I'm reminded of Jon Stewart's talk with Ezra Klein about how difficult the government made it to obtain Inflation Reduction Act funds for infrastructure projects. How it required townships to jump through 14 different hoops just to get to the point where they could conceivably begin getting those funds. And how after three years, none were dispersed.
Why am I talking about idiotic bureaucracies on RideApart? Because in the latest in a long string of idiotic moves, rather than just continuing to operate as normal with goings on going on in the background, New York state has halted all motorcycle safety classes.
Why, you might ask? Because, as of this writing, the contract for parties to operate these motorcycle safety schools hasn't yet been ratified, though for the last 15 years, training materials have been produced, and the schools have been operated in conjunction with the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. Apparently, however, there's another interested party that wants the contract, and it's been two months since the supposed deadline by which the contract was meant to be ratified.
According to Road & Track, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation declined to comment, while the New York State DMV told the outlet that the contract was still making its way through the proper channels. Where the magazine found out there was a second bidder, however, was when they spoke to the state's comptroller office.
"The contract being inquired on has been submitted to the Office of the State Comptroller for review," said Mark Johnson, the state comptroller's secretary, adding, "A bid protest has also been submitted by a non-selected bidder that is concurrently being reviewed along with the contract transaction." That protest bid likely means a whole set of new bureacratic channels the contract has to navigate.
That said, in the past when this occurred, the state allowed these schools to continue to operate. So it's unclear as to why they're holding them back at present, though it's currently roiling those schools, their customers, and the New York motorcycling community at large.
Unlike other locales, New York doesn't require a rider to take a motocycle safety course, like the normal 2-day affair put on by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. I, myself, took one ages ago. But doing so allows you to get more acquainted with a bike, learn the basics, and skip the onerous DMV practical test. You may spend more time doing the course, but it's worth it based on the DMV's archaic standards. Plus, more schooling is always better.
As for what happens next, bureaucracies are famously quick to act, so I expect that this will all be resolved by the 2028 riding season...
