Fort Belvoir, Va. (Oct. 30, 2014) - The number of people running on and around Fort Belvoir continues, maybe even increases, with the long, warm days of summer behind us and cooler weather in the forecast.
Those running safely, especially as darkness comes earlier, doesn't seem to be the case.
Runners, whether military personnel taking to the pavement for physical training or civilians heading out onto the roadways to increase personal health and fitness, appear along nearly every thoroughfare on post.
While the benefits of physical activity are clearly established, runners, along with walkers, bicyclists, motorcycle riders and automobile drivers, share a responsibility to ensure the general safety of the installation by moving about the post in a safe and lawful manner.
Fort Belvoir has regulations for military and civilian runners, set forth by Fort Belvoir Policy Memorandum #16, Use of Fort Belvoir Roads for Physical Training and Individual Jogging/Running issued by Col. Michelle D. Mitchell, U.S. Army Garrison, Fort Belvoir, commander, June 26.
In accordance with U.S. Army installation safety regulation 385-10, the memorandum states that all individual runners and joggers on Fort Belvoir must:
-Wear a reflective vest or belt at all times while running or jogging on the installation. The vest or belt must be visible from the front and rear and unobstructed by clothing or equipment.
-Not use headphones or personal stereos when running along roadways to include sidewalks. The use of headsets or personal stereos while in physical fitness uniform is prohibited (in accordance with Army Regulation 670-1, paragraphs 1-9). Headphones may be worn by individual runners and joggers not in Army PT uniform only when running or jogging at the field track, on running and jogging paths or inside gymnasiums or field houses.
-Ensure no more than two people run abreast on sidewalks or authorized roadways.
-Run facing oncoming traffic and yield to vehicular traffic prior to crossing roads while using authorized roadways. Where paths or sidewalks are not available, road berms or shoulders will be used.
-Yield the right of way to all vehicles.
-Obey the Commonwealth of Virginia pedestrian traffic rules. Vehicles must stop for pedestrians in crosswalks; however, pedestrians must yield to vehicles entering intersections and crosswalks ahead of them.
The memorandum, as well as the U.S. Army Installation Management Command, provides military personnel assigned to Fort Belvoir with specific regulations intended to ensure safety while running in formation or performing PT.
INSCOM reminds runners (military and civilian) that roadways are intended primarily for vehicular traffic and recommends the use of sidewalks, PT tracks and open fields. Furthermore, specific restrictions regarding various areas of Fort Belvoir have been established by the garrison commander and IMCOM and are included in the memorandum.
Prohibitions regarding running and jogging areas on Fort Belvoir are as follows:
-Units and individuals will not run on Belvoir Road or Gunston Road from 7:30 -9 a.m., 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 3-5:30 p.m. However, joggers may run on sidewalks or on the grass along the roads mentioned above. There is a greater risk of injury when running adjacent to streets containing access control points during rush hour.
-Pohick Road, Mount Vernon Road, State Routes 613, 617, 618 and U.S. Highway 1, may not be used for formation runs.
-Unit and/or formation runs may run through post housing areas; however, cadence calling while in the housing area is unauthorized. Every effort will be made not to disturb the residents in the housing areas. Unit leadership is responsible for noise discipline.
-All motorists will pass troop PT formations at a speed of no more than 10 mph.
-Unit and organization competitive running events using the installation's streets and roads, including events sponsored by the Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation, must be coordinated and approved in advance by the Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security.
Staying committed to following the established rules and adding a good measure of common sense and caution will help ensure everyone on Fort Belvoir enjoys a healthy, accident-free run.
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