Cyclists, motorists urged to be cautious

Most roads won't be free of salt and other debris from winter until later this month or May.
YOUNGSTOWN -- As the weather warms, motorcycles will again appear on Mahoning and Shenango Valley roads, and motorists will need to pay special attention to sharing the highways with their two-wheeled brethren.
All motorists need to be observant of who else is on the road, particularly motorcyclists, said Sgt. Larry Salvato, the traffic commissioner from the Warren Police Department.
"The car always wins," Salvato said.
He explained that motorcyclists are usually good drivers, but that other drivers do not spot them.
Motorcyclists have to be "more conscientious than someone in a car," Salvato said. "They must anticipate others."
Lt. Chris Heverly from the Ohio State Highway Patrol in Canfield said, "It's sad they [motorcyclists] have to look at others."
Automobile drivers might look up and miss a motorcyclist, Heverly said, so motorcyclists always have to pay attention to what is happening around them.
Also, it is hard to judge the speed of a motorcycle, he added.
Suggestions
Salvato suggests that motorcyclists should always wear a helmet and use their headlights, even during the day.
In Ohio, helmets are required to be worn during the first year as a novice rider and those who are under 18.
Helmets were not used by 50 percent of the motorcyclists killed or injured in 2004, Ohio statistics show.
In Pennsylvania, all motorcyclists must wear protective headgear. The exceptions to that law are a person 21 or older who has been licensed to operate a motorcycle for not less than two full calendar years or who has completed a motorcycle rider safety course approved by the department or the Motorcycle Safety Foundation.
A problem that Salvato said motorcyclists can face early in the spring is that the roads are not yet clean. The salt and other debris on the roads can be hazardous for cyclists. He does not expect the roads to be clean until this month or May.
Motorcycle Ohio, the Ohio Department of Public Safety's motorcycle education and safety program, is available to all motorcyclists to learn new skills and improve their old skills.
What's required
To receive a motorcycle license, a driver must get a temporary permit and then take either the Motorcycle Ohio safety course or the Bureau of Motor Vehicles skills test. If the Motorcycle Ohio safety course is taken, drivers are not required to take the BMV test.
All minors interested in a motorcycle license are required to take a training course either through Motorcycle Ohio or a private company.
The Basic Rider Course, also known as Riding and Street Skills, is free to anyone under 18.
In addition to a beginning skills course, there also is an experienced rider class.
"Even riders who've ridden for years can learn a better way to do things," said Jim Gilpin, a clerk at Motorcycle Ohio.
Two area sites host the course -- Kent State University's Trumbull and Salem campuses. Registration can be done online at www.motorcycle.ohio.gov.
Pennsylvania's Motorcycle Safety Program, started in 1984, is free to all Pennsylvania license holders. The MSP has a toll-free number, (800) 845-9533, to get information on site locations for courses and to register. The program's Web site is www.pamsp.com.