12 - RAF Lakenheath - Air Force Link

Jet48NewsLocalMotorcyclists take to roadsBy Staff Sgt. Eric Petosky100th Air Refueling Wing PublicAffairs OfficeAs temperatures rise, motorcyclists are takingto the open road in greater numbers, bothon base and off, requiring all drivers to pay vigilantattention to sharing the road and beingsafe. For drivers, this means being wary ofmotorcycles, especially from dusk to dawn.“Motorcycle lights aren’t as bright as carheadlights, which means they can be hard tosee,” said Tech. Sgt. Lance Johnson, 100th CivilEngineer Squadron training manager and RAFMildenhall Motorcycle Safety Foundationinstructor. “Automobile drivers have a hardtime judging a motorcyclist’s speed. Driversshould keep their speeds down, especiallyaround blind curves and corners, and never tryto beat an approaching bike when pulling outfrom an intersection.”For motorcyclists, this means managingrisks, acccording to Tech. Sgt. Stephen Sites,100th Air Refueling Wing Ground Safety officeAll riders must wear:Department of Transportation- orhost nation-approved helmetEye protection, impact resistantgoggles or full-face shieldBrightly colored vest or jacket asan outer upper garment during theday and reflective during the night.It needs to be clearly visible and notcovered.Full-fingered motorcycle gloves.NCO in charge.“You have to be prepared to ride mentallyand physically,” he said. Preparation includesproper riding certification and safety gear.Aside from obeying United Kingdom trafficlaws and regulations, Airmen motorcyclistshave additional Air Force riding requirementsapplicable to on and off base riding, saidSergeant Sites.These requirements are monitored by unitmotorcycle coordinators, who are also activeriders. For instance, military riders must havedocuments and MSJ training within the lastthree years. They must also have a motorcycleendorsement on their stateside driver’s license.Riding in the United Kingdom has uniquechallenges for new and experienced ridersalike, according to Sergeant Johnson, such asroundabouts and narrow roads.“You have to know your limits,” he said.“You have personal limits, like how fast youreact, vision, and endurance. There are alsobike limits. A sports bike rides much differentlythan a cruiser.Finally, pay attention to environmental limits.There are a lot of farms around the bases,which means debris on the road and blindentrances and exits. The weather is also a factor.It can change at a moment’s notice. Bringrain gear with you when you ride.”For riders new to the area, or to England,Sergeant Johnson suggests meeting up with anexperienced motorcyclist first to get used to thelocal conditions.Regardless of the type of motorcycle oramount of riding experience, he welcomes allriders to join the “Box-D-Bomber Riders” amotorcycle organization for U.S. Air Forceservicemembers stationed anywhere inEngland.The organization hosts riding tours and providesinformation specific to Airman in regardslike licensing, legal requirements and tax-freevehicle status.The Box-D-Bomber Riders meet everySaturday of the month.For more information, e-mail SergeantJohnson at lance.johnson@mildenhall.af.mil orvisit the Web site at http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/boxdbombers.Long pants, preferably somethingdurableClosed toe footwear. Leather bootsor over-the-ankle shoes are stronglyencouraged.PAGE 8 JET 48 MAGAZINE MAY 12, 2006