Motorists in the presence of bicyclists — Massachusetts Permit Test

When passing a bicycle traveling in the same direction on your right, you must not return to the right until you have safely passed it.

Cutting back in early is the maneuver that takes a rider's front wheel away. The law names it as its own offense.

When passing a bicycle traveling in the same direction that is on your right, you must not return to the right until you have safely passed the overtaken bicycle.

After passing a bicycle near an intersection or driveway where you want to turn right, you cannot turn unless you are at a safe distance and can turn at a reasonable and proper speed.

This is the right hook. The rider is still beside or behind you when the car cuts across their line.

When passing a bicycle near an intersection or driveway where you want to turn right, you cannot turn unless you are at a safe distance from the bicyclist and you can make the turn at a reasonable and proper speed.

If a lane is too narrow to pass a bicycle at a safe distance, be patient until you can safely use an adjacent lane, or wait until it is safe to pass in the lane you share.

Squeezing past takes away the space a rider needs for a pothole or a drain. Waiting for the next lane costs a driver seconds.

If a lane is too narrow to pass a bicycle at a safe distance, be PATIENT until you can safely use an adjacent lane or WAIT until it is safe to pass in the lane you share.

When turning left you must yield to a vehicle approaching from the opposite direction, including a bicycle, if it is close enough to be an immediate hazard.

A bicycle coming toward you is traffic. Judging it as slower than it is, is how the left-turn crash happens.

When turning left at an intersection or into an alley, private road, or driveway, you must yield the right of way to a vehicle approaching from the opposite direction, including a bicycle, if it is in the intersection or close enough to be an immediate hazard.

It is not a defense for a motorist causing a crash with a bicycle that the bicycle was to the right of other traffic.

Riders may legally ride to the right of traffic. Hitting one there is the driver's fault by law.

The law says it is not a defense for a motorist causing a crash with a bicycle that the bicycle was to the right of other traffic.

Drivers and passengers can be fined up to $100 for opening a vehicle door into an oncoming bicycle.

The fine lands on whoever opened the door, passenger or driver. Checking behind first is what avoids it.

Drivers and passengers can be fined up to $100 for opening a vehicle door into an oncoming bicycle.

When may a driver return to the right after passing a bicycle?

Only after safely passing the bicycle. Cutting back in early is the maneuver that takes a rider's front wheel away. The law names it as its own offense. Massachusetts Driver's Manual, p.115: “When passing a bicycle traveling in the same direction that is on your right, you must not return to the right until you have safely passed the overtaken bicycle.”