Motorcycle training classes are filling up quickly

The early bird gets a summer of riding.

But other would-be motorcyclists may end up stalled in their attempts to take a state-approved class to get their license.

State-subsidized classes already are full through early July in Spokane, and the only Idaho-sponsored classes in Kootenai County are filled through mid-June, although more Idaho classes are expected to be added in a couple of weeks.

It happens every year, said Scott Ward, who runs the Spokane-area rider-training program at Westside Motorsports.

“We start signing people up in February,” Ward said.

Classes fill up quickly because there’s more demand than there is state money for the program.

The state-subsidized spots cost $100 per person. The nonsubsidized/out-of-state rate is $225 per person.

But even the full-rate slots are filled up well into June.

Idaho classes, given by Idaho’s Skills Training Advantage for Riders (STAR) in Post Falls, cost $75 for beginners and earn them a motorcycle endorsement without taking the skills test.

It would be great to offer more subsidized classes, but there just isn’t enough money, said Carl Spurgeon, who manages Washington’s motorcycle safety program.

The entire safety program is funded solely by class and motorcycle endorsement fees.

“Short of increasing the endorsement fee, we don’t have a lot of options,” Spurgeon said.

A riders class is not required for a license – both Washington and Idaho riders can get motorcycle endorsements by passing knowledge and skills tests – but the classes give many riders increased confidence and can earn them lower insurance rates.

Dean McMillen, who tests riders’ skills in Post Falls for Idaho endorsements, says a lack of confidence is one of the biggest problems he sees when administering the test.

Information on Idaho’s STAR classes is available at www.idahostar.org or by calling (888) 280-STAR. For Spokane classes, call Westside Motorsports at (509) 747-1862.

Mercury redux

Last week, “Getting There” detailed the environmental hazards of mercury switches in automobiles.

Turns out, however, there has been a lot of confusing information on this subject.

To clarify, the amount of mercury in a vehicle switch can’t contaminate a 20-acre lake in mercury’s liquid form. But incinerated and evaporated when a car is being recycled, that same amount of mercury can enter the air and end up in waterways where it can cause the contamination described.

So it’s still a good idea to get rid of those switches.

Time’s up

Idaho procrastinators had better get those studded tires off this week.

After this coming Sunday , they will earn you a ticket.

Breathe better

The Washington Department of Ecology awarded Spokane Transit Authority and the city of Spokane money to retrofit diesel vehicles to clean up the exhaust.

STA will use the money to improve 69 buses, while the city of Spokane will use the funds for work on 120 vehicles.

The retrofitting will take care of 99 percent of those vehicles’ toxic emissions.

Slow going

Preparation for this summer’s downtown Interstate 90 project will begin this week with surveying Tuesday and Wednesday between midnight and 6 a.m. Watch for lane closures and ramp restrictions.

Also on I-90, Latah Creek Bridge work west of downtown will require lane restrictions Tuesday through Thursday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Work is under way to restore Haven Street through Hillyard. It is closed from southbound Market to northbound Market. All side streets also are closed during work hours.

Wellesley Avenue is restricted to one lane in each direction near Haven Street.

Work to rehabilitate 29th Avenue between Southeast Boulevard and Grand Boulevard also is under way. Traffic is reduced to one lane in each direction, and drivers are unable to enter or exit Perry at 29th. Detours are in place.

Sunset Boulevard is closed at Third Avenue and traffic is being detoured via Fourth Avenue, while Inland Empire Way is closed and traffic is being rerouted via Sixth and Seventh avenues to accommodate work on a water main project.

Trent Avenue traffic may be bogged down near Hamilton, where the curb lanes will be closed at times for road work.

First Avenue will be reduced to only one lane between Lincoln and Wall for the next nine days.

Magnolia Street is being repaved between Nebraska Avenue and Central Avenue. No through traffic is allowed.

Strong Road will be closed east of Austin Road through Wednesday for sewer work.

Filming downtown may cause congestion Monday night along Lincoln Street from Fifth to Sprague avenues and along Sprague from Lincoln to Monroe Street.

Crack-sealing on Thor and Ray will cause intermittent lane restrictions this week between Hartson and 29th Avenue.

Freya will be restricted to one lane at times between Hartson and 37th Avenue this week for relocation of power poles. The same kind of work also may cause lane restrictions on Crestline Street between Francis Avenue and Lincoln Road.

Work is under way on the North Spokane Corridor freeway project and the Gerlach to Wandermere grading project. Flaggers will direct traffic as trucks cross Perry and Farwell Road.

Spokane street sweeping will be under way this week in the northwest part of town from Ash Street on the west to Monroe Street on the east and between Francis Avenue on the north and Wellesley Avenue on the south. Later in the week, crews will sweep between Lowell Avenue on the south to the north city limits and from Indian Trail.

Northeast sweeping will occur from Hamilton/Nevada on the west to Crestline on the east and between Illinois on the south and Wellesley on the north.

On the south side, sweeping will be under way from Havana on the east to Ray/Thor on the west and between Hartson Avenue on the north and 29th Avenue on the south.

Please move cars off the streets. For more information, call (509) 456-2666.

In Spokane Valley, Flora Road is closed between Montgomery and Mission.

Valleyway is closed to all but local traffic during the day between Conklin and Sullivan.

Barker Road is closed from Boone to Euclid for road widening.

In Idaho, Prairie Avenue remains under construction between Ramsey and Huetter.

The Government Way bridge in Coeur d’Alene is closed to traffic. A short detour is in place at the Seltice Way bridge west of Northwest Boulevard.

In Post Falls, the intersection of Mullan Road and Chase Road will be closed today.

And McGuire will be closed between Poleline and Prairie Tuesday through Thursday for sewer work.