Motorcycling continues to be influenced by governmental COVID policies that do not consider the depth and breadth of second and third-order effects. Current state executive orders place roadblocks in systems that upend normal operation, causing significant detrimental behaviors and habits in motorcycling to become more prevalent. The evidence is gathering, but examples in crash statistics are starting to show increased motorcycle-related crashes, and motorcyclists operating without motorcycle endorsements or rider education.
Cherney (2020) describes the current state of motorcycle sales as “The Pandemic Paradox” because, despite the trade and industry downturn during the COVID crisis, Powersports sales in some sectors are incredibly high. After years of declining sales, the motorcycle industry is finding it difficult to keep certain cycles on sales floors. The cost of used motorcycles is also rising to accommodate the over-demand of now popular models.
President, and CEO of the Motorcycle Industry Council Erik Pritchard, announced the first four months of 2020 were comparable to or exceeding data from 2016. In some cases, and markets, sales are up 18 to 24 percent. According to Giacomini (2020), America Honda’s on-road segment is up 103%, with the off-road up 172%. Worldwide, despite some manufacturers suspending production and the decreased ability to transport products and socialize normally, the motorcycle world is booming.
The flip side to this success story is the problems associated with actions taken to combat the pandemic. Departments of Motor Vehicles have closed certain locations, become temporarily unavailable, or remain limited in access (Bomey, 2020). For on-road users, this is detrimental to attaining endorsements or tests for motorcycle riders. Similar policies in education have curbed, closed, or limited normal access to rider testing and education facilities and programs.
Two of the residual and long-term issues with motorcyclists are accessing rider’s education and the appropriate licensure/endorsements for motorcyclists to ride on-road. Each presents its own set of problems, but are also remarkably similar in the result.
Declines in funding over the last 15 years have put a squeeze on rider’s education budgets, making a wide range of relationships necessary to continue availability. Partnerships with educational institutions have made re-starting the many different facilities a challenge with technical colleges, colleges, and universities. The alternative option is private, contracted, or state-run rider education programs, sometimes increasing cost or similarly creating problems to re-opening locations dependent on other closed businesses and legal liability associated with potential virus contamination.
The same is true about licensure programs offering different methods of obtaining licenses or adding endorsements. Whether knowledge tests, riding skill tests, or mandated rider education courses, policy changes resultant of the COVID crisis continue to decrease availability to obtain licensure requirements. The decrease in availability moved more owners back to riding dirty, causing potential risks for themselves and others.
The policies associated with COVID could have detrimental second and third-order consequences on motorcycle crash statistics, licensure compliance, and the availability of affordable rider education for some time. The increase in sales may foment another crisis in on-road crashes and the inability for the interim government and educational systems to affect the possibility. Add the existing problems of aging coaching populations, difficulty recruiting capable instructors, and limited areas for training to take place, requiring even more modifications in the future. To combat the growing list of issues, better funding, experienced management, hard looks at policy, creative ideas, and innovative leadership will be necessary for success and improvement.
References
Bomey, N. (2020, May 15). Long wait at the DMV: Car owners face delays registering vehicles or signing titles as offices close or scale back due to COVID-19. USA Today. New York: Gannet Co.
Cherney, A. (2020, June 26). The pandemic paradox: Motorcycle sales are up [Digital Content]. Cycle World. Irvine, CA: Bonnier.
Giacomini, S. (2020, July 6). Motorcycles sales worldwide bounce back in June 2020 after the pandemic slump [Digital Content]. Ride Apart. Miami, FL: Motor1.com.
