A Wheatfield neighborhood could soon be the site of a motorcycle training course.
The North Tonawanda Harley-Davidson dealership is looking to hold a riding academy in the parking lot of the former Aero Instruments at 7290 Nash Road in Wheatfield. They want to run classes from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends from April through October and select weekdays.
Scott Hartwich, the co-owner of the North Tonawanda dealership, said that Harley-Davidson has offered this type of training across the country for many years. It was first offered in New York state in 2019, with other organizations and even SUNY Niagara offering their own motorcycle safety courses.
“It’s just trying to build the sport of motorcycling and doing it safely,” Hartwich said. He added they do not have the space at their Erie Avenue location, impeded by a state buffer zone for some nearby wetlands, to hold it there.
The dealership’s territory is all of Niagara County and some of Erie County.
The training bikes only have 500cc engines, compared to the 1700cc to 1900cc engines of standard Harley-Davidson motorcycles. They also have safety kits with them.
The two-day course can take place over a weekend and has a classroom portion in addition to riding the training bikes. They are limited to six people per class.
Don Rawson, the ride academy manager, said the training bikes have a noise level of 70 decibels, not louder than a tractor-trailer truck. They also have a maximum speed of 20 mph, can only run for an hour before shutting off, and would be fueled by gas cans.
While the property is zoned restricted-commercial, with this riding academy being an allowed use, it is surrounded by residential neighborhoods on Norman Road and Evergreen Drive. Town Planning Board Chair Susan Agnello Eberwein said that the town noise ordinance would need to be followed, adding they have to take care of residents because it’s in a residential area.
The planning board will hold a public information session about the program at its July 9 meeting, starting at 6 p.m. They encouraged the Harley-Davidson representatives to bring the bikes in question so the public could see for themselves.
Depending on the outcome of the session, the planners may approve the program at that meeting. Hartwich said he wants to start these classes as soon as possible.