Yokosuka Naval Base wants cyclists to ride safe

YOKOSUKA, Japan — Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY) held a Bicycle Safety Campaign Oct. 2, explaining bicycle traffic and safety to bicyclists and pedestrians on the installation.

During the campaign, personnel from CFAY’s Safety Department stopped bicyclists without helmets, those traveling with headphones on or in both ears, and bicyclists who were travelling in the wrong direction. Pamphlets with information about the correct way to ride a bicycle were handed out as well.

“The biggest rule we’re seeing people break is riding on the wrong side of the street,” said Kevin McDonald from CFAY Traffic Safety.

“They should ride with the flow of traffic,” McDonald said learning the correct way to ride a bicycle on base is very important. “Right now, people are actually riding incorrectly on base and that could be to their detriment if they are riding improperly,” said McDonald.

CFAY’s Safety Department also offered an opportunity for members of the community to be involved in the bicycle safety campaign.

“The Safety Department said they we’re going to have a Bicycle Safety Campaign and as soon as the email came out, I said absolutely, I want to be involved,” said Lt. Cmdr. Phil Menard, executive officer of the CFAY tenant command Navy Information Operations Command Yokosuka. “I am a bicyclist myself and I’ve had a couple of close calls with wrong-way riders,” added Menard.

“It’s been personally dangerous for me and professionally dangerous to have people not following the rules,” McDonald said the rules explained during the campaign reflect the local Japanese rules.

“We should have the same rules on base as we are required to do off base,” said McDonald. “This way, when people go off base, they follow Japanese law.”

CFAY’s Safety Department said they will continue their campaigns into the future and are committed to the safety of the installation. “We try to do a Bicycle Safety Campaign once a quarter so we can show everybody our presence, that we care about everybody’s safety, and that we’re trying to encourage everyone to do the right thing,” said McDonald.

CFAY provides, maintains, and operates base facilities and services in support of the U.S. 7th Fleet's forward-deployed naval forces, 71 tenant commands, and more than 27,000 military and civilian personnel and their families.