Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Bikes on Base

This sign means it is okay for this road to be used for walking and biking. Bikes must give way to pedestrians.
No bikes or mopeds.
What? This is a path I see folks on bikes all the time, and delivery personnel on mopeds.
So what would you do?

Biking is an excellent way to get around the Yokosuka area, as it is relatively flat around base and the shopping areas.

There is a wide sidewalk along the seaside area in Yokosuka, which is great for family biking with shopping and play park about a kilometer from Womble gate.

People on base park their bikes either in their storage areas, or if they're in a tower, sometimes there is a covered bike parking area. If you are worried about the sea air rusting your bike away, MWR will store your bike for a fee.

On base you must wear a helmet. You are supposed to walk your bike when crossing a street at a cross-walk. No double riding, unless you're set up with the baby or toddler seats. Observe American rules, ride with traffic, use your hand signals. You're supposed to register your bike on base. They've not re-issued those rules since 2008. You have to take your bike and proof of ownership (receipt, or the shipping manifest of your personal items from the states) and get a little decal. It helps them get the bike back to you if it's lost.

...or stolen. Yes, it does happen here! Lock your bikes!

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