As part of his Healthy Cities Initiative, Mayor President Melvin “Kip” Holden has released a new public service announcement that promotes bicycle safety by reminding motorist to “share the road” with bike riders.

“We’re building more bike paths in our city and parish because more people are riding for recreation and transportation,” the Mayor says in the 30-second television spot.

The spot features testimonials from several cyclists about their reasons for riding bikes: to help the environment, to promote fitness and because it’s fun.

“It’s important to share the road and respect our friends and neighbors on bikes,” Holden says in the PSA.

The spot concludes with a member of the City Police Bike Patrol reminding motorists that sharing the road with bicyclists “is not just the right thing to do, it’s the law.”

A new state law requires motorists to give bicyclists at least three feet clearance when passing them. The law, known as the Colin Goodier Act, also protects cyclists from physical and verbal harassment by motorists.

Dr. Colin Goodier was a cyclist who was killed in an accident last year on River Road in Baton Rouge. He was 28.

According to statistics compiled by LSU’s Highway Safety Research Group, 10 Louisiana bicyclists were killed in accidents last year and another 640 were injured in accidents. According to Baton Rouge City Police, there were 94 crashes involving bicycles in the city last year.