Rider Choices hosted a meeting with program administrators from Kentucky, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Nebraska, and North Carolina on May 27th, 2020. Topics shared include challenges and successes of each state program, highlighting many of the commonalities each is faced with in administering rider education programs to support riders among various other roadway users.
A common thread was managing the regulatory constraints while balancing the needs of riders, coaches, and the varying configurations of each state’s program. In carefully dealing with the current COVID-19 crisis and working from home, many have flexed to provide alternative professional development opportunities while waiting to either continue or re-open their rider education programs.
The important topic of “tough conversations” discussed bridging small ideological differences with the commonalities of all stakeholders to share and enhance Governmental, Public, Private, and educational institutions’ interaction moving rider education forward. Overall it was agreed the key to improvement is the ability to communicate towards common goals, acknowledging competing interests, but focusing on development for all as the outcome. It was also recognized failure is possible in efforts, but they would not be so impactful to stop making corrections and continuing in a forward direction.
Attendees of the meeting agreed there is significant value in holding the gathering, committing to another shortly. There is the hope of more attendance by other program administrators, so discussions will include a larger perspective and ability to share ideas for improvement.
