Sharing the road
A bicyclist ahead of you holds their left arm straight out to the side, pointing left. What are they telling you?
- They plan to turn left. Correct answer
- They are slowing down or about to stop.
- It is safe for you to pass them on the left.
Why
The handbook lets bicyclists signal a turn by holding an arm straight out and pointing in the direction they plan to go, so an arm pointing left announces a left turn. Slowing down or stopping is its own hand-and-arm signal, separate from the two turn signals. Nothing about the gesture invites you to pass. A bicyclist about to turn left may move into the left turn lane, which bicyclists can legally use for their left turns, so give them room to do it. When you do pass a bicyclist, keep at least three feet between your car and the rider.
Where this comes from
California Driver's Handbook, June 2025 edition. The correct answer is They plan to turn left.
- Section 5. An Introduction to Driving › Signals, Horns, And Headlights › Signaling, page 10
- Section 3. The Testing Process › Driver's License Tests › 3. Behind-the-Wheel Drive Test, page 6
- Section 6. Navigating the Roads › Examples of Turns, page 22
- Section 6. Navigating the Roads › Types of Lanes › Bicycle Lanes, page 17
The rule behind this one
Sharing the road in California goes through the whole topic, with the page of the California Driver's Handbook behind every rule.
More on sharing the road
- A bicycle lane runs along the right side of the street you are on. Which of these is a time you may drive in it?
- Two trucks of the same size are traveling at the same speed. One is fully loaded and the other is empty. Which statement is correct?
- You want to get past a large truck on the freeway. What does the handbook tell you to do?
- Raised buttons mark off a space on the road where people wait to board a streetcar. When may you drive through that space?