It's that time of year where cycling enthusiasts are switching out their vehicles for greased gears and pedals to help them travel around.

Morden Police Chief Brad Neduzak says it's important that cyclists and those still driving vehicles remember to share the road.

"I think a lot of people think that maybe the cyclists don't know or don't follow all of the rules of the road all the time, which may be the case, but also we want to bring the attention to the motorists as well to just be cautious."

When it comes to the rules of the road, he says whatever applies to a motorist also applies to cyclists. As well, they should both be travelling in the same direction, on the same side of the road. Cyclists specifically should be as close to the curb as is safely possible.

As bicycles are small, sometimes a cyclists only option is to swerve around sudden potholes or debris on the road to avoid crashing. Neduzak adds this is why "it's always best to be cautious and slow when you're going around cyclists, just to be safe."

Just as those in vehicles should be shoulder-checking when passing or switching lanes, cyclists should also be constantly checking their surroundings. This includes using proper hand signals, or a blinker if you're in a car, so you can indicate your intentions to everyone on the road.

In terms of younger riders, "we'd rather have them on a sidewalk with their parents than be out on the street with the busy traffic when they're learning to operate their bicycles."

He says they would rather not see larger bicycles on sidewalks where walking paths or safe roads are available, but they would love to see everyone wearing helmets and reflective clothing. Anyone under the age of 18 must legally be wearing a helmet while on a bicycle.

"We want to see older individuals - the older youth and adults - of course using the roadways where [they] should be and obeying all the traffic laws," adds Neduzak.

He says motorists should remember that people are also more likely to be outside on skateboards, scooters, or roller blades, but both parties should be looking out for each other to avoid any accidents.