Safely sharing road with bikers

Warm weather is just around the corner and Idahoans are already dusting off their bikes and hitting the pavement.

While outdoor sports and activities are entertaining, if safety isn’t taken into account accidents do happen.

According to Transportation.gov, a majority of pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities occur in urban areas.

Bicycles in many states are considered vehicles, and cyclists have the same rights and the same responsibilities to follow the rules of the road as motorists.

Bonneville County Sgt. Bryan Lovell said drivers need to share the road.

“With the warm weather, we are out on patrol as usual. But there’s extra things to watch for,” Lovell said.

Lovell said drivers need to make sure to anticipate bikers.

“Bikers may be coming out in front of you so watch for their hand signals,” Lovell said.

Intergalactic Bicycle Service owner Aaron Arave said this is about the time when you see more cyclist on the roads.

Some safety tips Arave has for his customers include always riding with a helmet that fits and is not outdated, check your tire pressure, and brakes, and wear reflective gear.

He also said to make sure your lights work on your bike if you choose to ride at night.

“Lights are more to be seen when your riding around town, but flashing lights gets motorist attention a lot quicker,” Arave said.

“Make eye contact before you go in front of anybody. If you don’t make eye contact with the driver, most likely they didn’t see you.”

Lovell said the rules of the road include motorist needing to remember they must share the road with cyclists.