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Maine driving lesson · Sharing the Road

Sharing the road with bicycles

A 4-minute lesson from the Maine course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

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Read time
4 minutes
Course unit
Sharing the Road
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
101, 102, 103

Bicycles are vehicles with the same rights as cars, but they're smaller, quieter and unprotected. A slight mistake by you or a cyclist can mean injury or death, so look harder and drive more carefully around them.

Know the rule

Bicycles are considered vehicles. Bicyclists follow the same rules of the road and have the same rights and responsibilities as drivers. Maine has nearly 900,000 bicycles.

Handbook p. 101 ↗

Know the rule

Bicycles are less visible and quieter than cars and have no protective casing. Skill varies: a skillful rider holds a steady line, while an unskillful one may swerve or ignore signals, so be ready for sudden turns.

Handbook p. 102 ↗

Sharing the road with bicyclists:

  • Yield to bicyclists at intersections, as you would pedestrians and other vehicles
  • Yield when a bicycle path or bike lane crosses the road
  • Don't stop, park or drive in a bike lane unless entering or leaving an alley or driveway
  • Slow down and let a cyclist clear an intersection before you turn
  • Reduce your speed when passing, especially on a narrow road, and give extra room in bad weather
Handbook p. 102 ↗
3 feet

Minimum space between the right side of your vehicle and a bicyclist you're passing

Handbook p. 102 ↗

Know the rule

Bicyclists ride as far right as practical except when it's unsafe, as the bicyclist decides. They may "command the lane" toward the center, or to the left if turning, and should take the travel lane when a road is too narrow to share side by side.

Handbook p. 102 ↗

Watch out for:

  • Speed: experienced cyclists can easily go over 30 mph
  • Potholes, debris and drain grates that make cyclists swerve
  • Stopping suddenly in front of a bike: you can stop more quickly than a bicycle
  • Wet roads, sand or gravel, which affect bikes much more than cars
  • Children on sidewalks who may suddenly ride into the road
Handbook p. 102 ↗

Know the rule

Near a bicyclist, you may make a right turn only if you can do it with reasonable safety and without interfering with the bicycle.

Handbook p. 103 ↗

Know the rule

Don't use your horn close to bicyclists unless a crash is likely; it could startle them into your path. Never turn sharply in front of a bicycle or force a cyclist off the road.

Handbook p. 103 ↗

Know the rule

Cyclists must ride with traffic but may be anywhere on the road. They must use hand signals, but may need both hands on the bars; watch for a head turn or look over the shoulder before they change lanes or turn.

Handbook p. 103 ↗

Dutch Reach

Opening your car door with your right (far) hand, which twists your body so you look over your shoulder and can see oncoming bicyclists.

Handbook p. 103 ↗

Know the rule

Check for bicyclists before opening your door on the street and before backing up. Children and inexperienced adults on bikes are often unpredictable.

Handbook p. 103 ↗

Put it into practice

A cyclist is riding near the center of a narrow lane ahead. That's legal: the road is too narrow to share side by side. Slow down, wait until you can give at least 3 feet, and pass only in a legal, safe spot.

Check your understanding

Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.

How much space must you leave between your vehicle and a bicyclist when passing?
  1. There is no minimum
  2. At least 6 feet
  3. At least 1 foot
  4. At least 3 feet

Answer: At least 3 feet

Maine law requires at least three feet of passing space between your vehicle and a bicyclist.

Handbook p. 102 ↗
When is it legal to drive or stop in a bicycle lane?
  1. Never, under any circumstance
  2. Only when entering or leaving an alley or driveway
  3. Anytime traffic is heavy
  4. Anytime for under a minute

Answer: Only when entering or leaving an alley or driveway

You may not stop, park, or drive in a bike lane except to enter or leave an alley or driveway.

Handbook p. 102 ↗
What is the 'Dutch Reach' method for opening a car door?
  1. Opening the door with your far hand so your body twists to look back
  2. Opening the door slowly with either hand
  3. Opening the door a crack, then pausing
  4. Checking the mirror before opening any door

Answer: Opening the door with your far hand so your body twists to look back

The Dutch Reach has the driver open the door with the right hand, twisting the body to look over the shoulder.

Handbook p. 103 ↗
When may a bicyclist 'command the lane' by riding toward its center?
  1. When riding at the far right is unsafe
  2. Whenever riding faster than 15 mph
  3. Only on roads with a bike lane
  4. Only when riding in a group

Answer: When riding at the far right is unsafe

It is safest for a bicyclist to command the lane when riding at the far right would be unsafe.

Handbook p. 102 ↗
How is a right turn by a driver near a bicyclist restricted?
  1. It is always prohibited near bicyclists
  2. It is allowed only at intersections
  3. It requires the bicyclist to stop first
  4. It must be made safely, without interfering with the bicyclist

Answer: It must be made safely, without interfering with the bicyclist

A driver may not make a right turn near a bicyclist unless it can be done safely and without interfering with the cyclist.

Handbook p. 103 ↗
A driver should avoid using the horn close to bicyclists unless there is a real chance of a crash.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: True

Do not use the horn close to bicycles unless there is a chance of a crash, as it may startle them.

Handbook p. 103 ↗
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