Passing other vehicles
Pass on the left. Only pass a vehicle on the right if it is signaling a left
turn, or if you are in a dedicated travel lane, including a bike lane.
You may pass on the right in a bike lane, but do so cautiously. Some
drivers may want to turn right at the next driveway or street. They
may not see you if they aren’t looking your way. Ride at a reasonable
speed, and scan carefully for right-turning cars (see drawing below).
If a car ahead of you is signaling a right turn, do not pass on the
right. Do not pass stopped cars at a crosswalk or intersection - they
may be stopped to let a pedestrian cross or to let another car
through.
PRINCIPLE #3:
BE VISIBLE & RIDE ALERTLY
Even if you obey all traffic laws, there’s always a risk of being hit by
a motorist who isn’t obeying the laws, or who simply didn’t see you.
So ride cautiously, because cars waiting at stop signs, at driveways
or parking spaces may suddenly pull out in front of you (1). Also look
out for cars that have just passed you and may turn right (2), and
cars across the street that may turn left in front of you (3).
Be prepared to stop suddenly or to take other evasive action.
You can also increase your
visibility by u s i n g l i g h t s
and reflectors at night (see
page 4) and wearing light or
bright colored clothes. Red
isn’t a good color for evening
riding, because red looks
black in the fading light.
Yellow and lime green are
very effective.
Mirrors can provide opportu-
nities for increased awareness
of your surroundings. But use
the mirror only as an aid - you
must look over your shoulder
to make sure adjacent lanes
are clear before turning or
changing lanes.
1
2
Scan the road around you
10
