Learning as I go. Wanting to be a pro.

[hippiebikerchick]

We are having a record bike death start of the riding season in Idaho this year. So many already dead. Ton's of no helmet wrecks and Harleys going straight off into the trees.  
Riding safety courses should become mandatory. So many Families grieving the loss of loved ones killed by stupid mistakes.
 
I swear, the road that I love to ride here looks like this lately.
 
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm178/ninaudp/Tail-of-the-Dragonmashup_zps2zxvjeeb.jpg

Just yesterday a motorcyclist was speeding on a local bridge and crashed with a car. They found the wrecked bike but the motorcyclist was flipped off the bridge into the water 135 feet below. Searchers have not found the body as of this posting. 
Link: http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Motorcyclist-crashes-flips-off-Antioch-Bridge-6195382.php

[Guru]

A course is not enough in my opinion. Lessons should be mandatory.
When I got my license in Europe, taking lessons was the only way. It involved riding on a learner bike accompanied by an instructor (on his own motorcycle). I had a head set and he told me what to do and what I did wrong. We started with doing donuts and cones on a parking lot and moved on to roads when I had enough skill to do so. And I had to endure this until he thought I was to do an exam. It didn't take much lessons for me but I know that some had 30 to 40 hours of practice before getting their license. And some never do, because no matter how many lessons, some people just don't have it.