If you live in the US, then you know that the July 4th weekend is a big time for outdoor recreation. After all, things like picnicking, hiking, kayaking, cycling, and all kinds of non-powersports activities are things a lot of us have been doing since we were small.
But if you find your horizons expanding, and you're thinking about trying some off-road powersports activities that you haven't done before, welcome! It's fun to get outside and enjoy the beauty of the natural world, no matter how you choose to do it. There's so much to see and do, and it's even better when you can get those close to you involved, too! Friends, family; everyone's here to have a good time and make some good memories, right?
If you've been reading RideApart for a long time, you know we're big fans of a US organization called the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (or MSF, for short). Along with its sibling organizations the ATV Safety Institute and the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association, all three are non-profit organizations that are dedicated to safety training and education for folks who are interested in trying ways of recreating outdoors that might be new to them. That way, we can all keep having fun and sharing great times with our people safely; hopefully for many years to come.
Even better, all three orgs are now offering free online courses to help you, your family, and your friends get started. How cool is that?
A lot of the topics covered might seem like common sense, and maybe to some, they are. But unfortunately, as you've probably had experience with in the course of just living your life, sometimes things we assume are common sense aren't things that everyone practices. If you don't know that something is a good idea, then why would you do it?
That's why free educational resources like these are so important. By making them free, that removes one more barrier to access. So then, folks can read, watch, and share these materials to educate themselves and their loved ones about off-road vehicle safety and best practices without worry (or delay).
What kinds of topics are covered? Important basics, like choosing and setting up your vehicle correctly (not all vehicles are suitable for all ages and sizes of rider, for example), pre-ride safety checks, general best practices out on the trails, choosing good safety gear to keep you protected, and more. And if you're interested in getting more hands-on training (that part won't be free, though the online courses are), the site can also point you in the right direction to find good training in your area if you live in the US.
What are you waiting for? One of the great things about web-based training is that it's available any time, day or night. So if you're interested, you can get started as soon as you want, anywhere you want.
