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MAJOR UPDATE! CT To Allow Testing on 3 Wheels!!!
OK....It's 4 years later and I never gave up! Below is my latest email with the good news coming in today's update from Connecticut State Representative Rick Lopez. For those who don't want to read my long argument, here's the bottom line from Rick:
"Bob,
This seems almost too easy. I met with DMV and they are working with DOT to solve your issue. They are getting two used 3 wheel bikes for the tests and hope to have the program up and running in under a year."
"Too Easy" took me 4 years, but looks like it's going to happen! Can't wait for it to be reality.
****************Original Email earlier this year ****************************
Dear Mr. Seymour,
I believe that our state's licensing requirements for 3-wheeled vehicles is out of step with mainstream practice throughout the country and needs to be changed. I am writing to ask for your help and/or direction in how I can best work with the appropriate people in state government to make this change happen.. The practice I'm referring to is the CT requirement that new operators who want to drive 3-wheeled vehicles such as the Can-Am Spyder take the Basic Rider Education course and test on a 2 wheeled vehicle such as a motorcycle or scooter. I would like to see the practice changed to allow the basic rider course and test to be taken on the 3 wheeled vehicle that would be used. For your consideration, here are some relevant statistics.
I've researched the 3 wheeled vehicle operator licensing and testing requirements for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Out of these:
45 Require a motorcycle license
2 States have a 3 wheel only (M-3) option available
3 States allow just a regular automobile driver's license.
(I could not find information on North Carolina's licensing requirement).
* The clear majority practice is for a motorcycle license. I believe that is a sound choice as obtaining a motorcycle or M-3 endorsement in connection with a rider education course ensures that licensees are aware of the special considerations 2 and 3-wheeled operators need to take into account when on the road.
Here's where I think Connecticut and 6 other states (Alaska, Alabama, Delaware, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Wyoming) got it wrong.
Of the 47 States that require a motorcycle license or 3 wheeled endorsement:
38 allow the test using a 3 wheeled vehicle
7 (see above) require the test be taken on 2 wheels
(I did not find information on North Carolina and New Hampshire)
* The clear majority practice in this case is to allow the test to be taken on the 3 wheeled vehicle that will be operated. If you think about it, it makes sense.
I can provide you a detailed breakdown by state of the various requirements if you'd like.
Requiring the operator of a 3 wheeled vehicle such as the Can-Am Spyder to obtain a motorcycle license using a 2 wheeled vehicle is not unlike requiring every new automobile driver in the state to take their driver's education, training. and test using a commercial 18 wheel tractor trailer. It places a skill level requirement out of proportion to the type of vehicle the individual intends to operate.
In addition to the fact that CT is among the clear minority it its practice there are some other very legitimate reasons to amend how we treat 3 wheeled vehicles. Three-wheeled vehicles (and specifically the Can-Am Spyder) appeal to some two wheeled riders, but also a sub-demographic of people who:
Are afraid or reluctant to ride a two-wheeler.
Lack the balance to properly navigate a two-wheeler at low speeds such as in a parking lot
Are unable to support the weight of a two-wheeler with their legs when stopped - such as 2 wheeled riders who through age, illness or injury have lost that ability.
I'm sure you -like me- can think of several types of people who fit in one or more of these categories. In the case of a two wheeled licensed rider that no longer feels comfortable on those two wheels, it's no problem. They already have their M-endorsement. But CT practice (inadvertently I'm sure) discriminates against NEW riders in the above categories by requiring a higher level skill set than required to operate the desired vehicle (ref. back to the tractor trailer analogy).
In my personal situation, I have an M endorsement and ride a two wheeler, and a spyder. My wife however, has bad knees and cannot support a two-wheeled vehicle. She would like to be able to drive the spyder but is unable to do so because she would have to take the basic rider education course and test using a two-wheeled motorcycle or scooter.
I believe that changing CT practice to be more in line with the majority of states in the US is a more realistic and inclusive approach by more accurately matching operator license requirements to the vehicle to be operated. Once again I would like to work with the appropriate person(s) within the DMV and/or the state legislature towards getting these changes made. Any help or guidance you can give me will be most appreciated.
Thank you very much for your time and consideration. I'm looking forward to hearing back from you and perhaps working together. In the meantime, if you are not familiar with the Can-Am Spyder and would like to see one and learn more about it I am more than happy to come by your office one day with mine.
Sincerely,
Robert (Bob) Harrington
********After No response from Mr Seymour, follow-up with state reps. *******************
Dear Representatives Nafis, Guerrerra, and Lopes
I am forwarding an email I sent today to Mr. William Seymour, the Director of Communications for the CT DMV. In that email I am asking for his help in addressing what I see as an inequity in CT licensing requirements for 3 wheeled vehicles specifically the Can-Am Spyder.
I would also like to solicit your involvement and help in changing our State's practice in this regard.
Please see the included email for more information. After reading it I'm confident you will agree with my position that our practice needs to change and will be willing to help me. In all honesty, representative Nafis and I attempted to address this a few years ago without much success. Now that this industry and all 50 states have had time to mature in their thinking, I'm hoping a more current effort will meet with better success.
Thank you very much for your attention and time. I'm looking forward to your response, and to working with you in the future.
Sincerely
Robert (Bob) Harrington
***************And finally....(Skipping a few status updates)....received this today **************
Bob,
This seems almost too easy. I met with DMV and they are working with DOT to solve your issue. They are getting two used 3 wheel bikes for the tests and hope to have the program up and running in under a year.
Sincerely,
Rick
OK....It's 4 years later and I never gave up! Below is my latest email with the good news coming in today's update from Connecticut State Representative Rick Lopez. For those who don't want to read my long argument, here's the bottom line from Rick:
"Bob,
This seems almost too easy. I met with DMV and they are working with DOT to solve your issue. They are getting two used 3 wheel bikes for the tests and hope to have the program up and running in under a year."
"Too Easy" took me 4 years, but looks like it's going to happen! Can't wait for it to be reality.
****************Original Email earlier this year ****************************
Dear Mr. Seymour,
I believe that our state's licensing requirements for 3-wheeled vehicles is out of step with mainstream practice throughout the country and needs to be changed. I am writing to ask for your help and/or direction in how I can best work with the appropriate people in state government to make this change happen.. The practice I'm referring to is the CT requirement that new operators who want to drive 3-wheeled vehicles such as the Can-Am Spyder take the Basic Rider Education course and test on a 2 wheeled vehicle such as a motorcycle or scooter. I would like to see the practice changed to allow the basic rider course and test to be taken on the 3 wheeled vehicle that would be used. For your consideration, here are some relevant statistics.
I've researched the 3 wheeled vehicle operator licensing and testing requirements for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Out of these:
45 Require a motorcycle license
2 States have a 3 wheel only (M-3) option available
3 States allow just a regular automobile driver's license.
(I could not find information on North Carolina's licensing requirement).
* The clear majority practice is for a motorcycle license. I believe that is a sound choice as obtaining a motorcycle or M-3 endorsement in connection with a rider education course ensures that licensees are aware of the special considerations 2 and 3-wheeled operators need to take into account when on the road.
Here's where I think Connecticut and 6 other states (Alaska, Alabama, Delaware, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Wyoming) got it wrong.
Of the 47 States that require a motorcycle license or 3 wheeled endorsement:
38 allow the test using a 3 wheeled vehicle
7 (see above) require the test be taken on 2 wheels
(I did not find information on North Carolina and New Hampshire)
* The clear majority practice in this case is to allow the test to be taken on the 3 wheeled vehicle that will be operated. If you think about it, it makes sense.
I can provide you a detailed breakdown by state of the various requirements if you'd like.
Requiring the operator of a 3 wheeled vehicle such as the Can-Am Spyder to obtain a motorcycle license using a 2 wheeled vehicle is not unlike requiring every new automobile driver in the state to take their driver's education, training. and test using a commercial 18 wheel tractor trailer. It places a skill level requirement out of proportion to the type of vehicle the individual intends to operate.
In addition to the fact that CT is among the clear minority it its practice there are some other very legitimate reasons to amend how we treat 3 wheeled vehicles. Three-wheeled vehicles (and specifically the Can-Am Spyder) appeal to some two wheeled riders, but also a sub-demographic of people who:
Are afraid or reluctant to ride a two-wheeler.
Lack the balance to properly navigate a two-wheeler at low speeds such as in a parking lot
Are unable to support the weight of a two-wheeler with their legs when stopped - such as 2 wheeled riders who through age, illness or injury have lost that ability.
I'm sure you -like me- can think of several types of people who fit in one or more of these categories. In the case of a two wheeled licensed rider that no longer feels comfortable on those two wheels, it's no problem. They already have their M-endorsement. But CT practice (inadvertently I'm sure) discriminates against NEW riders in the above categories by requiring a higher level skill set than required to operate the desired vehicle (ref. back to the tractor trailer analogy).
In my personal situation, I have an M endorsement and ride a two wheeler, and a spyder. My wife however, has bad knees and cannot support a two-wheeled vehicle. She would like to be able to drive the spyder but is unable to do so because she would have to take the basic rider education course and test using a two-wheeled motorcycle or scooter.
I believe that changing CT practice to be more in line with the majority of states in the US is a more realistic and inclusive approach by more accurately matching operator license requirements to the vehicle to be operated. Once again I would like to work with the appropriate person(s) within the DMV and/or the state legislature towards getting these changes made. Any help or guidance you can give me will be most appreciated.
Thank you very much for your time and consideration. I'm looking forward to hearing back from you and perhaps working together. In the meantime, if you are not familiar with the Can-Am Spyder and would like to see one and learn more about it I am more than happy to come by your office one day with mine.
Sincerely,
Robert (Bob) Harrington
********After No response from Mr Seymour, follow-up with state reps. *******************
Dear Representatives Nafis, Guerrerra, and Lopes
I am forwarding an email I sent today to Mr. William Seymour, the Director of Communications for the CT DMV. In that email I am asking for his help in addressing what I see as an inequity in CT licensing requirements for 3 wheeled vehicles specifically the Can-Am Spyder.
I would also like to solicit your involvement and help in changing our State's practice in this regard.
Please see the included email for more information. After reading it I'm confident you will agree with my position that our practice needs to change and will be willing to help me. In all honesty, representative Nafis and I attempted to address this a few years ago without much success. Now that this industry and all 50 states have had time to mature in their thinking, I'm hoping a more current effort will meet with better success.
Thank you very much for your attention and time. I'm looking forward to your response, and to working with you in the future.
Sincerely
Robert (Bob) Harrington
***************And finally....(Skipping a few status updates)....received this today **************
Bob,
This seems almost too easy. I met with DMV and they are working with DOT to solve your issue. They are getting two used 3 wheel bikes for the tests and hope to have the program up and running in under a year.
Sincerely,
Rick
