Know Royal Oak's Rules Before You Hit the Pedals for National Bicycle Month

May is National Bike Month and bicyclists are taking their new bicycle-friendly maps, courtesy of Oakland County and Beaumont Health System, and hitting the roadways in Royal Oak.

[Read Beaumont and Oakland County Unveil New Bike Map]

The Royal Oak Police are also making big effort to encourage cycling and bike safety. The police have produced a handout with road rules and safety pointers. (A PDF version is attached to this article.)

The four basic safety tips police want you to remember are:

• Maintain control of your bicycle
• Protect yourself by always wearing a helmet
• Be visible, alert and communicate your intentions
• Ride with traffic

Also, residents should be aware that Royal Oak has a local ordinance that states that no one should ride their bikes on a sidewalk.