Action Line #140502 - Bicycle Lanes

  • Published
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  Editor's note: The Action Line program allows members of Team Incirlik to voice concerns and receive a response relating to the concern while remaining anonymous. You can submit an action line by emailing it to: incirlik.actionline@us.af.mil.

QUESTION: Have we ever entertained creating bicycle lanes on the roadways of Incirlik?

As I drive around Incirlik and watch bicyclists try to find their place - which usually means riding in the middle of the street hoping to avoid the treacherous sidewalks, or on the sidewalks trying to avoid vehicle traffic - I wonder why DOD installations don't have bike lanes, especially Incirlik. We are a force that promotes fitness. Why not provide a safer environment for both motorists and bicyclists to co-exist? In addition, I believe it would force the cyclists off the sidewalks and promote the use of the proper traffic hand signals, etc. I've lived in cities that have them in the past and have enjoyed riding when I knew I had a place where motorists were expecting to see me so they can share the space. This base is small and will always have a substantial amount of two-wheel traffic. Of course, I have no idea the cost or the logistics of finding the space for the small lanes. I just imagine that generations of future 39 ABW Hodjas would enjoy having a safe place to cycle on the roadways on Incirlik AB.

BTW, I recently cringed--actually I freaked out--when I saw an adorable young boy riding precariously down the ATFP sidewalk with no hands, no helmet and very large headphones on his ears. I wasn't able to stop my vehicle on the spot, but I was truly frightened for his safety. I immediately contacted a member of our Safety office, who later found the child, followed him home and spoke to his guardian to advocate for his safety.

ANSWER: Thank you for inquiring about bicycle lanes and for keeping safety at the forefront of your mind. Bicycle safety is always a topic of discussion around the Air Force, and with the amount of riders Incirlik has it is a very important issue here.

There are several factors that prevent the installation of more bicycle lanes at Incirlik. The main reason is that the current infrastructure unfortunately does not allow room for bicycle lanes to be added to what are already relatively narrow roadways. We are aware as well of other difficulties riders face such as navigating the large ATFP curbs and when the bicycle lanes we do have transition to the roadways.

The best solutions we have are education and enforcement. Bicycles are viewed in the same manner as any other vehicles on the roadway, and riders need to be aware of that fact. Bicyclists should use hand signals, stop at all stop signs, and ride on the correct side of the road. Our challenge at Incirlik is making sure bicyclists and drivers are educated on the proper procedures for operating a bicycle. Every member of the Air Force has a duty to stop what they feel is an unsafe act, and it's going to take a team effort to get the word out about the road rules so we can keep our riders safe.

We were able to widen some sidewalks along A, D and E streets in the past. We encourage bicyclist to use these whenever possible. Additionally, the speed limits on the installation are kept lower with the safety of pedestrians and cyclists in mind. Our Security Forces patrols are doing what they can to enforce the speed limits, but it really comes down to individuals doing the right thing and obeying them.

Thank you again for sharing your concerns. Thanks as well for taking the time to help correct the unsafe behavior you witnessed. Have a great day, and feel free to contact our safety office at 39abw.se@us.af.mil with any questions regarding any safety questions you may have.