RIP Sheridan motorcycle training

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Its sad to see another program go, but I dont think the instructors were in it for the money, they seem like those sort of people that want to help and can make a bit of extra cash doing something they like.

That "I teach people to ride" nostalgia wears off, especially when the program is ready to ditch and narc you out if any legal issues arise. The risk of being sued because of some licensing a nincompoop on a technicality with under-developed motor and coordination skills isn't worth the pay.
 
That "I teach people to ride" nostalgia wears off, especially when the program is ready to ditch and narc you out if any legal issues arise. The risk of being sued because of some licensing a nincompoop on a technicality with under-developed motor and coordination skills isn't worth the pay.

Wow. I've been doing it 25 years and it hasn't worn off. I agree with crankcall - I'll add that it can be exhausting, and it's often time that I could have spent riding, but in the end there is still a great deal of satisfaction to be had by helping someone learn a skill and achieve a goal.
 
Wow. I've been doing it 25 years and it hasn't worn off. I agree with crankcall - I'll add that it can be exhausting, and it's often time that I could have spent riding, but in the end there is still a great deal of satisfaction to be had by helping someone learn a skill and achieve a goal.

Unlike many jobs at the end of the day/weekend you also feel like you've accomplished something.
 
a little bird told me that rider training (specifically new rider training / licensing) numbers are down in the USA. Canada has been projected to follow suit.



I recall reading somewhere that Motorcycle sales have been down in the US since 2008. Coincidentally, that was also when they were hit by a massive recession that they are still hurting from. ;)
 
Damn, I really enjoyed my M1 exit course with Sheridan and recommended it to most who asked. The instructors were very friendly and knowledgeable.
 
Sheridan is changing from a college to university. Uni limits the number of part-time courses/students to a small percentage of total courses offered/total students (unlike colleges, which can offer them). Big percentage need to be registered 'full time.' This is the reason for it being cancelled. They want location(s) to continue, if anyone has a big lot/knows someone...
Many other evening classes are being cancelled also. Just when I was going to take a basket weaving course too!

This doesn't really make a lot of sense, since the motorcycle courses at colleges are typically offered on a "continuing education" basis. Do you have any idea how much con ed the typical university does? It's huge business.
 
So, we know have to go to Fukushima for rider training, just avoid the power plant?

This is likely another victim of insurance costs in Ontario..which is why everything fun is now cancelled. Great job Queen's park.

[video=youtube;NAEA1KzDynI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAEA1KzDynI[/video]
 
i enjoyed my M1 exit there, was just looking online to signup for M2 exit but no time options on the Sheridan site... came upon this thread. that sucks. i live so close to it and sometimes just drove by to see all the new biker kids :P

not sure where im going to take my M2 exit course now :(
 
OMG, now I can see how uninformed responses get started. This response is so out to lunch it's ridiculous.

We at Sheridan were payed very well thank you.
A lot more 12 to 15 dollars an hour. A lot more. Where did you get your information??? Out of thin air?

Those bike do a total of about 6,000 km a year. (Max.) Some do less than that.
If you look at the amount of time spent on each bike over a year of only 6,000km, it actually adds up to a lot of time per bike.

My personal bike travels over 20,000 a year, and I don't spend as much time maintaining it as I do on these bikes.

Mr. Azim. Please refrain from saying things that are not true, and completely made up in your own mind.


The instructors are paid beans and the bikes aren't maintained as often as you would your own. Basically on a "as it breaks" fixing. It's a very lucrative business if done correctly. On a "normal" weekend a junior instructor makes about $12-15/hour (close to min wage) if you consider 10 hour/day weekends. The course may be 8 hours for students, but add another hour prior for set up and another for paperwork and cleanup at the end.

Stick it out for longer and you can eventually make a lot more for doing a lot less..... well, maybe not less, but work that isn't so physically demanding.
 
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Here is the truth to the rumor.

Yes, Sheridan will no longer be offering a motorcycle course.
They are making a move to go full University, and they wish to drop all Con-ed classes.
Sadly we were one of the course they chose to stop.

It was not because we did not make enough money. The course made Sheridan a lot of money over the years.

The good news is.......
The same exact teachers will be continuing under it's own management.
Check here for details.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Motorcycle-Training-Organization-of-HaltonPeel-MTOhp/564686316947149



Also check here!!!!!!!!!


http://mtohp.com/
 
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Sheridan my be gone but we are back. MTOHP is the same instructors just a new parking lot. We bought the motorcycle from Sheridan and we are sactioned by the Canada Safety Council. We will be still using Sheridan College for our classroom work.

Unlike some private companies who are in it for the money only, we are a non profit corporation here to help the motorcycle community. We have the most experienced instructors of any organization in Canada. We also teach the only Canada Safety Council recognized course.

We will be at the bike show this weekend. Drop by our booth to say "HI" if you are a past student or someone looking to take a safety course.
 
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Fantastic news guys. Good for you, glad to see the replacement solution has been found, not only for the instructors, but new potential students/customers as well.

The new spot, looks like a good one .... industrial area, should not bother anyone.

Wishing you guys luck.
 
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We will be at the bike show this weekend. Drop by our booth to say "HI" if you are a past student or someone looking to take a safety course.

More specifically, we will be in Hall 2 across from Royal Distributing.
 
That's good for you guys and the community. The only thing - MTOHP? Should've went with a catchier name. I realize it's non-profit but still...

It stands for - Motorcycle Training Organization of Halton/Peel. The name may not be catchy, but the acronym is great in a search engine. :D
 
i enjoyed my M1 exit there, was just looking online to signup for M2 exit but no time options on the Sheridan site... came upon this thread. that sucks. i live so close to it and sometimes just drove by to see all the new biker kids :P

not sure where im going to take my M2 exit course now :(
RTI does an M2X course in Oakville, very close to QEW/Trafalgar.

We have the most experienced instructors of any organization in Canada. We also teach the only Canada Safety Council recognized course.
How do you have the most experienced instructors of any organization in Canada? Are the instructors at the other colleges (Humber, Durham, Centennial, etc) or Learning Curves or RTI less experienced than those that were at Sheridan College?

Also, isn't the Gearing Up curriculum the only CSC recognized course for new street riders, because it was developed by them. https://canadasafetycouncil.org/training/motorcycle-training-program

If you teach the Gearing Up curriculum, then it's the same one taught by most of the other colleges. http://ridertraining.org/gearing-up/ontario

Isn't any organization that wishes to license new riders required to meet the standards set forth by the MTO, including student to teacher ratio's and curriculum content. I thought that all of the popular organizations in the GTA that instruct new riders exceed these requirements, including the community colleges and Learning Curves and RTI. So whether or not it's CSC recognized or not, new riders should be getting all basically the same content taught by the same type of enthusiastic riders who do it more for the satisfaction and less for the money.

It's good that you are able to continue the good work that Sheridan College was doing. The more new riders that take these courses the better.
 
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Hi Shanekingsley
To answer your questions:

How do you have the most experienced instructors of any organization in Canada? We have been recognized by the CSC as having the most experienced instructors in Canada. Most of us have plaques to prove it. Unlike many of the other colleges and indepentent organizations who have a 30% turnover in staff each year, our instructors stay with us. Most of our instructors have been with us for more than 20 years with some over 30 years. If you want an instructor with one or two years experience, go some where else. I myself have been teaching for 31 years.

If you teach the Gearing Up curriculum, then it's the same one taught by most of the other colleges. Yes we teach the same Gearing Up as the other colleges. The big difference is our experienced instrutors who deliver the content.

Isn't any organization that wishes to license new riders required to meet the standards set forth by the MTO. You would think so but the MTO does not really inspect the courses. They had one inspector who has now retired. If you go around to all the different colleges and organizations teaching the course, you would not think they were the same.

New riders should be getting all basically the same content taught by the same type of enthusiastic riders who do it more for the satisfaction and less for the money. Unlike some of the other organizations, we are a non-profit oorganization. We are bikers helping bikers.

Hope this answers your questions. If you have any more, just ask.
 
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Thanks for the reply. I had no idea many of the other organizations had a 30% turnover each year. I also had no idea the the MTO does not have an inspector any more, because the only they had retired. I've only had experience with Humber and RTI, so I can't speak beyond these limited experiences in terms of the differences between how the courses vary from one organization to the next.

That said, I've been a teacher for a number of years in various fields from the energy sector to horticulture and am usually one of the youngest in my peer group. I frequently get feedback from my students that the older or more experienced ones are in the greatest need of refreshing - so stay on your toes:)

Cheers and ride safe!
 
Not all organisations are like that. Niagara College for one although smaller has very little turnover and has instructors also that have been there for many years.

I have been there 11 years myself. Although having experienced long term instructors is good it is not always the best thing either as I know of many long term instructors that can get stagnant in their teaching practices and sometimes the newer blood has more enthusiasm.

New or old instructors can be good and bad and the organization that controls them is ultimatley responsible for that. A good progressive and selective organization that manages and only keeps the staff that really do a good job and enjoy it will benefit the students.

I agree though, I have visited many other groups that run the basic rider program and have seen way too much crap. A lot of them have sub par instructors mainly because the organization is only happy they have the bodies on the lot to teach and keep them going.
 
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