Finally! CONREP Classes To Start in May, BRC Fee to Cost $260

Aspiring motorcycle riders in Connecticut will finally get to take state-run training classes.

Enrollment for Connecticut Rider Education Program courses is expected to open the first week of May following the resolution of a months-long standoff between CONREP and Connecticut State Community College. Classes are expected to begin shortly thereafter with tuition for the Basic Rider Course set at $260.

“Yes, $260 is the cost of the class that was established through contract negotiations,” said Melissa Lamar, director of Media and Public Relations for CT State, in an email to RIDE-CT this afternoon. She reported, “On Friday last week, April 17, our contract was finalized.”

That agreement ended what was a frustrating situation for wannabe riders and for CONREP instructors who were fearful of motorcyclists riding illegally, and which resulted in the opening of enrollment being delayed for weeks and classes being canceled.

What was apparently a standoff between the two state entities began back in January when CONREP proposed modestly raising the cost of taking the BRC from $240 to $260. CT State, which host classes on community college campuses, reportedly sought a 46 percent increase to $350.

That higher price would have been more in line with the prices charged by privately-owned training schools operated by Training Wheels and at Mike’s Famous Harley-Davidson in New London.

Aspiring riders are required by law to pass a new rider course to obtain an “M endorsement on their driver’s license.

“We are actively working to have registration up and running by the first week in May and will again be offering motorcycle courses early May,” Lamarr wrote in her email. This afternoon, the web pages for various training site across the state still say, “Registration is current closed.” That should change soon.

RIDE-CT also sought comment for this story from CONREP and the state Department of Transportation, which oversees CONREP, but had not received a response by the time of posting.

(Photos of CONREP classes from RIDE-CT archives.)