From the Harley Davidson comfort bikes to the high performance Ducatis, safety on two wheels was the mission for nearly 100 military riders on May 24.

The group began its 20-mile mini trip at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, cruising through Lakewood, University Place and finally to Point Defiance in the Ruston neighborhood of Tacoma. Leading the safety ride was Staff Sgt. Jerry Mahan of the 17^th Fires Brigade, who is also the base's progressive motorcycle program manager.

"The ride went good," Mahan said. "The focus was on motorcycle safety awareness. We took them on a route with numerous things going on to make sure they used good (judgment)."

The idea behind the ride was to get other people involved who don't ride as much.

But with the summer right around the corner, Mahan figured it was important to get out there and test he and his fellow Servicemembers' riding skills.

The section through Chambers Bay in University Place had construction with signs that read Motorcycles Use Extreme Caution, he said. He also brought them through at least a half dozen traffic circles.

The staff sergeant said 95 percent of motorcycle injuries are related to speed and a curve where there's a chance they could hit a curb and lose control.

Mahan said he knew a JBLM Soldier who lost a leg in a bike accident, adding that motorcycle fatalities in the military have gone up. This made the first off base safety ride before the summer begins particularly important.

"There are more than 150 bike riders in the 17^th Fire Brigade alone," he said.

Although good weather is hit and miss in the South Sound, Mahan said he plans to organize a Thunder Run for the I Corps and that a fellow Soldier from the 555th Engineer Brigade is putting together one as well.

They are looking to put on a large ride for his brigade to participate in during the Fourth of July holiday.

"We're trying to get guys out as much as possible," he said.