How much distance must you leave when passing a bicycle, state by state?
Every state’s answer, and the District of Columbia’s, from its own manual or code: 44 have a rule on this, quoted below with where it is written; 7 say nothing on it.
Statutes fetched between 6 and 9 October 2026; manuals fetched between 6 September and 4 October 2026. How the answers are made
| State | The rule | Where it is written | As of |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Alabama law requires you to pass a person on a bicycle with not less than three feet between your vehicle and the person. | Alabama Driver Manual, p.24 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Arizona | When passing a bicyclist traveling in the same direction, motorists must allow a minimum safe distance of 3 feet. | Arizona Driver License Manual and Customer Service Guide, p.50 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| California | Where you cannot change lanes to pass a bicyclist, allow at least three feet between your vehicle and the bicyclist. | California Driver’s Handbook, p.48 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Colorado | When passing bicyclists, including those in a bike lane, motorists must give a minimum of three feet from the outermost part of their vehicle or any attachments. | Colorado Driver Handbook, p.22 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Connecticut | When approaching or passing a bicyclist, slow down and pass only when you can leave a minimum of three feet between your vehicle and the bicycle. | Connecticut Driver's Manual, p.17 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Delaware | Delaware drivers must give bicyclists at least 3 feet of room when passing. | Delaware Driver Manual, p.96 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Florida | Florida law requires you to give bicyclists a minimum of three feet of clearance and to use caution and slow speed when driving next to or passing them. | Official Florida Driver License Handbook, p.81 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Georgia | The minimum legal space for a Georgia motorist to leave when passing a bicyclist is 3 feet. | Georgia Driver's Manual, p.119 | 18 Sep 2026 |
| Hawaii | When passing a bicyclist, keep at least 3 feet of space between the bicyclist and your vehicle until you have safely passed. | State of Hawaii Driver’s Manual, p.97 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Illinois | A motorist passing a bicyclist must pass slowly and leave at least 3 feet of space from the edge of the vehicle’s side mirror, and must wait where that space is not available. | Illinois Rules of the Road 2026, p.43 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Indiana | You may pass a bicyclist when there is a safe amount of room, at least three feet, and no danger from oncoming traffic. | Indiana Driver's Manual, p.52 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Iowa | When passing a bicyclist, you must change lanes completely, giving the rider the entire lane as you would any other vehicle. | Iowa Driver's License Manual, p.58 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Kansas | (c) (1) The driver of a vehicle overtaking a bicycle proceeding in the same direction shall pass to the left thereof at a distance of not less than three feet and shall not again drive to the right side of the roadway until safely clear of the overtaken bicycle. (2) The driver of a vehicle may pass a bicycle proceeding in the same direction in a no-passing zone with the duty to execute the pass only when it is safe to do so. | Kansas law, K.S.A. 8-1516(c) | 7 Oct 2026 |
| Kentucky | Where a Kentucky road has only one lane in the same direction, a driver passes a bicycle or electric low-speed scooter to the left keeping at least three feet between the vehicle and the rider. | Kentucky Driver Manual, p.48 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Louisiana | Louisiana requires at least 3 feet between a passing car and a slower bicyclist. | Class D & E Driver's Guide, p.80 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Maine | When passing a bicyclist in Maine, leave at least 3 feet between the right side of your vehicle and the bicyclist. | Maine Driver’s License Manual, p.102 | 4 Oct 2026 |
| Maryland | (2) When overtaking a bicycle, an EPAMD, or a motor scooter, pass safely at a distance of not less than 3 feet, unless, at the time: (i) The bicycle, EPAMD, or motor scooter rider fails to operate the vehicle in conformance with § 21–1205(a) of this subtitle (“Riding to right side of roadway”) or § 21–1205.1(b) of this subtitle (“Roadway with bike lane or shoulder paved to smooth surface”); (ii) A passing clearance of less than 3 feet is caused solely by the bicycle, EPAMD, or motor scooter rider failing to maintain a steady course; or (iii) The highway on which the vehicle is being driven is not wide enough to lawfully pass the bicycle, EPAMD, or motor scooter at a distance of at least 3 feet. | Maryland law, Md. Code, Transp. § 21-1209(a)(2) | 6 Oct 2026 |
| Massachusetts | When you pass a vulnerable road user you must leave a safe passing distance of at least four feet. | Massachusetts Driver's Manual, p.49 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Michigan | Michigan law requires you to leave at least 3 feet between your vehicle and a bicyclist when passing; if that is impractical, pass at a safe distance and speed. | What Every Driver Must Know, p.57 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Minnesota | When you pass a bicyclist you must leave at least 3 feet between your car and the bike. | Minnesota Driver’s Manual, p.48 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Mississippi | When passing a bicycle, leave a safe distance of at least 3 feet between your vehicle and the bicycle. | Mississippi Driver's License Manual, p.73 | 4 Oct 2026 |
| Missouri | When passing, give bicycles and mopeds a full lane width and do not squeeze past them. | Missouri Driver Guide, p.31 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Nebraska | When passing a bicycle going the same direction, a motorist must leave no less than 3 feet of clearance. | Nebraska Driver’s Manual, p.69 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Nevada | With no other lane to move into, pass to the left of a bicycle at a safe distance of at least 3 feet, and do not move back right until safely clear of it. | Nevada Driver Handbook, p.48 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| New Hampshire | A driver must leave a reasonable and prudent distance between the vehicle and a bicycle, which is presumed reasonable at 3 feet when traveling at 30 miles per hour or less. | New Hampshire Driver's Manual, p.36 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| New Jersey | On a single-lane road a driver allows at least four feet of space when passing a vulnerable road user. | New Jersey Driver Manual, p.146 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| New York | When overtaking a bicyclist from behind, the law requires a driver to pass on the left at a safe distance until the bicycle has been cleared. | New York State Driver's Manual, p.39 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| North Carolina | The law requires the passing driver to pass at least two feet to the left of the vehicle being passed. | North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.55 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| North Dakota | A driver passing a bicyclist must leave a minimum of 3 feet of passing space between the vehicle and the bicycle. | North Dakota Noncommercial Driver License Manual, p.33 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Ohio | A driver keeps a safety zone of at least three feet between the vehicle and a bicycle. | Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.42 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Oklahoma | When passing a bicycle going the same direction, leave a safe distance of not less than 3 feet until you are safely past it. | Oklahoma Driver Manual, p.51 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Oregon | At speeds greater than 35 mph you may only pass a person on a bicycle traveling in your lane if you leave enough distance to prevent contact with them if they were to fall. | 2026-2027 Oregon Driver Manual, p.50 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Pennsylvania | When passing a bicycle you must leave at least four feet between your vehicle and the bicycle, and you may cross the center double yellow line to do it if you can do so safely. | PA Driver's Manual, p.92 | 6 Sep 2026 |
| Rhode Island | When passing a bicyclist, allow as much clearance as possible, 3 to 5 feet. | Rhode Island Driver’s Manual, p.55 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| South Carolina | A driver of a motor vehicle must at all times maintain a safe operating distance between the motor vehicle and a bicycle. | South Carolina law, S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-3435 | 8 Oct 2026 |
| South Dakota | 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. | South Dakota Driver License Manual, p.62 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Tennessee | When passing a bicyclist going your direction, do so slowly and leave at least 3 feet between your car and the bicycle. | Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual, p.63 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Utah | Utah law requires a minimum of three feet of distance when passing any bicyclist or vulnerable user of the highway. | Utah Driver Handbook 2026-2027, p.75 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Vermont | Leave at least four feet of passing space between the right side of your vehicle and a bicyclist. | 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.40 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Virginia | When passing someone riding a bicycle, moped or similar device, slow down and pass at least three feet to their left. | Virginia Driver's Manual, p.17 | 6 Sep 2026 |
| Washington | Sharrow markings show that a vehicle lane is shared with bicycle traffic, and a driver should drive slowly and leave at least 3 feet when passing. | Washington State Driver Guide, p.139 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| West Virginia | (2) The driver of a vehicle overtaking a bicycle traveling in the same direction shall pass to the left of the bicycle at a distance of not less than three feet at a careful and reduced speed, and may not again drive to the right side of the roadway until safely clear of the overtaken bicycle. | West Virginia law, W. Va. Code § 17C-7-3(a)(2) | 9 Oct 2026 |
| Wisconsin | A driver gives bicyclists at least three feet of room when passing. | Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, p.52 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Wyoming | When space allows, keep at least 3 feet between your vehicle and a bicyclist you are passing. | Wyoming Rules of the Road Driver License Manual, p.56 | 14 Sep 2026 |
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No rule found
No rule found in the manual or code of: Alaska, Arkansas, District of Columbia, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Texas.
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