News

Motorcycle Safety Day 2014

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jared Duhon
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Members of Team Dover participated in the 9th Annual Motorcycle Safety Day hosted by the 436th Airlift Wing Safety Office, April 25, 2014, here.

The day promotes safe motorcycle riding. It completes an annual training requirement for riders and fosters camaraderie among riders.

The day began with an opening speech from Chief Master Sgt. Bryan Ford, 512th Maintenance Group chief enlisted manager. Ford spoke about the importance of motorcycle safety and how the Air Force core values transition over to good motorcycle riding behavior.

"The planning committee sacrificed months of weekly working lunches all in an effort to get our riders exposed to the rest of the motorcycle community," said Ford. "The community gets riders to do what is right. The main importance of this day is to let the 19 year-old Airman or 38 year-old tech. sergeant know that there is a whole group of people that are pulling for them to ride the right way. The actual fun part of riding is the people you ride with."

Master Sgt. John Willard, 436th AW/SA wing motorcycle safety representative, led the committee that was responsible for putting together the event. The committee was responsible for setting up riding events and getting the vendors access to the base. The vendors in turn were able to bring a variety of motorcycles to the base and even allow participants to take motorcycles off base for demonstration rides.

"It is very important our Airmen practice safe riding," said Willard. "Safety is not only important from a leadership's point of view but also should be from a rider's. I love going fast just as much as the next guy, but if I am injured because I was doing something irresponsible like racing on the highway, then I shouldn't expect much sympathy, that's what track days are for. They are safer, faster and a fun way to build actual proficiencies that can save your life no matter where you ride."

A part of safe riding is to know your limits and stay safe on the road. The Dover Police Department sent two special enforcement unit motor officers to the event to demonstrate slow riding control techniques and how to properly and safely pick up a dropped motorcycle.

Riders were able to try out motorcycles provided by the numerous vendors who attended the event.

"This is my first year attending this event and I think it's pretty nice," said Airman 1st Class Alan Mejia, 436th Aerospace Medical Squadron public health technician. "I don't know how they were able to get manufactures to come out and let us test ride the different types of motorcycles. But, it is cool they didn't just bring sport bikes."

The event had an 18-wheeler semi-truck with various motorcycles set up around the truck to demonstrate to riders where the blind spots are for semi-truck drivers. The truck is an annual attendee to the event and always draws to attention of the new riders who are unaware of the many blind spots of semi-truck drivers.

"It's important to be on your toes and make sure you are paying attention to everything, because if you wipe out at 70 mph there's not much that is going to help," said Mejia. "But if you are aware of how your motorcycle rides, have the experience and training as well as not trying to take yourself past your own limits you can greatly reduce your risk. In training you are in a controlled environment, so if you do wipe out you will get help as soon as it happens unlike trying to learn on the back roads which may delay help."

Training should be one of the most important things on riders' minds; because it's the untrained riders that are the ones leadership talks about, even though getting trained is so cheap and easy, said Ford.

"Delaware is the cheapest state in the country to get training in," said Ford. "The Air Force will also reimburse you for what you do pay. The classes are taught by coaches that want to be there and really care as well as enjoy teaching riders."