Bicycle Safety Tips

As the weather gets warmer and more people are being enviromentally conscious, bicyclists will be sharing the road. Below is information from Gaithersburg City Police:
 

(c) Gaithersburg City Police

The Gaithersburg Police Department offers the following important safety tips (bold is mine):

• All bicyclists should wear properly fitted bicycle helmets every time they ride.
  A helmet is the single most effective way to prevent head injury resulting from a bicycle crash.
• Bicyclists are considered vehicle operators;
  they are required to obey the same rules of the road as other vehicle operators, including obeying traffic signs, signals, and lane markings. When cycling in the street, cyclists must ride in the same direction as traffic.
• Drivers of motor vehicles need to share the road with bicyclists.
  Be courteous—allow at least three feet clearance when passing a bicyclist on the road, look for cyclists before opening a car door or pulling out from a parking space, and yield to cyclists at intersections and as directed by signs and signals.
  Be especially watchful for cyclists when making turns, either left or right.
• Bicyclists should increase their visibility to drivers by wearing fluorescent or brightly colored clothing during the day, dawn and dusk.
  To be noticed when riding at night, use a front light and a red reflector or flashing rear light, and use retro-reflective tape or markings on equipment or clothing.

 Source: http://www.gaithersburgmd.gov/poi/default.asp?POI_ID=309&TOC=307;309;&id=6204