Sharing the road
On a one-way street, a bicyclist is riding near the left curb. Is that allowed?
- Yes; on a one-way street a bicyclist may choose to ride near the left curb. Correct answer
- No; a bicyclist must always ride as close as possible to the right curb.
- Only if the bicyclist is about to make a left turn.
Why
Bicyclists have the same rights and duties as drivers, and the handbook lists a few choices that are theirs to make. Keeping close to the left curb on a one-way street is one of them, so this rider is within the rules. The keep-right rule is real, but it is for a cyclist going slower than traffic and it has exceptions: passing, getting ready for a left turn, avoiding a hazard, a lane too narrow to share side by side, approaching a right turn, and a one-way road with two or more lanes. A left turn is one of those reasons, not the only one. Follow at a safe distance; the cyclist should move over to let you pass once it is safe.
Where this comes from
California Driver's Handbook, June 2025 edition. The correct answer is Yes; on a one-way street a bicyclist may choose to ride near the left curb.
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
- When does the handbook allow a bicyclist to ride on the sidewalk?
- A bicyclist is riding in your travel lane and you cannot move into another lane to pass. How much space must you leave between your vehicle and the bicyclist?
- A school bus ahead of you on a two-lane road has stopped and its red lights are flashing. What must you do?
- You are driving behind a large truck. How can you tell whether the truck driver can see you?