‘Quest for Zero’ Summer Safety: Safety equipment required for bicyclists on Tinker Published June 19, 2015 By Steve Serrette 72nd Air Base Wing Safety Office TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- What do bicycling, horseback riding, baseball and in-line skating all have in common? Helmets! The trick is that different sports require a different type of helmet to help protect participants from the different types of head injuries common to that particular sport. On Tinker, bicycling is one of the most popular ways to get around during the warm weather and wearing a helmet is always required. Approximately 900 bicyclists are killed nationwide each year and about 70,000 suffer a disabling injury. It is clear that taking precautions in traffic and wearing protective equipment are a cyclist's best shields against unintentional injuries. The first body part to fly forward in a collision is usually the head, and with nothing but skin and bone to protect the brain from injury, the results for unprotected cyclists can be, and usually are, disastrous. In March 1999, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a uniform, mandatory federal safety standard for all bike helmets. Everyone should purchase a helmet that meets CPSC, American National Standards Institute or Snell Memorial Foundation safety requirements. According to the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute, a bicycle helmet reduces the risk of serious head and brain injury by 85 percent, but to be effective, the aforementioned and the following must apply: · The helmet should fit securely and should be worn low and near the eyebrows, not back on the forehead. A properly designed helmet has four characteristics: 1. A stiff outer shell designed to distribute impact forces and protect against sharp objects. 2. An energy-absorbing liner at least one-half inch thick. 3. A chin strap and fastener to keep the helmet in place. 4. It should be lightweight and cool in hot weather and fit comfortably. Air Force Instruction 91-207, The U.S. Air Force Traffic Safety Program (Paragraphs 3.6.4 and 3.6.4.1), states that anyone who rides a bicycle, tricycle or other human-powered vehicle, including motorized bicycles, on an Air Force installation roadway, including flight lines, will: "Wear a highly visible outer garment during the day and outer garment containing retro-reflective material at night." The AFI further instructs in Paragraph 3.6.4.2, "All personnel (including dependents, contractors, retirees, etc.) who ride bicycles on an installation must wear a properly fastened, approved (e.g., Consumer Product Safety Commission, ANSI, Snell Memorial Foundation or host nation equivalent) bicycle helmet." Translated to mean when riding on Tinker, always wear your helmet! This includes passengers or children in a bicycle trailer, as the trailer is part of the bicycle when attached and in motion. For operators of non-motorized transportation devices, here's what the AFI has to say: Non-motorized transportation devices: Operators of these devices, including but not limited to skateboards, kick-scooters, roller skates, in-line skates and other similar equipment not meeting DOT motor vehicle standards, are prohibited on installation roadways except for incidental road access associated with pedestrians and will comply with all pedestrian related traffic laws. (Paragraph 3.6.5) Operators of these devices, unless determined to be a hazard to pedestrians, will use designated pedestrian walkways and paths. Commanders may authorize the use of certain types of devices in the traffic environment, by inclusion into the traffic safety code. (Paragraph 3.6.5.1) Bicycle operators are also reminded (in Paragraph 3.6.4.3) that operated bicycles must be equipped with a functional headlight visible for 500 feet and red rear reflector or light clearly visible from the rear for 300 feet. As for being seen by other vehicle operators, the AFI adds in paragraph 3.6.4.1, "Wear a highly visible outer garment during the day and outer garment containing retro-reflective material at night." And on a closing note, here's what the AFI states about music devices: The use of portable headphones, earphones, cellphones, iPods or other listening and entertainment devices (other than hearing aids) while walking, jogging, running, bicycling, skating or skateboarding on roadways is prohibited. Use of listening devices impairs recognition of emergency signals, alarms, announcements, approaching vehicles, human speech and outside noise. (Paragraph 3.6.6) Joggers: Individuals are not authorized to jog, run or walk on roadways with high traffic density or during peak traffic periods, as determined by the installation commander. (Paragraph 3.6.1) Individuals jogging, running or walking on roadways at night or in inclement weather (such as fog, rain, sleet or snow), will wear clothing or accessories containing retro-reflective properties visible from the front and back. (Paragraph 3.6.2) Let us all be reminded of our "Quest for Zero" goals through and after the hot summer months -- stay safe and uninjured!