Born to ride...safely; base motorcycle riders stress safety at annual meeting

  • Published
  • By Kenji Thuloweit
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The sound of hogs, crotch rockets and dirt bikes roared through the air on the morning of June 23.

Motorcyclists from across Edwards swarmed to the Air Force Flight Test Center Museum to meet, emphasize safe riding and have a summer morning group ride.

More than 60 riders took a whirlwind tour of the Air Force's premier flight test center.

"It was excellent, I got to see some historical parts of Edwards that I wouldn't have even known about," said Senior Airman Zack Vallen of the 412th Operations Support Squadron.

The two-and-a-half-hour ride around Edwards launched an overall motorcycle safety day put on by AFFTC Ground Safety and the Edwards chapter of the Green Knights Motorcycle Club, which is a military motorcycle club with chapters throughout the Air Force.

Following the trip, the motorcyclists converged on the Oasis Community Center for the AFFTC's annual motorcycle safety briefing.

"The idea is to talk to the individual riders out there about the practicalities of operating a safe motorcycle," said Alan Lederman, Air Force Flight Test Center, Occupational Safety and Health specialist. "Now is the time of the year when the weather is getting better; we're moving into summer and you‟re going to see a lot more motorcyclists out there [on the roads]."

Mr. Lederman said the annually required briefing is to re-instill the safety mindset for base riders.

Brig. Gen. Robert C. Nolan II, AFFTC commander, opened the briefing with remarks about how important it is for motorcyclists to be cautious.

"I do know something about risk," said General Nolan. What I ask you to do when you're riding your motorbike is to think about the risk. Do a risk assessment. We do this in the aviation community all the time."

The audience viewed a presentation showing motorcycle accident statistics for Edwards and also Air Force-wide. A video provided by the California Highway Patrol was also viewed and showed a variety of unsafe riding scenes including one where a rider tried to stand on the seat of his bike while moving.

The stunt did not work out.

"We do this for the base community to promote motorcycle safety 360 - all around," said Tech. Sgt. Travis Beyea, 95th Security Forces Squadron Armory noncommissioned officer in charge and Edwards AFB Green Knights chapter president.

"The base has a lot of riders. Some of them are riding the way they are supposed to, and some of them aren't. This is a purely informational meeting to make sure that everyone who participates in two-wheeled or three-wheeled riding knows everything to do it properly and safely on the installation."

For Airman Vallen, getting to see Edwards while riding with 60 other motorcyclists was both fun and informative.

"I thought it was a great way to promote motorcycle safety," said Airman Vallen.

"Anything with two wheels and concrete is dangerous so you want to take those safety precautions when you can."