Motorcycle safety: Summer priority

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Spencer Gallien
  • 23rd Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- --  As summer rapidly approaches and the number of motorcyclists on the road increase, the 23rd Wing Safety Office provides training to help Moody riders stay safe.

The Safety Office is currently offering a beginning and advanced course for current riders, or Airmen interested in becoming riders, that teach the proper tools to become a safe motorcyclist.

"I recently went through the beginner's course and learned all the basics," said Airman 1st Class Ray Rodriguez, 23rd Equipment Maintenance Squadron. "From going through what to wear and not to wear, to what kinds of helmets are mandatory on base, the class gives you a full spectrum of what you need to know to bike safely on and off base."

The Motorcycle Safety Course's are currently being held once a month with 12 openings for each course.

Classes are currently booked through June, although the Safety Office is currently working on training more RiderCoaches to open up slots for interested Airmen.

"We're training more 'RiderCoaches', to increase the amount of courses we can give per year," said Staff Sgt. Antonio Williams, 23rd Wing Safety NCO-in-charge of ground safety. "This will give more Airmen the option to legally and safely ride their bikes."

A RiderCoach is a nationally recognized motorcycle instructor. All instructors must go through the Beginner and Advanced Motorcycle Safety Course as well as pass a week-long intensive course, teaching them the skills necessary to teach motorcycle safety to other people.

Staff Sgt. Jon Boals, 723rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron electro environmental systems journeyman, recently took the RiderCoach class. "The class really refreshes the fundamentals of being safe on a bike," he said.

"It's been a fun and challenging experience," he added. "Knowing that I've at least impacted a few other motorcyclists provides me a sense of comfort when I'm on my bike." 

This sentiment is exactly what the Safety Office hopes to encourage with its courses, said Sergeant Williams.

"There are a lot of unsafe riders out there," he said.  "Our goal is to teach our Airmen how to ride and be safe when they're out on their bikes."

For more information, call 257-3776.