When I was just starting out...I answered an advert to join a Scooter Safety Class for novice riders. I sent in my $28 and showed up for my 8hr class at the city park.
Here is the graduation photo of all who passed the class. (30% failure rate!)
Two of the women were apparently ex-military (swore like Sailers!) - but they all were a pretty fun group.
(sorry if I don't look quite like you'd come to expect...the guy in the black T-shirt was hitting on me all day )
Stig