A session called the 'Yamaha Female Riding Training' (YFRT), meant exclusively for the students of Mount Carmel College, was held on the college campus recently.
As part of this event, a few trainers discussed how to stay safe while riding a motorcycle. They also encouraged those who have never ridden one to hop on and give it a try.
"This event is mainly about communicating the point of being safe — for yourself as well as others — in an interactive manner. Here, there are people who already ride, as well as those who need a push to do so. We will try and reach out to all those students.
Teaching someone how to ride a bike — especially the balancing part — is not possible in a day, but the first steps can be taken," says J S Cheema, a trainer at the programme.
The other subjects touched upon included how to handle the vehicle, apply the brakes, corner a bike and clear obstacles. The students that were test driving the bike were asked to wear safety gear like knee guards, elbow guards and helmets, emphasising the importance of safety while riding.
Some of the safety tips discussed were how one should place their legs while on the bike and how to hold the handlebars. One of the instructors also described the most efficient and comfortable way of sitting on a bike.
The event was quite a fun affair. The college principal tried riding a bike with the help of an instructor. T Meghana Shree, a first-year student who tested the bike, says, "I know how to ride a bike, but it's great to watch and learn about the different tips and points to be remembered from the instructor. She was brief and very friendly, which added to the experience."
The event had two zones — the training zone, for the students who already knew how to ride a bike and the fear zone, for those who either haven't ridden a bike at all or don't do so regularly. "I rode a while back around my own locality. With this, I wish to brush up on my riding skills. The training programme gives a gist of what one needs to keep in mind while on the road. It is bound to help a lot," says L Wagisha, a second-year student.
Carel Gomes, another second-year student, adds, "I wanted to get the feel of the bike, thus the test drive. The training has also given us a deeper insight into safety."