A 3-minute lesson from the New Mexico course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles. Knowing what a bicyclist must do helps you predict their moves, and sharrows tell you when they're expected to use the full lane.
Bicycle drivers sharing the road must:
Obey all traffic signals, laws and signs, just as if driving a car
At night, use a bright headlight and a good rear reflector
Travel in the same direction as traffic, turning left and right the way cars do
Shared lane pavement markings, painted where a road is too narrow for side-by-side sharing. Bicyclists are encouraged to take the whole lane and motorists shall yield as needed.
You're driving on a narrow street painted with sharrows and a cyclist is riding right on the markings. Slow down and yield; pass only when there's room for the cyclist to move right and for you to give five feet.
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.
Who is required to wear a bicycle helmet under New Mexico law?
Minors
No one, it's always optional
All riders, of any age
Only riders on highways
Answer: Minors
Adults should, and minors must, wear a well-fitting helmet.
