Are there any limitations on a child carrier for a bike? Does it matter if it is one that attaches to a seat, sits up front, or is a pull behind? Which one would you think is best for a 2 year old over there? We are not planning on buying/bringing a vehicle. Are the streets save enough/big enough for a trailer? I've read just about every post and can't recall seeing this question asked. Thank you!

I've seen onbase people use the trailers. The speed limit is like 8m/ph on base so I guess that's pretty safe. I can't recall seeing any being used off base, but I may have never noticed. I would be scared off base because the roads are narrow and people cut it close to the bikers sometimes. The Japanese use child seats a lot, you'll see all sorts of cool looking ones. Some are in the front, some are in the back, they look quite nice and safe- sort of a "roll bar" cage to help protect the kiddo.

We use the child seats that go on back. No problem! On base and off we feel safe with them. My wife and I both have one on each bike. We bought one on base here. We ride with a 22 month old and a 4 year old.

two of my good *american* friends use the kiddy bike-trailers for their younglings (2 years, 3 years and elementary aged)..they ride off base & on base (we're in sasebo, ne) and feel perfectly safe.  my *japanese* friends use the child seats what sit on the bike. the ones i've found in town are vastly different from the ones i've seen stateside, but you can find them here.  you can ride on the sidewalks off base if you are younger than 12, older than 65, OR if you feel unsafe riding on the roads, so they ride on the sidewalks and they have plenty of room.  we have a car, but if we re-tour, i'm going to get a bike & bike trailer for my kiddos (5 & 1), and go-go-go!

I pull a bike trailer behind with my girls at Yokosuka. I used it a LOT when we lived out in town too. You create A LOT of attention from the Japanese when using it! Expect a lot of stares and a lot of comments!

The main pain in the butt thing about the trailer is that you can only go out of Womble gate -- I have a Burley D'lite trailer, and I do not fit in/out the pedestrian gate so I have to go in through the Main gate. I guess I was just being lazy (although I am towing a 4 yr old and sometimes 6 yr old as well as other things in the back of the trailer), but I hate riding up command hill towing! I have gone around, but I just need to make sure that I can get back in time to pick up someone at school, etc.... They do not let you ride a bike with a trailer through the entrance of base. You have to walk it through the pedestrian area! (The only exception is that they let me ride out of womble gate over the spikes).

Other people's trailers might fit better. I have actually just ordered a bike from the states that will be outfitted with an xtracycle (think sports utility bike)!! I will have no problem fitting out of the gate then!

Wow, thanks for the great info! I have just one more question. I'm buying bikes over there (I've read it is less of a pain in the bum to just buy them there instead of shipping them). So would it be cheaper to buy my carrier, helmets, etc here before we leave? Thanks again!

The Navy Exchange Fleet Rec store sells bike trailers here in Yokosuka. I can't remember what brand they are though. Helmets, bike locks, etc are also sold at the same store. You will have a limited selection if you buy here. I would recommend buying in the states.

I shipped my bike trailer and our family's bikes in our express shipment! I have to say that they were a God-send to have as soon as we touched down.... We didn't have to rush and worry about transportation, etc. We didn't own a car for awhile after we moved here. My husband would watch our kids and I would pull our BIG monthly grocery run in the bike trailer.... I didn't have a problem fitting the smaller grocery runs with 2 kids in the bike trailer....

Bikes can be sent here too. Some bikes can be sent priority mail (advised as they only take 1-3 weeks to get here unlike parcel post)!! The Yokosuka NEX Fleet Rec store sells mama charis (Japanese bikes), Diamondbacks, Mongooses, and Schwinns.... Most will be sufficient to pull a bike trailer.... It is up to you whether you want to buy here. Just know whenever the NEX runs out of something, it sometimes takes awhile for them to restock or you have limited choices....

If I was doing it all over again, I would get bikes and bike trailer in the states and ship with my express shipment!

Good luck!