September 25 — Comment: A soldier in southern Minnesota recently took a report from a concerned cyclist and requested that this information be passed on.

This person rides a bicycle, has a flashing white light on the front and a flashing red light on the back, wears a helmet, has a mirror, obeys the rules of the road, rides on the cycle paths where they are provided and always close to the fog line when there is no bike path. The rider is concerned about passing vehicles and not giving 3 feet or more room when passing. The cyclist was almost hit on several occasions.

Answer: Last summer, in a previous article, I covered some rules of the road when it comes to sharing the road with bicycles. With the fall upon us, I think it’s still a good time to go over this important safety information.

Rules of the road

—Cyclists can use all roads in Minnesota, unless restricted.

– Cyclists must travel on the road and must ride in the same direction as the traffic.

– Motorists must at all times maintain a clearance of 3 feet when passing a cyclist.

– Cyclists must obey all traffic control signs and signals, just like motorists.

– Cyclists must signal their turns and must ride predictably.

—Riders should use a headlight and rear reflectors when it is dark. To increase visibility, add a rear turn signal light.

– Drivers should drive at safe speeds and be attentive – look for cyclists, check blind spots.

—Drivers should exercise caution and watch riders twice as they turn.

– Drivers should exercise caution when opening their doors when parking on the side of the road.

About half of all bike-to-vehicle collisions are due to various cyclist behaviors, such as disobeying a sign or traffic signal. The other half is caused by driver behaviors, such as inattention and distraction.

It is important that everyone does their part to share the road and drive smart.

For any questions regarding laws or traffic issues in Minnesota, send your questions to Trooper Troy Christianson, Minnesota State Patrol, 2900 48th St., NW, Rochester MN 55901-5848; or send an email to: [email protected]