Post-COVID learner rider spike expected in NSW

Australia’s leading motorcycle training provider has seen a surprising increase in rider training demand as COVID-19 restrictions continue to ease in New South Wales.

Stay Upright, which operates in six Australian states, claims a 20% increase in learner training demand in New South Wales since May 1 this year.

While it’s great for the motorcycle industry to welcome so many new riders, Stay Upright is urging riders and drivers to take extra precaution on the roads. The surge in rider training demand will likely result in more inexperienced riders on the road, just as general traffic is starting to increase in the post-COVID period.

However it is encouraging to see new riders taking the initiative to seek rider training. A wave of new riders could be a massive boost for the motorcycle industry as it attempts to recover from the effects of the pandemic.

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Annalise Cawood, General Manager of Stay Upright, believes the spike is due in part to people looking to reduce expenses following the pandemic. Motorcycles are generally cheaper to purchase and operate, and offer more mobility and potentially extra income through delivery services.

“In NSW, the state government supports motorcycle riding by subsidising learner licencing," said Cawood. “Therefore, the initial L-plate training sessions are relatively inexpensive ($96 in NSW).”

But Cawood stressed that having a learner license does not equate to riding experience. “Unlike cars, riders on their L-plates are free to ride on public roads by themselves immediately,” she said. “New, inexperience riders are particularly vulnerable. Car and truck drivers need to be aware of blind spots with more people expected to ride and drive back to work rather than catch public transport.”

Stay Upright is urging riders to wear recommended protective clothing and to continue their training long after the have been awarded their learner license. “Riders are responsible for their ongoing training and experience building,” said Cawood. “Regular riding is critical to riders becoming more comfortable on the road.”

Stay Upright was Australia’s first motorcycle rider training and safety organisation. It was founded in 1981 and is now the largest of its kind in Australia. The company offers official licencing training in four states, advanced training six states, and trains more than 45,000 riders annually across the country.