If you’ve been paying attention, you’ve probably noticed a lot more bicycles on the road  lately. In fact, when you’re not behind the wheel, you might be sitting in the saddle yourself.

About 7 percent of all commuters in New York State now walk or bike to work—one of the highest rates in the nation. And that doesn’t even count the hordes of weekend and recreational cyclists. Nowhere has cycling’s explosive popularity become more apparent than New York City. According to the city’s Department of Transportation, the number of cyclists has doubled in the last 20 years—far outpacing the city’s 15 percent population growth.

Experts cite a host of reasons for the surge in cycling, including its widespread recognition as economical and environmentally friendly transportation, its health and fitness benefits and even the hero status of seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong. One thing is for sure: Cycling helps to reduce congestion. Think about all those folks on bikes driving to work instead, and you get the idea.

In May, you’ll become more aware of cyclists in another way. AAA New York has partnered with Transportation Alternatives, the New York Bicycling Coalition, the NYC DOT, and other organizations in a public-education campaign to encourage drivers and cyclists to share the road safely. As part of the campaign, you’ll see posters on bus shelters and other prominent spots urging you to “Look.”

The campaign aims to cut the alarming number of car-bike collisions that have accompanied cycling’s growth. In New York State, one in every four traffic injuries or fatalities involves a cyclist or pedestrian—about double the national average. Here’s what you can do to share the road safely with all those pedal pushers.

• Recognize a bicyclist’s right to the road.  “Cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities on the streets as a motorist,” says Jeff Olson, partner in Alta Planning and Design (a firm specializing in multimodal transportation planning) and co-founder of the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals. In other words, bikes must follow the same rules as any other vehicle—and they deserve the same respect as any other vehicle.

On roads without bike lanes, cyclists tend to ride as far to the right as possible. Sometimes they take the entire lane, because they need it—to make a left turn or to avoid storm drains, debris and other hazards that you might not even notice from the driver’s seat. And the cyclist who takes the middle of the lane when riding alongside a row of parked cars? He’s trying to avoid getting “doored”—riding smack into a car door opened by an inattentive motorist exiting a parked car.

• Slow down.  More than any other factor, speed affects the seriousness of a car-bike collision. In a 25-mph crash, the cyclist has a 75 percent chance of surviving. At 37 mph, the chances of survival drop to 50-50. And at 40 mph, the fatality rate of cyclists jumps to 70 percent. No wonder they feel vulnerable.

• Watch for movement at intersections.  Nearly 90 percent of all bike-car collisions occur in or near intersections.  Often, motorists simply don’t see the cyclist. “Take in the whole picture by looking for motion,” says Ed McLaughlin, instructor in AAA New York’s Driver Improvement Program.  “Besides scanning side to side, scan up and down—from the ground to just above eye level—to pick up the motion of shadows or feet.” Look through the windows and windshields of surrounding cars, adds McLaughlin.  You’ll see farther ahead and to the side.  And always look to the side and check your outboard mirror for bikes before turning.

• Make eye contact.  When you spot cyclists, make sure that they see you. Cyclists rely on eye contact to communicate with drivers. “Generally, by making eye contact, you can tell whether the driver recognizes you and will give you space,” says Josh Poppel, executive director of the New York Bicycling Coalition.

• Keep at least a three-foot cushion while passing.  “It’s important to give cyclists a wide berth,” says Noah Budnick of Transportation Alternatives, a New York City nonprofit group. That translates to between three and five feet while passing. Cyclists need that room.  Often, the wind from the passing car buffets a cyclist just as the wind from a passing tractor-trailer affects a car. 

In some situations, a little patience proves safer than passing. “Often, a driver will pass me in a rush—only to race up to a red light and wait,” says Budnick.  “Eventually, I catch up to him at the intersection. He hasn’t saved any time at all.”

• Look behind you before opening a door.  As a driver, you have an obligation to check for clearance before opening your car door. In New York City alone, “dooring” has killed seven cyclists since 1995—when the cyclist either swerved to avoid an open door or struck the door and took a spill into the path of a trailing vehicle.