November 11, 2013 - Motorcycle Mechanics Institute in Orlando Revs up Community during 2013 Biketoberfest

Orange Osceola Safety Institute representatives Simon Hetherington, Kourtney Kareis, Martin Huyskens

The Motorcycle Mechanics Institute in Orlando recently celebrated Biketoberfest with a community event commemorating its 37th anniversary. The school also held a Motorcycle Safety Day event to prep students for the weekend.

The family-friendly anniversary party included a car and bike show, live music and a charity bike run with Bahia Shriners. Riders rode for more than 30 miles and raised money to benefit MMI-Orlando’s scholarship fund.

“We are excited to celebrate nearly four decades of preparing top-notch technicians for the industry – and we look forward to more years of benefitting both our students and the local community,” said Steve McElfresh, campus president at UTI-Orlando.

In addition to the festivities, MMI shifted gears and hosted a Motorcycle Safety Day event. The event was held in an effort to address the reality that many riders are not taking the proper precautions before hitting the road. According to the U.S Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), head injuries are the leading cause of death in motorcycle accidents.

During the Motorcycle Safety Day, representatives from the Orange Osceola Safety Institute (OOSI) were on site to discuss proper placement of safety gear and evasive maneuvers that can be used on the road.

“The common misconception is that motorcyclists are usually at fault in traffic accidents,” said Simon Hetherington, an OOSI representative . “The truth is that drivers often don’t see us, so that’s why we need to prepare ourselves for all types of situations.”