With the arrival of nice weather, bike riders will be hitting the road.

Ontwa Township-Edwardsburg Police Chief Tim Kozal would like to remind both cyclists and motorists that by law, they must share the road.

“I think a lot of motorists do not understand that cyclists have a right to the road,” Kozal said. “They do not have to be on the other side of the white line. They have a legal right to be on the actual roadway in the travel path.”

Kozal said that a lot of motorists get upset when cyclists or cycling groups are on the roadways. But as long as they follow the rules, they have the right to be out there.

“The groups I have talked to have to educate cyclists about the rules of the road,” he said. “They have to signal. They have to stop for stop signs. They cannot go through red lights. Motorists also have to understand that by law, cyclists are not allowed to travel more than two abreast. In this township it is sometimes difficult, especially with the winding roads and hills for a motorist to be able to pass. But again, they have that legal right to be there.”

Kozal said the biggest thing that he stresses to motorists is to show some patience.

He added that the cycling groups, like the Outpost Sports Tuesday Night Ride, are usually out beginning at 6 p.m. and last anywhere from an hour and a half to two hours.

Cyclists and motorists have to also understand that from a law enforcement perspective, they have to be reactive instead of proactive in most cases.

“We just cannot just sit out there and wait for a violation,” Kozal said. “A lot of the cycling groups have a different route planned for every week and we do not have the resources to be out there to look for violations.

“I will add that according to my officers, every year there have been instances where we have had to stop cyclists and give them tickets for running stop signs.”

Kozal would also like cyclists to think safety when they are sharing the road.

“Be sure you are always wearing your helmet,” he said. “ I would recommend cyclists have some type of identification on themselves even though they are not required to.”

Kozal and his department are hoping that this cycling season will go by without incident.