May is National Bike Month, and it’s also the unofficial kick off of cycling season. However, with more bikes on the roads and trails, the more likely it is accidents can occur.

With that in mind, Perry Police Chief Eric Vaughn reminds cyclists and motorists to be aware of each other and practice proper bike safety. Vaughn says one thing many cyclists tend to forget is that the rules of the road apply to them the same as they apply to automobiles.

“As bicyclists, as bicycle enthusiasts, you are required to follow all the rules that anybody on a motorcycle or vehicle should be. We see a lot of bicyclists either just slowing down at stop signs and then proceeding through, or not slowing down at all. Especially with young kids, they’re just not used to watching for other traffic and they don’t realize that a person on a bike is difficult to see.”

Some things that will help keep bike riders of all ages safe include: wearing bright or reflective clothing; having lights or reflectors when riding at night; travel with the flow of traffic when riding on roads; and always wear a helmet. Vaughn adds, they didn’t see too many accidents involving bikes last year. He hopes that trend can continue this year as long as bicyclists exercise safe riding practices, and motorists pay attention to their surroundings.