It’s the dog days of summer and all of us could use a safety reminder. It’s around this time of year that our safety habits can get lackadaisical as we get just a bit too comfortable on the road. But then we read ex-GRPer Ben Lustgarten’s article and remember that even the strongest and most athletic of us can’t go one-on-one with a car and win. It’s just not worth it to entertain the fallacy that we own the road, even for an instant. So whether you’re a cyclist, rollerskier, runner, or driver, we invite you to join us as we reiterate safety as our top priority. Here are a few of the things we’ll be reminding ourselves:

1. Be visible. Whether it’s with high visibility clothing or lights on your bike or helmet, make yourself visible so cars can see you. Is it dawn or dusk or alternatingly shady and sunny? Then lights and high-vis are even more important. 

2. Use the correct side of the road and stay single file when being passed. Pedestrians should be facing traffic while all wheeled recreation should be going in the same direction as cars. While riding two abreast is legal, going single file when being passed ensures that a car has enough room to overtake safely. 

3. Be aware. Be aware of the terrain around you such as blind curves and intersections. Be aware of and listen for traffic. Avoid using noise canceling headphones! Using one headphone is better, while no headphones is best. Be aware of the visibility conditions and whether drivers can see you.

4. Drive just a little bit slower. Speed limits on unmarked roads around the Center are 35mph. That’s plenty fast. Slowing down even just a little can give you more time to see and react to someone on the road and can make their experience just a little bit better. 

5. Communicate and be predictable. If you’re a cyclist, signal your turns. If you are driving, signal your turns. And no matter who you are, a runner, rollerskier, biker, or driver, being predictable can help a lot. Don’t assume the other party knows what you are doing or thinking.

Together, we can share the roads and safely enjoy all the Northeast Kingdom has to offer.