This chapter establishes that a bicycle is legally a vehicle, so a cyclist has essentially the same rights and responsibilities as someone driving a car — including being subject to the same traffic laws and having convictions recorded on their driving record. It also covers how a bicycle must be equipped and how riders should signal their intentions.
The most tested material is lane positioning: a slower-moving cyclist generally rides near the right side of the road, but there are specific exceptions — passing another vehicle, preparing for a left turn, avoiding unsafe road conditions, or riding in a lane too narrow to share safely with a car. You should also know the hand signals for turning and stopping, and the nighttime equipment a bicycle must carry.
A common mistake for drivers is assuming a cyclist must always hug the curb no matter what — the exceptions above are real and tested. Another common mistake, for both drivers and cyclists, is misjudging right-of-way at intersections, which the handbook flags as a frequent cause of car-bicycle crashes, especially during turns.
Must a cyclist always ride at the far right of the lane?⌄
No — there are recognized exceptions, such as passing another vehicle, preparing for a left turn, avoiding unsafe conditions like debris or parked cars, or when the lane is too narrow to share safely with a car.
What equipment must a bicycle have to ride safely at night?⌄
A front lamp emitting a white light visible from a distance, plus a rear reflector (a rear light may be added, but doesn't replace the reflector).
What's a common way car-bicycle crashes happen at intersections?⌄
A motorist turning left in front of oncoming bicycle traffic, or turning right across a cyclist's path, or pulling out from a stop sign without yielding to bicycle cross-traffic.