How to Share the Road with Bicyclists this Fall

It's the last day of August, and while summer doesn't technically end until mid-September, it's already starting to feel like fall.

For many of us in Hickory, this time of year signifies the kids' return to school, or the start of a new college semester. For the active outdoors-type, autumn means it's finally cooled down enough to get the bicycle out!

That means the rest of us need to be on the lookout to keep our cyclist neighbors safe.

• Come to a complete stop before making a right turn at a red light. Bicyclists may be harder to see than oncoming cars.
• Give bicycles at least a three-foot berth when passing. If you can't give them three feet without colliding with traffic in another lane, slow down and stay behind the bike until you can.
• Pay attention to the road. Never text and drive.

Cyclists can do their part to keep themselves safe, too. Nearly half of bicyclist fatalities occur after dark, even though less than a quarter of bike trips are after dark—always attach lights to the front and rear of your bicycle when riding at night!