How can a vehicle lawfully overtake or pass a bicycle in California?

Full question:

Is there any law in California which deals with overtaking or passing bicycles?

  • Category: Automobiles
  • Subcategory: Traffic Laws
  • Date:
  • State: California

Answer:

California does not have any law directly on point. However, overtaking law states that “the driver of a vehicle overtaking another vehicle or a bicycle proceeding in the same direction shall pass to the left at a safe distance without interfering with the safe operation of the overtaken vehicle or bicycle, subject to the limitations and exceptions stated.”

This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.

FAQs

Yes, you can pass a bicyclist in California, but you must do so safely. When overtaking a bicycle, drivers are required to pass to the left and maintain a safe distance to ensure the safety of the cyclist. This means being careful not to endanger the cyclist or interfere with their operation.