Rhode Island driving lesson · Sharing the Road Safely
Bicycle Riders: Rules & Safe Passing
A 3-minute lesson from the Rhode Island course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
In Rhode Island a bicycle is a vehicle with the same rights and responsibilities as other vehicles. Riders are far more vulnerable than you, so pass with room, expect them to dodge hazards, and treat them like any other traffic.
Rules for bicycle riders:
Ride as close to the right as is safe; cross the lane only to turn left
No more than two bicycles side by side
Use a nearby safe bike path instead of the road
Riders and passengers 15 or younger must wear a certified helmet
R.I.G.L. 31-19-6: bicyclists ride as near the right side as practicable, using due care when passing, unless signs or pavement markings direct otherwise.
Yield to bicyclists just as you would to other vehicles. Give extra room to riders who look inexperienced—weaving, wobbling, riding against traffic or without a helmet.
A cyclist ahead moves toward the center of a narrow lane to avoid a storm grate while a car is coming the other way. Slow down and stay behind; pass only when no oncoming vehicle is near and you can give 3 to 5 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.
How many bicycles may legally ride side by side in Rhode Island?
No more than two
No more than one
No more than three
Any number, if single file when passed
Answer: No more than two
No more than two bicycles may be ridden side by side.