MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii -- Motorcycle safety is paramount at MCB Hawaii, and in keeping with its importance, the MCB Hawaii Motorcycle Safety Association met at the Kaneohe Bay Lookout on the H-3, Feb. 21, for its monthly club meeting and ride.
After the association meeting, the motorcyclists headed up the Leeward side of the island to Kaena State Park.
Taking its meetings to places like the Kaneohe Bay Lookout, the association is working to increase interest and involvement by varying the settings from the usual classroom-style venues.
"With HCAX [Hawaii Combined Arms Exercise] and so many other deployments going on right now, it's hard to get a big turnout for the meetings," said Staff Sgt. Shawn Marshall, Motorcycle Safety Association president. "We still had a productive meeting and a great ride."
The MCB Hawaii Motorcycle Safety Association is a group dedicated to keeping motorcyclists safe and promoting the motorcycling culture. Meetings include discussions about recent accidents, future events, and the regulations that effect motorcyclists aboard the base.
There have been three motorcyclist fatalities since October 2002 in the Marine Corps, and none were caused by rider error. Discussions about these accidents are beneficial because other riders can learn about avoiding situations where they could be injured or killed by motorists.
In addition to discussing safety issues and better ways to keep Marines and Sailors safe, the association started planning its next event.
A Poker run is scheduled for the last week in March or the first week in April, and fundraisers are planned in conjunction with the run, which will benefit one or more local charities.
More than 70 members strong, the association offers motorcyclists a way to get involved in shaping the rules and regulations imposed on riders, and participating in the association and the discussions is much more productive than simply complaining, according to Marshall.
"To most of us, riding motorcycles is a culture-based hobby," he said. "When we get together and ride as an association, we now have an opportunity to share some of our riding experiences with each other.
"Almost all of us who have been riding for a long time have been involved in an accident, have had a near miss, or know someone who has been hurt on a motorcycle."
Talking about those incidents, he added, may prevent a fellow rider from having to learn the same lesson the hard way.
Meeting people from other units, making friends, and making motorcycling more enjoyable, are just a few of the benefits of the Motorcycle Safety Association, according to Marshall.
Keeping everyone safe through awareness and mentoring, though, is what will pay the biggest dividends down the line.