As the summer begins to wind down, bicyclists of all ages will be trying to take advantage of the warm weather while it’s here.

With a little extra effort from riders and drivers, having a safe environment is more than achievable. Perry Police Chief Eric Vaughn reminds cyclists and motorists to be aware of each other and practice proper bike safety. Vaughn says many cyclists tend to forget that the rules of the road apply to them the same as they apply to automobiles.

“If (bicyclists) are on the street, they need to remember to obey the rules of the road just like the cars do. So they need to go the same direction the cars are traveling. If they come to a stop sign, they need to make sure they’re stopping, waiting their turn. Using hand signals would be great. It’s always a good idea to put that helmet on, no matter (what.) It’s kind of like your seatbelt, no matter if you’re just going down the block or going for a long 5-10 mile ride, make sure you get that helmet on too.”

Some things that will help keep bike riders 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.