JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- The time of year many two-wheeled travelers look forward to is quickly approaching–warm weather and clear roads mean ideal riding conditions.
The motorcycle season runs from May to October, and begins when the 673d Mission Support Group commander declares the road condition green. Road condition green is when roads are clear of snow and ice and are dry. Drivers will comply with normal vehicle operating procedures and posted speed limits.
Knowing the steps to prepare before motorcycle season starts is key for all riders.
“Riders need to satisfy program requirements to drive a motorcycle,” said David Spellman, 673d Air Base Wing Safety Office occupational safety specialist and motorcycle safety program manager for Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. “Compliance with personal protective equipment guidelines is also required.”
For all those who plan to ride their motorcycles, the JBER Motorcycle Pre-season/Annual Safety Briefing is scheduled for April 23 at the Frontier Theater. The first briefing will be presented at 7 a.m., the second one at 10 a.m., and the last one at 5 p.m.
The Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Motorcycle Safety Program is governed by Department of Defense Instruction 6055.04, DoD Traffic Safety Program; Air Force Instruction 91-207, The U.S. Air Force Traffic Safety Program; Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Instruction 91-202, Safety Standards for the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Mishap Prevention Program; Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Instruction 31-118, Motor Vehicle Traffic Supervision Program and Army Regulation 385-10, The Army Safety Program.
These documents call for the following safety practices for motorcyclists:
- All motorcyclists’ headlights must be on at all times when operating on a DoD installation on, or off-road.
- Riders must properly wear a helmet, fastened under the chin and certified to meet current federal motor vehicle safety standards.
- Riders must properly wear goggles, wrap-around glasses or a full-face shield designed to meet or exceed American National Standards Institute standards.
- Riders must wear a long-sleeved shirt or jacket, long trousers and full-fingered gloves or mittens.
- Gloves or mittens must be made from leather or other abrasion-resistant material.
- Riders must wear sturdy over-the-ankle foot protection that affords protection for the feet and ankles.
Both Air Force and Army regulations mandate motorcycle riders receive Motorcycle Safety Foundation training before they are able to ride on base. Army personnel are required to have refresher training every three years, and Air Force every five years.
Army personnel can acquire the 2019 JBER Motorcycle Training Request form from the U.S. Army Alaska Mission Safety Office and unit motorcycle monitor. Air Force personnel can acquire the form from their motorcycle safety representative or the JBER Occupational Safety’s SharePoint. Any military member regardless of branch can acquire the training request forms on JBER’s website at www.jber.jb.mil.
Completed and signed forms can be emailed to 673abw.seg@us.af.mil.
“Service members need to identify their intent to ride to their supervisor and unit motorcycle safety representative,” Spellman said. “After that, the motorcycle safety representative will provide an initial safety brief. If the service member is an existing rider, they will get a pre-season brief and from there the safety representative will verify if their training is current. If it’s not, they will help facilitate the process to set them up for training.”
For more information about motorcycling on JBER and road conditions, contact the JBER Safety Office at 552-6850 or email 673abw.seg@us.af.mil, or visit the JBER website or call 552-INFO (4636) respectively.