Ann Arbor, MI scooterists . . . chauffuer needed?

jhorac1 · Post by **jhorac1** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 7:41 pm

Hey all,

I've been living in Ann Arbor for a year now and am about to have the driver skills test administered to me. According to the schnazzy T.I.P. (temporary instructors permit) I've been issued I need to be supervised everywhere I go by another licensed motorcycle rider. I've been riding my Buddy 125 for years without a motorcycle license proper (I DO have insurance, of course, and have read "Proficient Motorcycling" several times!) and now that I'm finally going to get it I'm irrationally worried that there will be a police officer in the parking lot waiting to nab anyone who shows up without a properly licensed motorcycle (or scooter!) escort.

First of all, how irrational is this worry? Secondly, if it is not irrational, would anyone like to "chauffeur" me from Ann Arbor over into Ypsilanti where I will take the driver skills test?

It will be this Friday, 7/15/11, midday.

Ray Knobs · Post by **Ray Knobs** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 8:08 pm

I am not sure how the test is done where you are put here your "escort" must be in a car. The test administrator gets in the car and follows you around.

How else would they give you the test?

jhorac1 · Post by **jhorac1** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 8:32 pm

The motorcycle skills test here is administered entirely within the confines of a closed course — typically a high school parking lot. Following around in a vehicle is not necessary because the skills on the test can all be performed in such a small space.

jasondavis48108 · Post by **jasondavis48108** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 8:52 pm

jhorac1 wrote:Hey all,

I've been living in Ann Arbor for a year now and am about to have the driver skills test administered to me. According to the schnazzy T.I.P. (temporary instructors permit) I've been issued I need to be supervised everywhere I go by another licensed motorcycle rider. I've been riding my Buddy 125 for years without a motorcycle license proper (I DO have insurance, of course, and have read "Proficient Motorcycling" several times!) and now that I'm finally going to get it I'm irrationally worried that there will be a police officer in the parking lot waiting to nab anyone who shows up without a properly licensed motorcycle (or scooter!) escort.

First of all, how irrational is this worry? Secondly, if it is not irrational, would anyone like to "chauffeur" me from Ann Arbor over into Ypsilanti where I will take the driver skills test?

It will be this Friday, 7/15/11, midday.

I'd check to see if they will let you test if you rode by yourself to the test. I've heard rumors that they will not allow you to take the test if you rode by yourself but that's just hearsay and I have no solid data on that. Check it out and if you really do need someone that has their MC endorsement to ride with you to the test then I should be free this Friday to go with you.

Post by **ericalm** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 9:03 pm

Ray Knobs wrote:I am not sure how the test is done where you are put here your "escort" must be in a car. The test administrator gets in the car and follows you around.

How else would they give you the test?

That's how they do it in NY state. Seems very weird to me.

siobhan · Post by **siobhan** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 9:56 pm

ericalm wrote:
Ray Knobs wrote:I am not sure how the test is done where you are put here your "escort" must be in a car. The test administrator gets in the car and follows you around.

How else would they give you the test?
That's how they do it in NY state. Seems very weird to me.

Exactly, and that's why I never got my license in New York. You need to have a licensed rider on another bike within x feet at all times when you have your permit. It's completely ridiculous. Plus, I had a Lammy with no turn signals at the time and I didn't want to deal with the hand signals and shifting while trying to pass the riding portion of the test. Too much pressure for my meager brain.

to the OP: I wouldn't be surprised if you have an issue showing up on the scoot without an escort. I almost got tossed out of the riding portion of the BRC here in Rhode Island because I rode my Honda Met to the class. The instructor said they don't let people who have broken the law getting to class participate. When I explained the Met was a 50cc and required no motorcycle license, he relented. And I got to feel all rebel-y.

Mtlgrlie · Post by **Mtlgrlie** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 10:24 pm

Yes, NY is 1/4 mile sight distance between you and someone with a MC license.....kinda defeatist really. Hard to get real experience considering most people ride MC around here and I don't know them.

My neighbor has a Burghman but we have very different schedules.

I usually assume he's watching me and zoom around our little neighborhood carefully.

I'm hoping my partner passes in 2 weeks so she's my "escort" everywhere!

Good luck.

Thadsgood · Post by **Thadsgood** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 11:29 pm

I took that exact test in the ypsi high parking lot. The test is given by an independent contractor. If its the same guy he didn't care that I drove up alone. He laughed when he saw the scooter and said, "you won't have ANY problem passing this" I wouldn't worry about it.

jhorac1 · Post by **jhorac1** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 11:34 pm

Thanks for the tips, all.

As for the necessary escort that is required for the temporary instruction permit, I was baffled right from the get go when I discovered that I couldn't legally ride unless I was being accompanied by another motorcyclist. It's not like everyone has friends with motorcycles, nor an easy way to find a friend with a motorcycle, let alone a friend with a motorcycle who wants to accompany you every time you ride to class in the morning

If it weren't for an online forum like this, I'm not sure how anyone finds a friend with a motorcycle to "escort" them around.

In any case, thanks for the local tip, Thadsgood, and if I end up needing an escort I'll let you know, Jason. Thanks so much for the offer.

ComboOrgan · Post by **ComboOrgan** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 11:59 pm

I'm interested to hear how this turns out as well. I wonder if the same thing applies to the MSF safety course at WCC

Ray Knobs · Post by **Ray Knobs** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 12:36 am

ericalm wrote: That's how they do it in NY state. Seems very weird to me.

You ever try to do 4 figure 8's in traffic? lol

It was very easy if you know what the DMV people are looking for.
I rode 3 years on a permit, never had a follower.

What happens if you show up to the skills test with your bike on a trailer?

jasondavis48108 · Post by **jasondavis48108** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 12:51 am

ComboOrgan wrote:I'm interested to hear how this turns out as well. I wonder if the same thing applies to the MSF safety course at WCC

ah, here I have a bit more experience. I took the MSF course at WCC cause that's were I work and so it was free. They had no problems with me riding my Buddy 50 to class but they would have pulled out the woopazz if someone had rode a motorcycle to the class. It's a strict no no. If you do ride to class then I would suggest not advertising it, i.e. park well away from where you will be riding during class.

Quo Vadimus · Post by **Quo Vadimus** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 1:43 am

I rode alone to my test with... whichever business gives the test in the ypsi high school parking lot. Guy never said a word about it.

however.

the first appointment no one showed up to. After I called the business (and corrected their immediate insinuation that I must have arrived late - I was 30 minutes early to practice), they didn't call their man. They gave me his personal phone number. He then claimed that he figured I would know that the tiny puddle in the parking lot meant no test, but it was clear that he had forgotten.

made another appointment, they had to reschedule.

Made a third appointment. (different) Guy was super nice (to the point of encouraging and complimenting), super efficient, and never said a word about me having arrived alone. Keep in mind Michigan farms this work out to private contractors, and their desire to get paid (despite my experiences suggesting otherwise) probably encourages a 'look the other way' attitude when it comes to that little hiccup.

That being said, Jason, myself, or someone from a3sc (meetup.com group) would happily escort you.

I always worried that my not riding with an escort while on my TIP would be the excuse my insurance co. would need to not cover any accident I got into. Just a thought.

Thadsgood · Post by **Thadsgood** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 3:15 pm

I guess i got the super nice one because i had no issues at all.

BuddyBliss · Post by **BuddyBliss** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 4:24 pm

I generally have the philosophy that no one is paying attention to me, so I wouldn't worry about an escort....that's just me.

BuddyBliss · Post by **BuddyBliss** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 4:25 pm

I generally have the philosophy that no one is paying attention to me, so I wouldn't worry about an escort....that's just me.

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 5:18 pm

Can you still hire escorts on Craigslist, or have they stopped that?

jasondavis48108 · Post by **jasondavis48108** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 6:56 pm

TVB wrote:Can you still hire escorts on Craigslist, or have they stopped that?

That would be so awesome! show up to the test with an "escort" and just feign ignorance.

Syd · Post by **Syd** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 7:52 pm

jasondavis48108 wrote:
TVB wrote:Can you still hire escorts on Craigslist, or have they stopped that?

That would be so awesome! show up to the test with an "escort" and just feign ignorance.

Does MI license escorts? I thought that was just NV.

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 10:28 pm

jasondavis48108 wrote:That would be so awesome! show up to the test with an "escort" and just feign ignorance.

"How long does this test take? I'm paying by the hour. Just for his time, you understand. Nothing illegal."

jasondavis48108 · Post by **jasondavis48108** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 10:40 pm

TVB wrote:
jasondavis48108 wrote:That would be so awesome! show up to the test with an "escort" and just feign ignorance.
"How long does this test take? I'm paying by the hour. Just for his time, you understand. Nothing illegal."

Oh, of course nothing illegal, he is an "escort" after all

jhorac1 · Post by **jhorac1** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 2:11 am

Just to complete the story:

I ended up arriving to the parking lot where the test was some 20 minutes before my tester showed up. When he arrived, he shook my hand, said hello, administered the test (which I passed with flying colors) and sent me on my way. No questions asked, thank goodness.

jasondavis48108 · Post by **jasondavis48108** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 2:13 am

excellent, glad to hear it went so smoothly

jasondavis48108 · Post by **jasondavis48108** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 2:15 am

btw are you gonna go on any of the A3SC rides or meet ups? I signed up about two years ago but I'm a pretty bad introvert so the 7/27 meet up will be the first I'm going to.

jhorac1 · Post by **jhorac1** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 2:27 am

I wasn't planning on it. In fact, I don't know anything about it, nor what that acronym means . . .

jasondavis48108 · Post by **jasondavis48108** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 3:44 am

jhorac1 wrote:I wasn't planning on it. In fact, I don't know anything about it, nor what that acronym means . . .

Ann Arbor Area Scooter Club, if you google them you'll find their meet up page

Modern Buddy

Ann Arbor, MI scooterists . . . chauffuer needed?

Ann Arbor, MI scooterists . . . chauffuer needed?

Re: Ann Arbor, MI scooterists . . . chauffuer needed?