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Wright-Patterson motorcycle briefing, ride scheduled for May 19

  • Published
  • By Estella Holmes
  • Aeronautical Systems Center Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  Motorcycle riding season is here and many riders are taking their bikes out of winter storage and riding to work or for pleasure.

Renewed popularity in motorcycles, added to the soaring cost of gasoline, has also prompted those who don't own one to consider purchasing a motorcycle.

Wright-Patterson is embracing its cycling work force by promoting safe and responsible riding. For the third year in a row, Team Wright-Patt will kick off the annual 101 Critical Days of Summer with a motorcycle briefing and ride May 19 at the National Museum of the U. S. Air Force.

Brig. Gen. David Eichhorn, Aeronautical Systems Center vice commander, will host this year's event. Ray Ochs, director of Training Systems for the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, will be the featured speaker. The briefing, which begins at 9:30 a.m., is mandatory for all military riders and encouraged for all other base employees who ride motorcycles.

Weather permitting, an optional 22-mile group ride will follow, with a "Blessing of the Bikes" by the base chaplain just before the ride. Numerous local MSF instructors will accompany the group and assist with mentoring.

Area motorcycle vendors also will have exhibits set up in the north parking lot of the museum. Vendors are sponsoring a picnic for participants and have contributed items to raffle off after the group returns from their ride. In addition, a trucking company will have a highway safety demonstration set up in the area.

The number of Airmen involved in motorcycle accidents has soared in recent years. The Air Force experienced eight motorcycle-related fatalities in 2000, 19 in 2002 and 23 in 2003. In response, in 2004, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John Jumper directed the Air Force to stand up motorcycle mentoring programs. Commanders were also required to know who their motorcycle riders were.

As a result, motorcycle-related deaths have dropped. Fifteen Airmen were killed in 2005 and five fatalities have been reported for 2006 as the riding season begins.

The base motorcycle safety briefing directly supports commanders in promoting safe ridership. Wright-Patterson was one of the first bases to establish a motorcycle mentorship club, called the Wright Wriders. The club, which has organized and will conduct the optional group ride, supports Team Wright Patt by being a touchstone for commanders and helping riders learn from each other and comply with Air Force policy.

The Wright Wriders is not a social riding club and does not require membership dues or regular attendance. Instead, the club is comprised of volunteer, base-affiliated motorcycle enthusiasts who maintain awareness of the base rider climate and provide organized events and information to foster learning. For more information about the Wright Wriders or the May 19 event, go to http://wrightwriders.wpafb.af.mil or call Rich Cunningham at (937) 904-0888.