Subscribe
Riders gathered for an annual pre-season motorcycle brief plus training and discussions on dealing with distractions and fatigue; proper speed and lane positioning while cornering; as well as emergency braking -- skills that, if not used regularly, can degrade.
“If you don’t ride very often, you lose that skill set,” said Master Sgt. Bonnie Steinmetz, 88th Air Base Wing Security Forces Squadron Unit Motorcycle Safety Representative. “You have to practice and kind of go back and remember how to do it. A lot of folks, when there’s a nice day, they want to just jump on their bike and go. But, they don’t always remember what they’re doing.”
The training wasn’t just a refresher for those who’ve been riding a while; Steinmetz claims nearly 20 years of riding experience. But, also for those new to rolling on two wheels like Staff Sgt. Keshia James. James works at the Communications Directorate of the Air Force Institute of Technology and has been riding for a little more than a year.
“It’s important, especially for new riders, because you get to see a lot of perspective from experienced riders and people from different riding backgrounds, different types of bikes and getting the professionals’ perspective on it with Motorcycle Safety Foundation providing the material,” James said.
“It makes me feel more prepared and it also helps to kind of help me gauge how much I’ve retained from years past which is really important,” James continued. “It’s actually really good. It’s a nice refresher.”
Col. Trisha M. Sexton, Vice Commander of the National Air and Space Intelligence Center, provided opening remarks for the event and stressed how motorcycle safety is a team effort.
“Those of us that have been riding for a long time, I’ve been riding almost 28 years, we’ve seen a lot of things,” Sexton said. “We’ve done a lot of dumb things and we can help the younger folks know what not to do and [provide] tips on what to do.”
“So, just like we’re doing here, just be a mentor,” she continued. “Go out riding with them. Talk to them about riding. Talk to them about things you’ve seen. Tips about, you know, where to be in the lane in certain situations, what to look out for on the road. There’s just tons of things and it’s just like all other aspects of our job; just be a mentor helping the younger people out.”
It was a sentiment echoed by senior enlisted leaders as well.
“Get more involved. Seek out young people,” said Master Sgt. Larry Cook, Imagery Analyst and Intelligence with the Ohio National Guard 178th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing in Springfield, OH. “Younger riders might not be wanting to step up, you know. You need to dig in and find them and teach them the good ways.”
The teaching continued after the official briefings were done. Riders gathered in an almost festive atmosphere on the museum grounds to prepare for the event most rider’s looked forward to the most: the group ride.
Ride leaders from local motorcycle clubs, the Wright Wriders and the Green Knights, gave participants pre-ride safety briefs, equipment safety checks, personal protection equipment inspections, and most importantly, shared their riding experience.
“I love it,” says Alan Thompson, President of the Green Knights Chapter 32 and retired Army Major. “The Green Knight’s mission is to ensure safety of riders. Keeping soldiers safe has been my mission for my life, you know, so it’s great stuff.”
Dennis Pearson, 88th Air Base Wing Occupational and Health Specialist, and coordinator of the safety brief, says that mentorship is one of the most important parts of the event.
“The mentorship session is, I mean, you can’t pay for that. You can’t buy that kind of training where it’s the one-on-one conversation,” Pearson said. “It’s the two guys getting together and saying, ‘Hey, let’s go on a ride Saturday and get some more knowledge, get used to riding in this area with some of the issues.’ You can’t get that anywhere but right here.”
May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month and Motorcycle Safety Day organizers want to remind car drivers that motorcycle safety isn’t just about what riders do.
“When you’re looking at the intersection, don’t look for that big mass of steel,” Pearson said. “Look for that flesh on that small mass of steel coming down the road and look out for your fellow road occupants.”
“They say look twice, save a life. That’s so true when it comes to motorcycle riders because we kind of blend into the front of the car that you’re looking at,” says Steinmetz. “So, it’s just very important for them to put down their electronics and pay attention to what they’re doing.”
If everyone does their part on the road, riders can focus on what they like best about riding.
“The look from little kids whenever they see you out riding,” James said. “They’re just like ‘Hi! Hi!’ and they’re always waving and stuff. You give them a little head nod, especially the little girls. They love seeing the girly helmet.”
| Date Taken: | 05.06.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 05.09.2016 15:55 |
| Story ID: | 197697 |
| Location: | DAYTON, OHIO, US |
| Web Views: | 100 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Learning to Keep the Rubber Side Down By John Harrington, 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs, by John Harrington, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
