MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUE, N.C. -- Whether someone aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune is a bicyclist, an equestrian or a motorcycle rider, there have been recent changes made that they should be aware of and things they should keep in mind while riding aboard the base.
Due to construction aboard the installation throughout the last year, bicycle traffic has been prohibited through the main gate. Now that construction is nearly complete, base leadership has decided to reopen the bicycle path, but have decided to keep in place a restriction of travel through Brewster Boulevard, the road leading to Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune.
People traveling by bicycle to the hospital must take Holcomb Boulevard to the greenway trail near Old Sawmill Road and continue through Berkley Manor to Stone Street.
“I know this is inconvenient to many of you,” said Col. Daniel J. Lecce, the commanding officer of MCB Camp Lejeune, in a letter on the subject. “Please know that I choose not to risk your safety for the sake of expedience.”
Bicyclists should also keep in mind base regulations regarding bicycle safety.
They must wear American National Standards Institute or Snell Memorial Foundation approved helmets. Between evening and morning colors, they must wear an approved reflective vest over their outer garments. Riders must ride single file on the right side of road and they may ride at night with headlights, rear red reflectors and red lights.
MCB Camp Lejeune is a motorcycle friendly base, but as with all motor vehicles there are mandatory requirements to follow before one can ride on base.
Motorcycle operators aboard the base are permitted to have electronically moderated headlamps on their helmets while on base if it complies with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108, which regulates all automotive lighting, signaling and reflective devices. Dazzling or strobe lights headlamps are meant to improve visibility of the motorcyclist to other vehicles and cannot be used on base if it is designed to be cosmetic in nature or to imitate emergency vehicles.
In order to ride a motorcycle on base one must have a motorcycle in a good state of repair, go through the Basic Rider Course and its follow-on training and wear the proper personal protective equipment detailed in Marine Corps Traffic Safety Order 5100.19F.
Effective Jan. 1, those who handle and ride horses will have some PPE regulations to keep in mind as well.
In order to reduce the chance of a head injury, everybody below the age of 18 is required to wear a properly fitted and fastened equestrian helmet that meets American Society for Testing and Materials standards and is Safety Equipment Institute certified while riding or handling horses aboard MCB Camp Lejeune. Those over the age of 18 are strongly encouraged to wear helmets following the same standards.
All people riding horses on base should ensure all equipment is undamaged and properly secured. They should wear properly fitted clothes and boots that have a heel and cover the ankle should they be using stirrups.
Riders of all sorts should consider safety before every trip, whether they are on a bicycle, a motorcycle or a horse.