MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- With approximately 3,500 motorcycle riders sharing the roads with other vehicles aboard Camp Pendleton, safety is paramount.

To ensure the safety of active-duty members, motorcycle riders must take part in a three-day Basic Rider’s Course before riding on or off base.

Senior leaders aboard Camp Pendleton are encouraging Marines and Sailors to do their part in being proactive in safety.

Many safety classes are taught to all ranks, aimed at offensive and defensive driving skills, including motorcycle safety courses.

“Safety is an all the time thing,” said Sgt. Major Javier A. Nicholas, Sergeant Major of Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, “especially when riding motorcycles.”

The safety instructors here believe the roads will be safer for motorcyclists because many of them are taking the course.

“Riding a motorcycle should be fun and recreational, so there shouldn’t be a reason riders are getting into accidents,” said Dave E. Bianco, a motorcycle safety instructor with the Motorcycle Safety Office .

Free of charge, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation has set up the course and made it available to Marines and all Department of Defense card holders aboard Camp Pendleton.

Out in town, a comparable class would cost approximately $235 for the basic course.

In the morning, the riders spend time in the classroom learning about the different types of bikes, their controls and how to operate them.

“The more familiar these riders are with their bikes, the more confident they will be on the road,” said Bianco, who has been an instructor on base for almost a year now.

According to the foundation, the course is designed to teach new riders fundamental motorcycle control skills showing how to operate a motorcycle safely, with emphasis on mental attitude and control skills for dealing with traffic.

During the afternoon, the instructors provide a course for the riders to get comfortable with their motorcycles while on the road.

“The ride time is good practice to get the basics down and get a feel for the bike,” said Cpl. Jason M. Southerland, a student of the Basic Rider’s Course.

“By taking the course, you feel more confident and gain the skills to ride safely on and off base,” said Gunnery Sgt. Reynaldo M. Esplana, also a student.

The course instructors start the riders off with straight-line riding, turning, shifting and stopping. The riders then gradually progress to cornering, swerving and emergency braking.

“The things taught during the course are to help riders avoid accidents,” said Bianco. “The course sees a 90 percent success (graduation) rate for students going through the course for the first time.”

The course may be a requirement to the motorcycle riders, but the instructors have found that the students all have a positive feedback.