After the warm weather returns, the town plans to start installing a series of informational signs on local roads intended to promote bicycling safety.

The signs graphically depict a bicyclist and an auto moving side-by-side on the road, indicating that Connecticut law requires there to be a minimum three-foot separation distance between motor vehicles and bicycles when the motor vehicles are passing bicycles.

Fred Hurley, town director of public works, said he expects the town to start posting the signs after warm weather returns to the area.

The Police Commission, in its role as the local traffic authority, recently approved having the signs posted at the request of Sound Cyclists Bicycle Club, one of the largest cycling clubs in New England.

A 2008 state law on separation distances requires motorists who are passing cyclists or passing other motorists to provide at least three feet of separation space.

To educate motorists and bicyclists of the law, the club will provide the signs free to the town for posting on roads that are popular with cyclists

Violating the minimum distance law constitutes an infraction of state law.

Local roads that may eventually have such signs posted on them include: Poverty Hollow Road, Hattertown Road, Toddy Hill Road, Currituck Road, Hanover Road, Botsford Hill Road, High Bridge Road, Huntingtown Road, Brushy Hill Road, Castle Hill Road, and Plumtrees Road.

The cycling club has prioritized the roads that it considers most important for such sign postings.

Police note that the signs are informational and are not compliant with state traffic signage regulations.

Police Chief Michael Kehoe has endorsed posting such informational signs on local roads, but has indicated that the signs could not be posted on state roads within the town without the town first getting state approval to do so.

The Police Commission last month unanimously endorsed having the town highway department phase in the installation of the signs.