May is National Bike Month and as the weather gets warmer, more people may turn to bicycles on the roadways.

Jefferson Police Chief Mark Clouse says when the school year ends later this month, there is an increase in bicycles in town. He tells Raccoon Valley Radio cyclists and motorists need to work together, especially at intersections.

“A lot of drivers will acknowledge you with a hand motion, ‘Come on through’ or will at least look at you. So if you make eye contact with that driver, he knows you’re there. Somebody could be looking the other direction, not paying attention and not see you, and you’re both going to meet in that intersection. We don’t want anything like that.”  

Jefferson resident and avid bicyclist Craig Berry offers these other safety tips for bicyclists.

“One thing I would like to tell people is to make sure you wear your bicycle helmets and that you wear reflective or bright clothing so people can see you. What I’d like to tell for the people who are driving now with the price of gas being so high there’ll be more people out bicycling and just to keep an eye out for the bicyclists when they are riding.”  

Berry points out the Raccoon River Valley Trail is a bike-friendly area, but will need to purchase either a day pass or an annual pass to be on there. Otherwise, he says there are bike lanes on East Lincoln Way out to the city cemetery as well.