With the recent upswing temperatures this week, the weather may have some thinking we’ve skipped over spring and gone straight to summer.

Not that we’re complaining.

While many dust off their grills or break out their fishing poles to celebrate Mother Nature’s graciousness, some are grabbing their pair of wheels and hitting the open road.

There is little that can compare to the feeling of driving down the street on your motorcycle or bicycle, feeling the warm breeze whip past you with the sun beating down overhead.

While fun, cycling requires a great deal of responsibility from operators, as well as caution from drivers of traditional automobiles. This fact was sadly demonstrated last Saturday, when two people lost their lives after the motorcycle they were driving collided with a car outside Berrien Springs.

With that tragedy in mind, the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office recently published a list of safety tips to motorcyclists, bikers and other drivers:

MOTORCYCLISTS

• Always wear a DOT approved helmet.

• Check yourself and your bike. Inspect and maintain your motorcycle and your protective gear.

• Drive to survive. Ride smart and be prepared to react. Follow the rules of the road.

• Watch your speed.

• Give yourself space. It’s tough for drivers to judge your speed properly.

• Be alert to blind spots around big trucks. If you can’t see the driver in the truck’s side view mirror, the driver can’t see you.

BICYCLISTS

• Always wear a helmet.

• Inspect and maintain your bicycle and your protective gear.

• Obey the same traffic rules as all motorists and obey all traffic signs and signals.

• Before entering a public road, stop. Scan for traffic (look left-right-left) and signal before getting onto the roadway.

• Ride on the right side of the road, close to the curb. Be prepared for rocks, sand, trash and other obstacles.

• Always use lights and reflectors if you ride at night.

OTHER DRIVERS

• Look for motorcycles and bicycles.

• Check your blind spots.

• Be aware that a motorcycle may seem farther away or moving faster than it actually is.

• Allow more following distance.

• Keep at least 3 feet away from bicyclists when passing them.

• Watch for bicyclists at driveways, alleys and intersections.

• Be extra alert in neighborhoods and around schools.

We encourage readers to keep these tips in minds, and to make the most of the weather in a fun, yet safe, manner.

Opinions expressed are those of the editorial board consisting of General Manager Ambrosia Neldon and editors Scott Novak and Ted Yoakum.