MDOT, MDOS offer bicycle safety tips on YouTube

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MONDAY, MAY 5, 2014
CONTACT: Barbara Hicks, MDOT Office of Communications, 517-335-2482
Gisgie Dávila Gendreau, Secretary of State Communications Office, 517-373-2520

MDOT, MDOS offer bicycle safety tips on YouTube

Fast Facts:
- May is National Bike Month; May 12-16 is Bike to Work Week; May 16 is Bike to Work Day.
- Bicyclists are permitted to use most roads in Michigan and must follow the rules of the road.
- Bicycles have played an important part in Michigan's transportation history.

May 5, 2014 -- To promote National Bike Month and bicycling safety in general, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has partnered with the Michigan Department of State (MDOS) to produce a "share the road" video. The 30-second video safety message shows the wide range of bicyclists everyone must share the road with - from a child in the streets of a quiet neighborhood to an adult bicyclist, to faster and more experienced bicyclists on urban arterial roadways. The video, which features cameo appearances by State Transportation Director Kirk T. Steudle and Secretary of State Ruth Johnson, reminds bicyclists to follow the rules of the road, and motorists to pass bicyclists at a safe distance.

            May is National Bike Month, with May 12-16 designated Bike to Work Week and May 16 Bike to Work Day. To mark National Bike Week, a short bicycle safety message is being run on all Secretary of State in-office screens. The Secretary of State's Office also created an audio public service announcement promoting safe bicycling that will shared with Michigan radio stations as well as run on the video monitors in Secretary of State offices across the state.

             "Bicycles have played an important part in Michigan's history," said Steudle. "The first commissioner of the State Highway Department, as MDOT was originally called at the turn of the 20th century, was a bicycling enthusiast nicknamed Horatio 'Good Roads' Earle, who advocated for better roads and streets. MDOT remains grounded on the principles of safety and mobility for all road users."

            "Much like with motorcycles, drivers need to be vigilant for bicyclists on the road, especially when making turns, and give bicyclists room when passing them on the road," Johnson added. "Bicyclists also must follow the same rules of the road, including stop lights and stop signs, using hand signals before turning, and riding on the same side of the road as other traffic. Following these tips will make both drivers and cyclists safer."