Rider Education of NJ

Rider Education of NJ has been delivering Motorcycle Safety Foundation rider courses since 1990. We’re a non-profit educational organization based in Edison, NJ, fully approved by the MSF and the state of New Jersey. Our program is widely regarded as one of the best-run motorcycle safety training operations in the country, staffed by some of the most skilled and motivated instructors anywhere. What truly sets RENJ apart is our instructors. They are our greatest strength—constantly growing, deeply committed to motorcycle safety, and bringing real heart and energy to every class. They believe in this program and in what they do, and they teach with style and enthusiasm that students, our staff, and even local motorcycle dealers notice and appreciate. Rider Ed is very much alive thanks to everyone involved. In 1988, motorcycle registrations were falling sharply, and accident and fatality rates were high. The sport we love was in decline. Jersey A.B.A.T.E., a motorcyclists’ rights organization, knew something had to be done. Bill Turkus, the lobbyist for ABATE, proposed that motorcyclists would need to help themselves out of that slump. To learn everything he could about the MSF and its safety programs, Bill became an instructor. With that insight, the solution was clear: train more people to ride, and train them to ride safely and properly. Originally known as Rider Education of Jersey ABATE, the program eventually became Rider Education of New Jersey. Through the efforts of Bill Turkus and many ABATE members, the program incorporated and earned non-profit status. The first class, an Experienced Rider Course, was held in July 1990 at the Middlesex County Vocational and Technical High School in Piscataway. The goal was to make current riders better. It took over a year to convince the Board of Education that we weren’t just a reckless group of bikers who would damage their property. No one else would even discuss hosting motorcycle training on their site, but the Board eventually gave us the chance to run regularly scheduled classes—and we still run our program there each year. In the beginning, we had no training bikes for beginner classes and could only offer the ERC. ABATE members stepped up in two critical ways. They volunteered to train as instructors, and they donated or bought and donated our first training bikes. Regulations required bikes under 350cc; circumstances meant most were from the early 1970s, with one “new” 1980 Honda Twin Star. We even needed a volunteer mechanic staff on site to keep them running. Yet the very first week after the first beginner class, four students went out and bought bikes just like the ones they’d trained on. One Suzuki dealer, seeing the immediate benefit, called to offer four nearly new loaner bikes if we’d retire the old Suzukis. We both recognized something big was happening. As demand for the beginner class grew, we needed more of everything. In May 1991, RENJ graduated five new instructors from its first instructor preparation course. We painted a second range in Piscataway to double enrollment, and 14 more bikes were required. The Rider Education legislation was drafted and introduced by NJ Senator Thomas Cowan. The bill aimed to create a state-sponsored program where people could learn to ride in a safe environment, graduate with confidence in their mental and physical riding skills, and access training at a reasonable cost. After the first hearing before the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee, Senator Cowan stood and congratulated the ABATE motorcyclists who had generated thousands of thoughtful, positive letters. The bill became law a year later when signed by Governor Jim Florio. As with any legislative effort, there was opposition, but once the law passed, everyone got behind the program to get it running, and RENJ became a private provider for the state. Rider Education of NJ has grown by leaps and bounds. Some training sites have come and gone, while others remain the backbone of our program. In 1993, the state recognized the ERC as a defensive driving course, allowing graduates a two-point reduction on their driver’s license. An Intermediate Course was added successfully in 1994, later replaced by the new ERC Suite. In 1995, we purchased our own building after outgrowing our shared office space. In 1996, a provision waived the Division of Motor Vehicles’ road test for students who successfully completed the beginner course. All this from a group once dismissed as just a bunch of bikers. To date, we have trained over 65,000 people to ride or ride better. Our instructors keep teaching year after year, and our ever-growing number of students keep riding. Word of mouth—from both instructors and students—remains our strongest marketing. Many students have gone on to become RENJ RiderCoaches, and our instructors are the most experienced in the state. Motorcycle registrations continue to rise while accident and fatality rates fall. But we’re not done yet. Our Board of Directors each bring their expertise, working as a team to deliver the best possible program. Our office staff and instructors, now known as RiderCoaches, work just as hard to ensure a quality experience for everyone. Monthly meetings and an annual winter workshop keep us at the top of our game. Next time you’re out riding, ask around—you’ll be amazed at how many riders got their start in a Rider Education of NJ class.