LANSING—Spring is here and summer is around the corner, so more bicyclists are making their way onto the roads.

That means it’s time to remind motorists and bicyclists to obey the rules of the road, said Rich Moeller of the League of Michigan Bicyclists.

 “Bicyclists have the same rights, duties and responsibilities as a driver, like stopping at stop signs and riding on the correct side of the road,” he said.

Motorists, although allowed to travel in the same lane as a bicycle, must leave enough room between the car and the bike because bicyclists may suddenly maneuver around and object likely to cause an accident, according to the Secretary of State’s office.

Under a 2006 law, bicyclists may ride two to a lane, but must keep as far to the right as possible. 

Biking clubs around the state offer classes that address the laws and safety issues for bicyclists to follow, Moeller said.

For example, children in Cadillac get free ice cream coupons if state police see them wearing a helmet, said Meribeth Mattson, a secretary at the State Police post in Cadillac.

Moeller said that with more bicyclists on the road, police officers must pay even closer attention to traffic violations. “We encourage police officers to enforce the laws.”

One safety precaution that bicyclists don’t have to follow is wearing a helmet.

Michigan doesn’t require a helmet, not even for children. 

“We strongly rely on people to protect themselves,” Moeller said.

From 1996 to 2005, fatal accidents involving bicycles have declined 15.6 percent, according to the state Office of Highway Safety Planning.

There were 27 bicycles involved in fatal crashes in 2005, the most recent year for which figures are available, the agency said.