Fresno shop urges rider training as motorcycles, e-bikes share roads

At Mathews Harley-Davidson in Fresno, Melissa Walters said rider training has become harder to ignore as motorcycles, dirt bikes and e-bikes crowd the same streets. With more two-wheel traffic moving through Fresno County, she cast safety as a day-to-day issue for riders and drivers alike, not just a seasonal reminder.

May is Motorcycle Safety Month, and the timing fit a simple message: the margin for error on Valley roads is shrinking. Walters pointed to the number of fatalities and crashes as a reason to get more riders into structured instruction from trained coaches, especially as families increasingly use e-bikes and dirt bikes for school, errands and commuting. That makes lane position, braking, visibility and road rules more than classroom terms. They are the difference between a close call and a serious collision.

State guidance backs up the push for education. The California Highway Patrol says its Motorcyclist Training Course takes 15 hours total, with 5 hours of classroom instruction and 10 hours of actual riding. CHP says the course is mandatory for riders under 21 who want a motorcycle endorsement and recommended for riders 21 and older. The agency also offers a Premier Program that adds 7.5 hours of classroom work and 13.5 hours of riding.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles says riders ages 15 1/2 to 21 must complete a CHP-approved California Motorcyclist Safety Program course to get the DL 389 training certificate. The DMV’s motorcycle handbook says the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, CHP, the California Motorcyclist Safety Program, motorcycle groups and the DMV all agree that rider education and public awareness can reduce both the number and severity of motorcycle collisions.

The urgency is clear in the statewide death toll. The California Office of Traffic Safety says 583 motorcyclists were killed in crashes on California roads in 2023, down 10.2% from 649 in 2022, but still nearly 19% higher than 491 in 2019. CHP has also promoted e-bike safety training, a sign that the safety message now stretches beyond traditional motorcycles.

In Fresno, the issue has also drawn law enforcement attention. KMPH reported that CHP increased patrols on Highways 41, 99, 168 and 180 to reduce motorcycle accidents and improve safety. The combination of more enforcement and more rider education points to the same conclusion: as motorcycles and e-bikes share the road, drivers need to look harder, riders need stronger skills, and Fresno’s streets leave less room for mistakes.