Editor's note: This is the second in a four-part series of articles on spring safety.
When warm weather makes a comeback, it means that more people will be enjoying activities outside. One of the most popular outdoor activities in the National Capital Region during spring and summer is bicycle riding.
Roads on all portions of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall see an uptick in bicyclists as the days lengthen and weather improves, said JBM-HH Safety Officer Ron Foster.
Before taking your bicycle out for that first warm weather ride of the year, Foster said bicyclists should check to make sure their tires have not dry rotted during the winter. He also recommends adjusting brakes before the first ride of the season.
"If you have a bike with the new disc brakes, they should be adjusted once a year," he said. "If you have the older brakes with shoes, make sure they are not worn."
Area bicycle shops provide a tune-up service and will check gears, brakes, tire pressure and tires for a nominal fee, he said.
"Same thing, you do a tune up on your car, do a tune up on your bike," he said.
Foster said wearing proper safety equipment, including helmets and gloves, is a must for all bicyclists, no matter their age or skill level. Service members are required to wear reflective gear when riding bicycles, on or off military installations.
"Make sure you ride with the flow of traffic and not against the flow of traffic, just like a motorcycle or any other motor vehicle," he cautioned.
Bicyclists should also obey all traffic laws, be aware of their surroundings and ride as close to roadside curbs as possible, he said.
"Stay within the bike lanes should you have one," added Foster.
Bicyclists should use proper hand signals when making turns to let drivers know their intentions, he said. To signal a left turn, simply extend the left arm to the left. To signal a right turn, stick the upper part of the left arm should be bent at the elbow at a right angle and the forearm vertical to the ground. To signal a stop, extend the left arm horizontally and angle the forearm vertically downward.
Motorists should also be aware of bicyclists on area roads and highways and exercise patience when sharing the road, he said.
"[A motorist] can startle a bicyclist and cause them to fall and that can cause an accident as well," explained Foster.
Foster suggested that younger, inexperienced riders avoid areas on the Fort Myer portion of the base with steep hills such as McNair Road and Jackson Road.
"If they are not experienced, they can fall and it would not be good for the kids." he said. "Stay on the flat surfaces, such as Lee Avenue and Sheridan Avenue."
For more bicycle safety tips, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's website at http://go.usa.gov/ceMNG/.
Pentagram Staff Writer Julia LeDoux can be reached at jledoux@dcmilitary.com.
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