A Spring Reminder: Respect The Bike [Video]

May is National Bike Month, so do you know how much clearance you should give a cyclist when you're driving near them?

The Michigan Department of Transportation offers up a video reminder.

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 roadways.

Next week, May 12-16 is National Bike To Work Wee, and next Friday, May 16 is National Bike To Work Day.

"Bicycles have played an important part in Michigan's history," said State Transportation Director Kirk T. 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."

As someone who bikes regularly, I have to mention that in my experience 99.9 percent of all drivers show common courtesy when approaching a cyclist.  But that .1 percent can inflect a whole world of hurt.

Know the rules, and respect the bike!