SUPPLEMENTAL PRACTICE
Original unofficial supplemental practice for adult California Class C learners. Not an official DMV test, complete exam coverage, or a prediction of readiness or results.
Bicycle lane position
Interactive practice requires JavaScript. Study the questions, answers and sources below.
Bicycle lane position: quick guide
For: California adult Class C learner practice. This is original study material, not an official DMV test.
Two lane-position decisions
- A lane may be too narrow for a car and bicycle to travel side by side safely. A bicyclist can use more of that lane. Follow at a safe distance. Pass only when it is safe and you can leave the required clearance; do not pressure the rider toward the curb.
- A bicyclist may ride near the left edge of a one-way road with two or more lanes. Treat that position as permitted. Check for bicyclists before changing lanes and move only when the lane change is safe.
When you cannot provide at least three feet while passing without changing lanes, wait until you can give that clearance. A safe following distance gives you room to respond while you wait.
Remember
A bicycle's position may be lawful even when it is left of the curb. Look at the road layout, leave room, and make your own maneuver only when safe. The rule does not tell a bicyclist to enter a hazard or require a driver to pass.
Source and scope note: California Driver Handbook, Section 7, “Bicycling in Travel Lanes” and “Passing a Bicyclist”; California DMV, “Bicyclists & Pedestrians,” “Ride in a Safe Lane Position.” The current official pages do not state an edition or effective date for these web sections. Reviewed 2026-11-02.
Study all four questions, answers and sources
Source retrieval dates are observations, not rule-effective dates. This supplemental material is not a complete statement of law.
On a two-way road, a bicyclist ahead rides left of the curb edge because the lane is too narrow for a car and bicycle to travel side by side safely. What is the best response?
- Follow at a safe distance and pass only when you can do so safely with adequate space. (correct): Correct. A narrow lane is an allowed reason for a bicyclist to ride farther from the curb. Wait for a safe passing opportunity and provide adequate clearance.
- Sound the horn until the bicyclist moves close to the curb.: A driver should not pressure a bicyclist into a position that does not leave safe room in the lane.
- Squeeze past within the lane if you reduce your speed.: Reducing speed does not make an unsafe close pass safe. Wait until you can provide the required clearance.
When the lane is too narrow for safe side-by-side travel, the bicyclist may use more of the lane. Follow at a safe distance. Pass only when it is safe and you can leave the required clearance.
Source: Section 7: Laws and Rules of the Road (Continued) — California Driver's Handbook — Bicycling in Travel Lanes: exception for a lane too narrow for safe side-by-side travel; driver following and passing guidance (retrieved 2026-11-02)
Source: Bicyclists & Pedestrians — California DMV — Ride in a Safe Lane Position: lane too narrow for safe side-by-side travel (retrieved 2026-11-02)
On a two-way street, the single travel lane in your direction is too narrow for a car and bicycle to travel safely side by side. A bicyclist rides near the middle of that lane. How should you interpret the bicyclist’s position?
- The bicyclist may use more of the lane because it is too narrow for safe side-by-side travel. (correct): Correct. The stated lane width supports this position exception. Continue to drive safely and do not assume the rider must move to the curb.
- The bicyclist must ride close to the curb whenever a car is behind.: The narrow-lane exception applies even when a driver is behind. The rider is not required to squeeze to the edge to make side-by-side travel possible.
- The bicyclist may use the middle only when preparing to turn left.: Preparing for a left turn is a separate exception. Here, the stated reason is that the lane is too narrow for safe side-by-side travel.
California DMV identifies a lane too narrow for safe side-by-side travel as an exception to the usual right-edge position. The scenario states that condition, so the rider may use more of the lane.
Source: Section 7: Laws and Rules of the Road (Continued) — California Driver's Handbook — Section 7 / Sharing the Road / Bicycles / Bicycling in Travel Lanes: exception when a lane is too narrow for safe side-by-side travel (retrieved 2026-11-02)
Source: Bicyclists & Pedestrians — California DMV — Bicyclists / Ride in a Safe Lane Position: lane too narrow for bicycle and vehicle to travel safely side by side (retrieved 2026-11-02)
You are driving on a one-way street with two or more lanes. A bicyclist rides near the left edge of the road. Which statement is correct?
- The bicyclist may ride near the left edge on this type of road. (correct): Correct. California DMV guidance allows a bicyclist to ride near the left edge on a one-way road with at least two lanes.
- The bicyclist must move to the right edge whenever a car approaches.: The handbook does not require a bicyclist to move right when a car approaches. Drivers should follow at a safe distance.
- The bicyclist may use the left edge only to prepare for an immediate left turn.: Preparing to turn left is a separate exception; the multilane one-way rule does not limit left-edge riding to turns.
On a one-way road with two or more lanes, a bicyclist may ride near the left curb or edge. Do not assume the rider must move right just because a car is approaching.
Source: Section 7: Laws and Rules of the Road (Continued) — California Driver's Handbook — Bicycling in Travel Lanes: one-way road with two or more lanes (retrieved 2026-11-02)
Source: Bicyclists & Pedestrians — California DMV — Ride in a Safe Lane Position: one-way road with two or more lanes (retrieved 2026-11-02)
On a one-way street with three lanes, a bicyclist rides near the left edge. You are in the middle lane and want to move left to pass. What should you do first?
- Wait; change lanes only when you can enter safely without crowding or cutting in front of the bicyclist. (correct): Correct. The rider may use the left edge. Check for the bicyclist and make the lane change only when it will not interfere with the rider.
- Move left because the bicyclist should be riding at the right edge.: On a one-way road with two or more lanes, the bicyclist may ride near the left edge. Do not merge into the rider's path.
- Move left without checking because a bicyclist is easier to see than a car.: The DMV advises drivers to check for bicyclists when changing lanes. Visibility does not remove that need.
A bicyclist may lawfully ride near the left edge of a multilane one-way road. Check for bicyclists before changing lanes, and move only when you can do so safely without crowding the rider.
Source: Section 7: Laws and Rules of the Road (Continued) — California Driver's Handbook — Bicycling in Travel Lanes: one-way road with two or more lanes; passing a bicyclist; check when changing lanes (retrieved 2026-11-02)
Source: Bicyclists & Pedestrians — California DMV — Ride in a Safe Lane Position: one-way road with two or more lanes; mirrors and shoulder check before changing lanes (retrieved 2026-11-02)