Section 455.30  Definitions

"Act" means the Cycle Rider Safety Training Act [625 ILCS 35].

"Advanced-Level Course" means highest level motorcycle safety course the Program offers to students.  It is a course designed for students who own a personal motorcycle and meet class criteria or rider experience and readiness to learn advanced braking and steering skills.

"Code" or "IVC" means the Illinois Vehicle Code [625 ILCS 5].

"Contract" means an annual written agreement between the Illinois Department of Transportation and each provider.  The contract year begins December 1 and ends the following November 30.  A contract will specify the requirements of the Program and the amount of money provided from the Cycle Rider Safety Training Fund to implement the Program as provided in Section 6 of the Act.

"Curriculum" means the educational content used by a Cycle Rider Safety Training Course provider to instruct students for any of the Cycle Rider Safety Training Program courses.

"Curriculum Provider" means the organization responsible for providing the curriculum to a Cycle Rider Safety Training Course provider.  This organization maintains standards for how the curriculum is presented, as well as standards for maintaining credentials for instructor trainers, instructors, quality assurance, and quality compliance or control.  This organization may be the same as a Cycle Rider Safety Training Course provider.

"Cycle" means a motorcycle, as defined in the Illinois Vehicle Code. [625 ILCS 35/2.01]

"Cycle Rider" means every person who rides and is in actual physical control of a cycle.  [625 ILCS 65/35/2.02](Section 2.02 of the Act)

"Cycle Rider Safety Training Courses" or "Courses" means entry-level intermediate-level, and advanced-level courses of instruction in the use and operation of cycles, including instruction in the safe on-road operation of cycles, the rules of the road and the laws of this State relating to motor vehicles, which courses meet the minimum requirements of this Act, the standards established in the model national administrative standards for state motorcycle rider training programs by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and the rules and regulations issued hereunder by the Department and which have been approved or denied within 60 days by the Department as meeting such requirements. [625 ILCS 35/2.03]

"Cycle Rider Safety Training Course Provider" or "provider" means a community college, State university, State or local government agency, or for-profit or nonprofit business entity in good standing and operating in the State that is capable of providing courses meeting the definition in the Act in accordance with the rules set forth by the Department and the requirements of the Act.  "Cycle Rider Safety Training Course Provider" and "provider" does not include any business registered as a motorcycle dealer with the Secretary of State or any other business that drives income from the selling of motorcycles or has motorcycles for sale at its place of business on a consignment basis. [625 ILCS 35/2.03a]

"Department" means the Illinois Department of Transportation. [625 ILCS 35/2.04]

"Driver's License" means any license or permit to operate a motor vehicle under the laws of Illinois. [625 ILCS 35/2.05])

"Entry-level Course" means any novice training designed to develop knowledge, habits, and skills necessary for safe operation of a motorcycle or a three-wheel cycle.

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 218" or "FMVSS 218" means the mandatory U.S. federal safety regulation that establishes the minimum performance and testing requirements for motorcycle helmets found at 49 CFR 571.218. (October 2017) (no later editions or amendments).

"Instructor" means the person or persons qualified under this Part to teach both on-cycle and classroom sessions of the Program.  Instructors must successfully complete an instructor training course prior to performing the duties of an instructor.

"Instructor Trainer" means a person who is qualified under this Part to train and certify Program instructors.  (See Section 455.50(a)(2) for qualifications.)

"Instructor Update Seminar" means an annual seminar conducted by a provider that Program instructors must attend annually to update and review curriculum and other issues related to the Program.

"Intermediate-Level Course" means a motorcycle safety course which introduces mid-level skills to riders with some experience.

"Model National Standards" means the motorcycle safety education standards for curriculum and course conduct published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the report "DOT HS 811 503 – Model National Standards for Entry-Level Motorcycle Rider Training." (August 2011) (no later editions or amendments), available at: https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/811503.pdf.

"Motorcycle" means every motor vehicle having a seat or saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than 3 wheels in contact with the ground, but excluding an autocycle or tractor. [625 ILCS 5/1-147]

"Motorcycle Crash/Incident Report" or "MCIR" means the form provided by the Department to report a crash, injury, or property damage which occurs during a training session, or equivalent form approved by the Department.

"Program" means the Illinois Cycle Rider Safety Training Program.

"Program Coordinator" means the person employed by the provider who is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Program and oversight of the provider's training sites, ranges, and courses.

"Quality Assurance" means the process to ensure compliance with the Program requirements, curriculum standards, as established by the curriculum provider and the Department in this Part, to promote continuous improvement of the Program.

"Range" means the paved area that is secured by the provider to conduct the "on-cycle" portion of the training course.

"Range Aide" means the person employed by the provider who is responsible for preparing the range, cycles, and other equipment for an on-cycle instruction, maintaining cycles in a safe operating condition, and, under supervision of an instructor, assisting with non-instructional duties. 

"Training Site" or "Site" means the physical location of the training range or ranges, the classroom or classrooms and, in some cases, a storage facility.  Each provider may have more than one training site.  A training site may have more than one training range and/or classroom.  (See Section 455.50(b) for criteria used to approve training site.)

(Source:  Amended at 50 Ill. Reg. 10970, effective July 7, 2026)