Roadwise States Texas Driving lessons Bicycle traffic laws Texas driving lesson · Pedestrian & Bicycle Safety
Bicycle traffic laws A 3-minute lesson from the Texas course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Read time 3 minutes
Course unit Pedestrian & Bicycle Safety
Checkpoint questions 6
Source pages 68, 77 In Texas a bicycle is a vehicle. Cyclists have the same rights and duties as drivers, face the same penalties, and their traffic convictions go on their driver record. Knowing their rules helps you share the road.
Bicycle A human-powered device a person can ride, with two tandem wheels, either of which is more than 14 inches in diameter.
Handbook p. 77 ↗ Know the rule
All traffic convictions go on the person's driver record, whether the offense was on a bicycle or in a motor vehicle.
Handbook p. 68 ↗ Cyclists must: Obey all traffic laws, signs and signals, stopping at all stop signs and red lights Always ride with the flow of traffic Ride only on or astride a permanent and regular seat On a one-way road with two or more marked lanes, ride as near as possible to the left curb or edge Riding two abreast on a laned road, stay in a single lane and don't impede traffic Handbook p. 68 ↗ A cyclist slower than traffic rides near the right curb or edge, unless: Passing another vehicle going the same direction Preparing for a left turn at an intersection or onto a private road or driveway Avoiding unsafe conditions: objects, vehicles, pedestrians, animals, potholes, or debris In an outside lane less than 14 feet wide with no bicycle lane next to it In a lane too narrow for a bicycle and a motor vehicle to travel safely side by side Handbook p. 68 ↗ Cyclists must never: Carry more people than the bicycle is designed or equipped for Ride opposite the flow of traffic Attach the bicycle or themselves to a moving streetcar or vehicle Carry anything that keeps them from having at least one hand on the handlebars Handbook p. 68 ↗ Put it into practice
A cyclist ahead of you moves to the center of a narrow outside lane that is about 11 feet wide with no bike lane. That's legal: the lane is under 14 feet wide and too narrow to share side by side. Wait and pass only when you can change lanes safely.
A useful reminder Right-turn signal for cyclists has two legal forms: left arm up, or right arm straight out.
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.
When riding a bicycle on a one-way road with two or more marked lanes, where may the cyclist ride? As near as possible to the left curb or edge Only in the center of the right lane Only on the sidewalk Only in the middle lane Answer: As near as possible to the left curb or edge
On a one-way road with two or more marked lanes, a cyclist may ride as near as possible to the left curb or edge.
Handbook p. 68 ↗ When may a bicyclist ride in the center of a narrow outside lane instead of hugging the right edge? Only during daylight hours Never; cyclists must always hug the right edge Only on roads posted at 35 mph or less When the lane is too narrow to share safely Answer: When the lane is too narrow to share safely
A substandard-width lane is one of the listed exceptions letting a cyclist take the full lane.
Handbook p. 68 ↗ How does a bicyclist signal a right turn using arm signals? Left arm pointed up, or right arm pointed horizontally Right arm pointed down only Left arm pointed down Both arms extended horizontally Answer: Left arm pointed up, or right arm pointed horizontally
A right turn can be signaled with the left arm up or the right arm out horizontally.
Handbook p. 68 ↗ Under what condition may cyclists ride two abreast on a laned road? Never, riding two abreast is always illegal Within one lane, without impeding traffic Only on roads with a marked bike lane Only when no cars are behind them Answer: Within one lane, without impeding traffic
Riding two abreast is allowed only within one lane and only if it doesn't impede traffic.
Handbook p. 68 ↗ Which situation allows a slower cyclist to leave the right edge of the road and use more of the lane? Riding at exactly the speed limit Approaching a green light Preparing for a left turn at an intersection Riding at night with lights on Answer: Preparing for a left turn at an intersection
Preparing for a left turn is one of the conditions letting a cyclist move away from the right edge.
Handbook p. 68 ↗ Which of these is listed as a "don't" for bicyclists in the handbook? Never ride with the flow of traffic Never attach the bicycle or yourself to a moving vehicle Never ride on a road without a bike lane Never ride on the shoulder Answer: Never attach the bicycle or yourself to a moving vehicle
Attaching a bicycle or rider to a moving streetcar or vehicle is prohibited.
Handbook p. 68 ↗ Previous lesson Pedestrian laws & safety Next lesson Bicycle equipment, shared lanes & safety More in Pedestrian & Bicycle Safety About the source Roadwise’s Texas course uses the driver handbook edition supplied with this study pack. This lesson cites source pages 68, 77. The linked PDF is a third-party mirror of the handbook, rather than a government-hosted page.
Open the handbook source PDF · View the source edition
For current application requirements, fees, appointments, and the format that applies to your age or license type, check Texas’s DPS. Roadwise provides study material and does not issue permits or licenses.