Advisory: Drivers should watch out for cyclists this weekend

This weekend, the Dirty Pecan cycling event will again be coming to Jefferson County. This event, which has brought thousands of cyclists to the county, will be held on Saturday, March 7.

Throughout the day, cyclists will be traveling over many of Jefferson County's rural dirt roads as they take part in the event.

This year, over 1,000 cyclists are expected to attend, with many arriving on the night or evening of Friday, March 6 in order to camp out on the Jefferson County UF/IFAS Extension Office lawn.

It is from the extension office, located at 2729 W. Washington St., that the majority of the cyclist activity will begin and end.

Cyclists will leave the extension office at around 8 a.m., and will return to the extension office later in the evening.

Throughout Saturday, local drivers should be aware of an increased cyclist presence when driving on Jefferson County's roads.

As a driver, be sure to pay attention to these Do's-and-Don'ts when sharing the road with cyclists:

• Keep at least three feet of space between your vehicle and the bike.
• If you need to pass the cyclist, pass on the left.
• Be patient when sharing the road, even if this means traveling at a slower rate behind the cyclists until it is safe to pass them.
• Always check your blind spots for cyclists before turning.
• Pay special attention and look for cyclists at intersections and crosswalks.
• You should always use your lane signals (“Blinkers”), but it is especially important to use them around cyclists and other pedestrians.
• If stopped at a stop sign behind a cyclist, be sure to give them an ample head start before pulling in behind them.
• Pay attention to a cyclist's signals; cyclists will usually use their hands to signal that they are turning, so the vehicle drivers around them know to be aware.
• Stay off your phone! It is illegal in the State of Florida to drive while using a handheld device (such as a phone), but it can result in more than a ticket should you use a phone while driving near cyclists. Being on your phone and not paying attention to the road and your surroundings can result in tragedy for others around you.
• Stay out of bike lanes. If the road is lined with a bike lane, be sure to reserve it for cyclists – keep your vehicle in its own lane.
• Yield to the cyclist when sharing the road.
• While most of the Dirty Pecan cyclists will be adults, there may be children and families enjoying the smaller cycling routes. Always drive with extra caution when traveling around youth and child cyclists, as they are often less-steady on bikes and ride unpredictably.

This weekend, be safe and keep the cyclists around you safe as well!