About IslandRider
IslandRider Motorcycle Training Ltd. is the Vancouver Island training program delivered under Urban Rider Motorcycle School Ltd. — an ICBC-licensed school running an ICBC-approved curriculum that authorizes us to conduct the Motorcycle Skills Assessment (MSA/MST) as part of our course delivery.
Who We Are
Lead Instructor & Co-Owner: John Buddo
With over a decade of full-time experience as a certified motorcycle instructor, John blends extensive real-world riding with clear, supportive teaching. He has taught hundreds of riders at every level — from first-time learners to advanced motorcyclists refining their roadcraft.
John is also frequently retained as an expert witness in British Columbia court cases involving motorcycle accidents. His knowledge of road safety, collision analysis, and training standards has been relied upon in both Provincial and Supreme Court. This unique role gives him a rare perspective on how training, safety, and the law intersect — a benefit that directly informs the way IslandRider students are taught.
Co-Owner & Instructor: Tais
Tais brings a remarkable background to her role as co-owner and instructor at IslandRider. Before becoming a licensed motorcycle instructor, she served as a police officer in São Paulo, Vancouver, and Saanich. Her law enforcement experience means she understands traffic dynamics, road-user behaviour, and safety protocols from a perspective few instructors can offer.
Students appreciate Tais’s calm, supportive teaching style. She excels at helping new riders build confidence and develop safe habits that last well beyond the licensing test. Her combination of discipline, patience, and real-world safety insight makes her an invaluable part of the IslandRider experience.
Together, John and Tais lead IslandRider with a shared goal: not just to help you pass your test, but to make you a confident, courteous, and safe rider for life.
Urban Rider & IslandRider — How They Connect
- Urban Rider is the parent company. It holds the ICBC school license and developed the ICBC-approved curriculum that lets us include the MSA (MST) within our courses. Urban Rider operates in Langley, Burnaby, and Victoria.
- IslandRider is the Vancouver Island brand of Urban Rider. It’s owned and operated directly by John and Tais, the founders of Urban Rider.
So when you train with IslandRider, you’re still following the Urban Rider curriculum and taking the same ICBC-approved course. The difference is simply branding: IslandRider highlights the Victoria location taught personally by John and Tais, while Burnaby and Langley are run by other partners.
In short: IslandRider = Urban Rider’s Vancouver Island brand, personally run by the founders.
What We Offer
- Novice to Road-Ready — Learn-to-Ride, skills range training, street training, and MSA/MST within the course.
- Advanced & Refreshers — Cornering, braking, slow-speed mastery, traffic strategy, and roadcraft.
- Road Test Preparation — Targeted coaching to dial in exactly what ICBC examiners look for.
Where We Teach
IslandRider is based in Victoria. Urban Rider also operates in Burnaby and Langley. All locations follow the same ICBC-approved curriculum so your experience is consistent across campuses.
Why Riders Choose IslandRider
- Instructor-led by the founders — You learn directly from John and Tais in Victoria.
- ICBC-approved curriculum — Clear, consistent training that includes the MSA/MST within the course.
- Confidence-first coaching — Supportive, step-by-step progress that meets you where you are.
- Real-world roadcraft — Practical strategies for safety, awareness, and smooth control.
- Legal and safety expertise — Training informed by John’s expert witness work and Tais’s policing background.
Contact Us
Email: islandridervictoria@gmail.com
Phone: (604) 725-6499
WhatsApp: Message us on WhatsApp
