Bicyclists — Kansas Permit Test

Kansas bicyclists are considered vehicles when used on roadways and are expected to follow the same rules of the road as motorized vehicles, with the same rights, privileges and responsibilities.

A bike on the road is traffic, not an obstacle. That is what gives it a place in the lane.

Bicyclists are considered vehicles when used on roadways. They are expected to follow the same rules of the road as motorized vehicles.

A Kansas driver must yield the right-of-way to a bicyclist when a bicycle path or bike lane intersects a road, and must not stop, park or drive on a designated bicycle path or lane except in limited circumstances.

A bike lane blocked by a car forces the rider into traffic. That is the moment they get hit.

Do not stop, park or drive on a designated bicycle path or lane unless you are entering or leaving an alley or driveway, performing official duties, directed by a police officer, or an emergency situation exists.

If a Kansas driver is about to make a right turn they must not pass a bicyclist immediately before the turn, and should slow down and let the cyclist clear the intersection first.

Passing then turning across them is the classic right-hook crash. Waiting costs a few seconds.

If you are about to make a right turn, you must not pass a bicyclist immediately before the turn.

A Kansas driver should be careful after passing a bicyclist and not slow down or stop quickly, because a motor vehicle's brakes are more powerful than a bicycle's.

The rider cannot stop as fast as you can. Braking sharply in front of them puts them into your bumper.

Do not slow down or stop quickly. A motor vehicle's brakes are more powerful than a bicycle's, and you could cause a crash.

A Kansas driver should not sound the horn close to bicyclists unless there is a chance of a collision, because it may startle them and cause them to steer into the driver's path.

A horn beside a bike is a shock, not information. The rider swerves toward whatever startled them.

Sounding your horn to alert your presence may startle them and cause them to steer into your path and crash.

A Kansas driver should be particularly careful around bicyclists when the roadway is wet or covered with sand or gravel, because bicycles cannot brake as quickly or turn as sharply under these conditions.

Loose surface affects two wheels far more than four. A bike that has to brake there often goes down.

Like motor vehicles, bicycles cannot brake as quickly or turn as sharply under these conditions. These conditions affect bicycles much more than vehicles.

A Kansas bicyclist may be unable to signal if road or traffic conditions require both hands on the handlebars, so a driver should look for other clues such as the rider turning their head or looking over their shoulder.

A rider needs both hands on a rough surface. Their head turn is the signal you get instead.

Look for other clues of a bicyclist's intent, like turning their head or looking over their shoulder before changing lane position.

When parked on a Kansas street a driver checks to the sides and rear for bicyclists before opening the door, and the Dutch Reach uses the right hand to pull the handle so the body turns to give better visibility behind.

Using the far hand turns your shoulders and your eyes toward the traffic. It makes the check automatic.

It entails that the motorist uses their right hand to pull the handle to open the door which will inherently turn your body to provide better visibility of traffic approaching from the rear.

A Kansas bicyclist is allowed to ride two abreast in a lane, which creates a tight vehicular density so that cars may pass more efficiently.

Two riders side by side take up less road than two in a line, so a car gets past them sooner. It looks like they are in the way, and they are not.

You are allowed to ride two abreast or two wide in a lane.

Under the Kansas Dead Red Law a bicyclist who reaches an intersection where the traffic signal will not respond to their bicycle may cross after waiting a reasonable amount of time.

Some signals cannot detect a bicycle at all. Without this rule a rider would wait forever.

if you reach an intersection and the traffic signal will not respond to your bicycle, after waiting what you determine is a reasonable amount of time, you may cross the intersection.

Kansas sharrows are road markers that recommend where in a lane a bicyclist should ride to flow easiest with other traffic, and are found on roads with higher volumes of traffic.

A sharrow is advice painted on the road, not a lane. The bike is still sharing your lane there.

are road markers on the pavement that provide a recommendation of where in a lane a bicyclist should ride to flow easiest with other traffic.

Kansas bike lanes provide a designated part of the roadway for bicycle traffic, can be designated using solid white lines and are commonly found toward the right side of the roadway.

A bike lane is a lane, unlike a sharrow. Drivers still have to look before crossing one.

Bike lanes can be designated using solid white lines and are commonly found towards the right side of the roadway.

Kansas bikeways or bike routes are roads with lower traffic volumes recommended for use by bicycles, commonly side roads and neighborhood roads.

These are ordinary streets chosen for being quiet. Expect more riders on them than the road suggests.

are roads with lower traffic volumes that are recommended for use by bicycles because of the lower potential for collisions and greater ease of use.

How does Kansas treat a bicycle on the roadway?

As a vehicle, with the same rights and responsibilities. A bike on the road is traffic, not an obstacle. That is what gives it a place in the lane. Kansas Driving Handbook, p.80: “Bicyclists are considered vehicles when used on roadways. They are expected to follow the same rules of the road as motorized vehicles.”