With gasoline at or above $3.00 a gallon, you may be considering a motorcycle for your daily commute. Wisconsin D-O-T Motorcycle Safety Program Manager Ron Thompson says today's bikes go faster, stop quicker and are more complex than the one you rode in college, so a safety course might be a good idea for returning riders. A motorcycle safety course is required for riders under 18. No matter your age or experience though, Thompson says shorts and flip-flops are not appropriate riding gear: a helmet, long pants, jacket, gloves and boot are all recommended. And of course, it goes without saying that drinking and riding is a bad idea. May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness month in Wisconsin.