UNDATED - More people are using bicycles on a daily basis than ever before. With this in mind, May has been designated as Bike Month, prompting Minnesota officials to remind bikers and drivers to share the road.

According to the Minnesota Department of Transportation, 32 bicyclists were killed and nearly 3,000 injured by cars between 2008 and 2010. Most of these crashes happen during the afternoon rush hour, and people under 25 account for more than half bikers injured annually.

However, there were only four bicycle fatalities in 2011 - that's the lowest since 2007.

As bike commuting continues to become more mainstream and expected, MnDOT reminds bicyclists and drivers that they need to share the road by providing a list of "road rules."

  • Bicyclists have the right to ride on all Minnesota roads with the exception of Interstate highways.
  • Bicyclists should stay to the side and move in the same direction as traffic.
  • Drivers need to maintain a three-foot clearance when passing a bike.
  • Bicyclists are required to obey ALL traffic signals the same as drivers, and signal their turns.
  • Headlights and reflective gear are required after dark, and no matter what time of day, bicyclists should always wear a helmet.

For more information on safe bicycling practices and links to different online resources, check out MnDOT's May Bike Month website.

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