Jessica Mathews / news@whmi.com


National Bicycle Safety Month might be coming to a close but with the holiday weekend here and warmer weather on the horizon, expect more bicyclists out on the road.

Officials say it’s more important than ever for bicyclists and motorists to enjoy the journey and arrive safely by following the rules of the road.

Bicycles on the roadway have the same rights and responsibilities as motorized vehicles.

During National Bicycle Safety Month, drivers and bicyclists are called to do their part to help reduce deaths and injuries on roads.

Per Michigan Traffic Crash Facts in 2023:

-Bicyclists were involved in 1,487 motor vehicle crashes and 24 were killed.
-Of those total crashes, 76% occurred during daylight conditions
-Of those total crashes, 78% were male, 19% were female, and 2% had no gender reported
-Of the bicyclist fatalities, 79% were age 21-64


For Drivers:

-Michigan law requires motorists to give at least 3 feet of space when passing a bicyclist, measured from the vehicle’s side mirror.

-Traffic safety is a shared responsibility. When driving, look out for bicyclists, never drive distracted, and look left-right-left and behind when turning right on red. Yield to bicycles as you would other vehicles.

-If you see a bicyclist, maintain a safe distance. Bicyclists are most often killed by drivers who strike them with the front of their vehicles, often at high speeds. The higher the vehicle speed, the higher the likelihood a bicyclist will be seriously injured or killed.


For Bicyclists:

-Michigan law states bicyclists must ride with traffic and follow the rules of the road; use hand signals when turning or stopping; obey traffic signals, signs, and roadway markings; and ride with no more than two bicycles side by side. Additionally, bicyclists must have a white light on the front of the bicycle and a red reflector on the back of the bicycle when riding in low light and when it is dark.

-Just like how seat belts help save lives in motor vehicle crashes, bicycle helmets save lives too. When bicycling, always wear a correctly fitting helmet.

-Compared to vehicles, bicyclists are harder to see because of their smaller size. To make it easier for drivers to see you, wear high-visibility safety gear, such as a vest or jacket.
-Never text, listen to music, or do anything that can distract you from keeping your eyes, ears, and concentration on the road and traffic.

For more information on bicyclist safety, visit the provided link.