As we embark on a new academic year, Campus Bike Initiative sends a reminder to everyone in our community.

The people we all see out on the road walking, jogging, biking and using wheelchairs are our neighbors, family and fellow community members. They deserve to be treated fairly and equally by drivers, just as drivers expect and deserve to be respected by them.

Our hope is that by being considerate of others, Michigan Tech and our local communities can become a place where people can safely bike to a friend’s house, to church, school, work or the grocery store. Non-motorized transportation plays an important role in campus life and needs to be respected as a viable means of transport.

Michigan law requires drivers to give at least three feet of space when passing a bicyclist. If three feet can’t be given, drivers must wait for a safer place to pass. In Michigan, it is legal to cross a double yellow line to pass a bicyclist if there is no oncoming traffic. It shouldn’t be too much to ask that drivers wait until it is safe to pass a bicyclist before they continue on their way.

Remember when you’re driving—that person you see on a bike could be on their way to meet a child, parent or spouse. Be kind when passing bicyclists—give them three feet and you’ll be to doing your part to get them home safely to their loved ones.

Bicyclists: Your bike is a vehicle. You need to follow Michigan traffic laws. Ride with traffic. Use a helmet. Wear high visibility clothing or a vest. Days are getting shorter, so use LED lights—front and rear. Drivers expect vehicles to be predictable in their behavior—signal your turns. Follow traffic lanes. Stop at stop signs. When passing a pedestrian, announce yourself as “Bike on your left” or use a bell.

We have a number of new resources available online. Take a look at the webpage and feel free to reach out to campus-bike-initiative-l@mtu.edu if you have any questions or concerns.