Bicyclists — Idaho Permit Test

Bicyclists are legally allowed to ride on all Idaho roadways, have the same rights as drivers, and are required to ride with the flow of traffic.

A cyclist is entitled to the lane, and a driver who treats them as an obstruction is the one breaking the rule.

Bicyclists are legally allowed to ride on all Idaho roadways and have the same rights as drivers, and are required to ride with the flow of traffic

Bicyclists must ride as close to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway as safety allows, except when passing, turning left, avoiding an obstacle, or where the roadway does not allow a bicycle and a motor vehicle to travel safely side by side.

The last exception is the one drivers forget: on a narrow road the cyclist belongs in the middle of the lane.

except when passing, turning left, avoiding an obstacle, or when the roadway does not allow a bicycle and motor vehicle to travel safely side by side

A safe margin when passing a bicyclist is at least three feet, and three feet is the minimum passing space a driver should leave.

At three feet the air the car pushes still moves the bike, and anything less moves it into the curb.

A safe margin is at least three (3) feet

To increase the safety margin when passing a bicyclist, move into the left lane if possible, and if you cannot change lanes, pass with as much clearance as possible.

Changing lanes turns a close pass into no pass at all, which is the only version with no risk in it.

move into the left lane if possible

In Idaho, bicyclists do not need to come to a complete stop at stop signs, but must yield to vehicles in or already at the intersection, or close enough to be a hazard, and then proceed with caution.

It looks to a driver like a cyclist running the sign, and it is not; the duty to yield is unchanged.

In Idaho, bicyclists do not need to come to a complete stop at stop signs

Bicyclists may proceed with caution through a red light after stopping and yielding the right-of-way to vehicles already in the intersection or close enough to be a hazard.

The stop is required at a red light even though it is not at a stop sign, which is the part that differs.

Bicyclists may proceed with caution through a red light after stopping and yielding the right-of-way to vehicles already in the intersection

Bicyclists do not need to come to a complete stop when turning right on a red light, but must yield to vehicles already in the intersection or close enough to be a hazard.

The right turn on red is the one movement where a cyclist need not stop, and the yield still applies.

They do not need to come to a complete stop when turning right on a red light

When stopped, never look only to the left before turning right. Always look left, right and to the rear, checking the right first.

A cyclist riding against traffic or on the sidewalk arrives from the right, which is the direction nobody checks.

Always look left, right and to the rear, checking the right first

If you are preparing for a right turn and a bicyclist is ahead of you, do not assume you can beat them to the turn; misjudgment causes a broadside crash called the right hook.

The cyclist is going faster than they look, and the turn closes the only space they have.

Misjudgment can result in a broadside crash called the “right hook.”

Avoid right-hook crashes by slowing and remaining behind the bicyclist until they ride past the point where you will turn.

Waiting a few seconds behind them is the whole fix, and it costs nothing.

Avoid right-hook crashes by slowing and remaining behind the bicyclist until they ride past the point where you will turn

An approaching bicyclist can easily travel 50 to 100 feet in a few seconds, so scan the corners of an intersection more than once and look one last time before proceeding.

What was empty on the first look is not empty by the time the car moves.

An approaching bicyclist can easily travel 50 to 100 feet in a few seconds

Bicyclists can legally ride on sidewalks in most communities, and young children usually ride on the sidewalk, so be extremely cautious when pulling in or out of a driveway.

A child on the sidewalk crosses the driveway at speed, from behind whatever is beside it.

Young children usually ride on the sidewalk, so be extremely cautious when pulling in or out of a driveway

Never honk when close to a bicyclist, because it may startle them and cause an unexpected reaction.

A startled rider swerves, and the only direction with room is into the traffic lane.

Never honk when close to a bicyclist; it may startle the bicyclist and cause an unexpected reaction

Before opening the driver's door after parallel parking, reach across your body for the handle with your opposite hand, which makes you turn toward the mirror and look over your shoulder for a bicyclist.

Opening a door into a rider is the most common crash involving bicyclists, and this one habit prevents it.

reach across your body for the door handle with your opposite hand

Parking in bike lanes is not allowed, because they are designated travel lanes for bicyclists and should not be blocked.

A car in the bike lane forces every rider out into the traffic lane, one at a time.

Parking in bike lanes is not allowed

A shared-lane marking, or sharrow, is a street marking placed in the travel lane to show where people should preferably cycle.

It tells the rider where to ride and tells the driver to expect them there.

A shared-lane marking or “sharrow” is a street marking placed in the travel lane to indicate where people should preferably cycle

A shared-lane marking helps position bicyclists so they are less likely to hit the open door of a parked vehicle, and alerts road users to where bicyclists are likely to ride.

It moves the rider out of the door zone, which is where most of the collisions happen.

in order to reduce the chance of a bicyclist impacting the open door of a parked vehicle

The design of some streets requires that for safety bicyclists occupy the travel lane by riding in the center, not to the right, on brief stretches of narrow roadway where it is unsafe to pass.

A rider in the middle of the lane is not being awkward, they are stopping you passing where there is no room to.

bicyclists must occupy the travel lane by riding in the center, not to the right

Bicyclists are not as noticeable as motor vehicles: their position on the road, smaller size and slower speed require drivers to consciously look for them.

The eye tends not to register what it is not expecting, which is why looking has to be deliberate.

Their position on the road, smaller size, and slower speed, requires drivers to consciously look for them

A typical 12-foot-wide travel lane is not wide enough to safely share with a bicyclist.

The figure settles an argument drivers have with themselves at the moment of passing.

A typical 12-foot-wide travel lane is not wide enough to safely share with a bicyclist

Higher speeds require more passing space when passing a bicyclist, and you should wait until you can see oncoming traffic and then pass by moving partially or fully into the other lane.

The faster the car, the harder it pushes the air, and three feet at 60 is not three feet at 25.

Higher speeds require more passing space

When turning right at an intersection you may occupy the bike lane in the dashed line area, which stops bicyclists coming up on your right side.

Moving into the lane early puts the car where the rider would otherwise have been, instead of turning across them.

When turning right at an intersection, you may occupy the bike lane in the dashed line area

When passing children on bicycles, slow down and be aware that they may unpredictably swerve into your lane.

A child on a bike has not learned to hold a line, and the swerve comes without warning.

When passing children on bicycles, slow down and be aware that they may unpredictably swerve into your lane

Never rush a turn or squeeze past a bicyclist just to beat traffic or a traffic light.

The few seconds saved are the same few seconds the rider needed to be somewhere else.

Never rush a turn or squeeze past a bicyclist just to beat traffic or a traffic light

What rights do bicyclists have on Idaho roadways?

The same rights as drivers. A cyclist is entitled to the lane, and a driver who treats them as an obstruction is the one breaking the rule. July 2026 Idaho Driver's Handbook, p.98: “Bicyclists are legally allowed to ride on all Idaho roadways and have the same rights as drivers, and are required to ride with the flow of traffic”