WS Chronicle

Local BikeSafeNC event on May 2 to enhance motorcycle skills and safety 

By: Jess Schnur 

The Chronicle  

The Winston-Salem Police Department encourages motorcyclists across the community to join them for a day of cruising.  

At the BikeSafeNC event, held at the WSPD Special Operations Building, local bikers can show their skill and participate in classes and ride-alongs for Rider Skills Day on May 2. The program is run by highly qualified police motorcyclists whose job is to ride for a living. The initiative aims to provide a friendly and informal conversation to help make riding safe and enjoyable for everyone. 

As a statewide initiative, BikeSafeNC works with the N.C. State Highway Patrol to help keep motorcyclists educated and safe on the road. In response to a statewide increase in motorcycle fatalities, the program was piloted in Wake County back in 2007-2008, with an observed reduction in fatalities across the county. After its expanded implementation across North Carolina through the combined efforts of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the National Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), BikeSafeNC was attributed with helping to reduce crashes and mortalities for motorcyclists across the state.  

According to the BikeSafeNC website, in 2009 its efforts in conjunction with improved N.C. helmet laws, other educational organizations, and increased enforcement efforts, accounted for the first statewide reduction in motorcycle fatalities in five years. Still going strong in 2025, thanks to support from the Governor’s Highway Safety Program, BikeSafeNC runs in various counties across the state, including here in Forsyth County.  

Kicking off on May 2 at 8:45 a.m. sharp, a classroom session – taught by Master Police Officer Elijah Cox – will start the day to discuss topics such as motorcycle control, hazard management, security, cornering, overtaking, and roadcraft. The session will be followed by a short ride where students will be paired with assessors for a 30- to 40-minute route.  

Lunch will follow before an afternoon classroom session, and then a longer ride of 45-60 minutes. The day will end with a final session in the classroom, where motorcycle officers will provide feedback to their students.  

To participate, attendees are required to have a Legal Motorcycle Endorsement or their Motorcycle Learner’s Permit. They must also provide their own insured and registered motorcycle to ride for the class and must wear the appropriate gear for riding (D.O.T. standard-met helmets, proper footwear, eye protection, etc.).  

With nine seats left available for the May 2 session, those who are interested in attending can register for free at www.bikesafene.com. For those who can’t make the upcoming session, BikeSafeNC is hosted every month and future dates can be found on the WSPD website.  

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