, and the Mobile Program was being used at Summit High School (SHS). During the year we bid for, and won, the training contract at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs. This is a one-year contract, and the Army has the option of renewing for up to four more years. Additionally, ABATE was asked to become the training provider at two Front Range Community College (FRCC) campuses, one in Westminster and one in Fort Collins. We ceased training at Longmont due to management issues and used the bikes there to help supply the new sites. Also, we began presenting experienced rider courses at the Post Time Dog Track in Colorado Springs, sharing the facility with Pikes Peak Harley-Davidson’s Rider’s Edge program, which conducts basic rider courses there.

For 2005, we continued to train riders at the above-mentioned ten training sites, utilizing fourteen ranges. A goal is to expand our Mobile Program for 2006 with a couple of new sites. Stay tuned.

A list of our current sites and their respective administrators:

The number of students trained each year by ABATE continues to grow. We have already registered over 4,500 this year! As the business grows, so must our staff. We intend to hire another employee soon. Currently, our office staff is:
Director of Rider Education Ben Hochberg
Operations Manager Perrie Ranburger
Assistant Office Manager Deb Craig
State Operations Manager Terry Howard

Additionally, we have named an Assistant Director of Rider Education, who is filling this job on an as-needed basis; he is David Dress.

ABATE is still affiliated with the M.O.S.T. Program, a division of CDOT. The M.O.S.T. Program is currently having some problems; they include: funding which is apparently remaining at a steady level while the number of training providers/contractors (and students taking training) increases, yielding an ever-decreasing tuition subsidy amount per student; the M.O.S.T. program manager is only a part-time position; and an outdated set of rules which does not adequately address the needs of current-day rider training. In other words the M.O.S.T. rules are fairly specific to an obsolete curriculum (MSF’s MRC:RSS). Training contractors in Colorado have been using a newer curriculum (MSF’s BRC) since 2002, yet the M.O.S.T. rules do not allow for some aspects of the newer curriculum. Efforts to update the Rules in order to allow for new and improved curricula (MSF’s and others) have been, so far, unsuccessful.

That’s all for now. And remember: no matter how good you think you ride, you can always be better. Take some training! Tell others! Thanks!