May is National Bike Month

May is National Bike Month, sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists and celebrated in communities from coast to coast. Established in 1956, National Bike Month showcases the many benefits of bicycling — and encourage more folks to giving biking a try.

Vehicles clearly have the advantage over cyclists in size, weight, speed and maneuverability. Why then, do so many motorists fail to exercise caution and courtesy when encountering cyclists? The vast majority of cyclists are law abiding people who are commuting to work, riding for exercise, training for charity rides and just out to enjoy the day.

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TIPS FOR MOTORISTS

Always be on the lookout for bicyclists.

Bicycles are entitled to ride in the lane of traffic.

If you pass a bicyclist, do so safely.

Pay attention to your surroundings.

Use extra caution when backing up or opening your doors.

Look Left and Right before pulling out onto a road.

Yield to bicyclists.

Driving a vehicle is a huge responsibility and the consequences for failing to follow the law and use caution are enormous.

All motorists who have killed or injured cyclists wish it hadn’t happened. However, once the harm is done, it cannot be reversed. Don’t find yourself in this situation… use caution, exercise patience, and be kind to cyclists.