Bicycle passing distance — South Dakota Permit Test

When passing a bicycle going the same way where the posted limit is 35 mph or less, leave at least 3 feet between your vehicle and the bicycle.

A car brushing past a rider can clip the handlebars or push the bike over with its wind.

The driver of any motor vehicle overtaking a bicycle proceeding in the same direction shall allow a minimum of a three foot separation between the right side of the driver's vehicle, including any mirror or other projection, and the left side of the bicycle if the posted limit is thirty-five miles per hour or less and shall allow a minimum of six feet separation if the posted limit is greater than thirty-five miles per hour.

When passing a bicycle going the same way where the posted limit is greater than 35 mph, leave at least 6 feet between your vehicle and the bicycle.

At highway speed the push of air from a car can knock a rider over even without contact.

The driver of any motor vehicle overtaking a bicycle proceeding in the same direction shall allow a minimum of a three foot separation between the right side of the driver's vehicle, including any mirror or other projection, and the left side of the bicycle if the posted limit is thirty-five miles per hour or less and shall allow a minimum of six feet separation if the posted limit is greater than thirty-five miles per hour.

The passing gap from a bicycle is measured from the right side of your vehicle, including any mirror or other projection.

A wide mirror sticks out past the body of the car and is often the part that strikes a rider.

The driver of any motor vehicle overtaking a bicycle proceeding in the same direction shall allow a minimum of a three foot separation between the right side of the driver's vehicle, including any mirror or other projection, and the left side of the bicycle if the posted limit is thirty-five miles per hour or less and shall allow a minimum of six feet separation if the posted limit is greater than thirty-five miles per hour.

When overtaking a bicycle, you may partially cross the center line or the line between two lanes going the same way, if it can be done safely.

Drivers who will not move over squeeze past riders within inches of the bike.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a motor vehicle overtaking a bicycle proceeding in the same direction may partially cross the highway centerline or the dividing line between two lanes of travel in the same direction if it can be performed safely.

The driver must keep the passing separation until safely past the overtaken bicycle.

A car that cuts back in too soon swings its rear end into the rider it just passed.

The driver of the motor vehicle shall maintain that separation until safely past the overtaken bicycle.

Failing to give a bicycle the required passing gap is a Class 2 misdemeanor.

Without a real penalty, drivers would keep shaving past riders by inches to save a few seconds.

A violation of this section is a Class 2 misdemeanor.

On a road posted at 35 mph or less, how much space must you leave when passing a bicyclist?

At least 3 feet. A car brushing past a rider can clip the handlebars or push the bike over with its wind. South Dakota Driver License Manual, p.62: “The driver of any motor vehicle overtaking a bicycle proceeding in the same direction shall allow a minimum of a three foot separation between the right side of the driver's vehicle, including any mirror or other projection, and the left side of the bicycle if the posted limit is thirty-five miles per hour or less and shall allow a minimum of six feet separation if the posted limit is greater than thirty-five miles per hour.”