INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --
Question: 

What are the guidelines on bicycle riders wearing reflective/orange vests as opposed to a simple reflective belt? Should this be mandatory? If motorcycle riders are required to wear them for visibility purposes, shouldn't the same apply to bicycles (I understand the speed differential)? Since Incirlik is not the most well lit environment at night, it is very easy to miss someone on their bike--low beam headlight/tail light and reflective belt just don't provide enough visibility during the dark of night. I ask this because I was very close to hitting someone a few days ago who was in uniform (camouflage really does work). The small strip of reflective material his belt provided was of little since he was at a 90 degree angle from my headlights. 

Response:

Thank you for your concern regarding our bicyclists and you are right; there are some dark areas on Incirlik although we continually look to identify those areas and add lighting as funds allow. Incirlik instructions state that "bicyclists will wear a reflective vest, belt or outer garment with reflective striping extending from front to rear." Additionally, "bicyclists must have a light for forward illumination and as a minimum, a mounted reflector visible from the rear during hours of darkness." These rules are sufficient because unlike motorcycles which move totally within the flow of traffic, bicycles move adjacent to the flow of traffic (i.e. next to the curb, on bike paths, etc.). We need everyone to be more cautious during the hours of darkness; both bicycles and vehicles. Bicycle riders should also use common sense by ensuring they are visible and avoiding dark streets whenever possible; being seen can mean the difference between getting to your destination and spending time in a hospital. By following published instructions and using common sense, we can minimize the potential for mishaps for all of our vehicles, motorcycles, bicyclists, and pedestrians.