Jenna Forstrom

Team Oregon is a statewide training and outreach program of the Oregon State University College of Public Health and Human Sciences. The college is committed to robust community involvement and providing the education and services needed to help people lead safe, healthy lives. At the heart of Team Oregon are street-oriented, research-based training courses. For beginning riders, our basic courses are an introduction to motorcycling that include eight hours of practice riding. We offer intermediate courses for those who are self-taught or who haven’t ridden in some time and are getting back into motorcycling, that include four hours of practice riding. Both types of courses meet Oregon's training requirement, and both courses are available with online classroom as an option. For endorsed riders who want to raise their skills to a higher level, Rider Skills Practice provides an opportunity to work on techniques for cornering, emergency braking and collision avoidance. The Braking Clinic refines braking skills at real road speeds. Advanced Riding Techniques is designed to refine cornering skills on the tight turns and curves of an enclosed track. The Precision Maneuvering Clinic helps riders master low-speed balance and control. The Cornering Clinic is a quick boost of curve skills for riders looking to get more from their bikes. Team Oregon also provides advanced training programs for police motorcycle officers. OSU collaborates with the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) Transportation Safety Division. Team Oregon funding comes from student tuitions, motorcycle endorsement and renewal fees, and grants. In 1984, the first year of the program, Team Oregon trained about 400 riders. Last year, more than 9,000 students completed a basic, intermediate, experienced or advanced training course to learn safe and responsible motorcycling. In its history, Team Oregon has trained more than 190,000 riders in the mental and physical skills needed to ride safely.