While it may be the final day of May and the final official day of National Bike Month, bicycles will still be used throughout the warmer months in Iowa. With that mind, here are some safety tips to ensure bicyclists and motorists alike remain safe on the roadways.

Jefferson Police Chief Mark Clouse suggests always wearing appropriate clothing to make yourself as visible as possible when riding a bicycle, including wearing bright and reflective colors. Clouse reminds bicyclists that they have to obey all traffic laws, just like motorists. This includes making full and complete stops at stop signs.

“A lot of us on bikes have a tendency just to roll through that stop sign and that’s where we can have these problems (and) these issues. Maybe somebody’s not focused as they should be in their driving and you come through a stop sign on a bike, they’re not going to be as apt to notice you as a vehicle coming through that stop sign.”

He points out that when you come to either a controlled or uncontrolled intersection, make sure all motorists see you on your bike before proceeding through the intersection as the law pertains. Clouse recommends wearing a helmet anytime you are riding a bike as an extra safety precaution.