Proposed Test Questions for Motor Vehicle License Exam
Relating to Bicycle Operation and Driving around Cyclists

by Fred Oswald, PE, Bicycling Safety Instructor

As a means to improve the woefully low level of public knowledge about bicycle operation, safety issues and traffic law, this article proposes adding carefully-written questions to motor vehicle operator license exams.  These questions were deliberately written to invoke common misinformation about these issues.

We expect most people will not answer these questions correctly without help.  The object is to inspire driver’s education programs and motorists’ training materials to correct this misinformation.

Question 1:

Illustration shows a typical urban arterial roadway (4 lanes plus center turn lane) with an intersection and traffic light.  Near the intersection, there is an added right-turn “pocket”.  There are five cyclists labeled 1-5:

    Cyclist (1) is riding across the intersection in the crosswalk, against the light (i.e. through a red light).
    Cyclist (2) is approaching the intersection in the left turn lane, signaling a left turn.
    Cyclist (3) is riding on the left (wrong) side of the road, very close to the curb.
    Cyclist (4) is riding near the center of the right through lane (to the left of the right-turn lane).
        (The lane is too narrow to share with passing traffic.)
    Cyclist (5) is in the second (inside) lane, passing a car that is turning right into a driveway.

Which of the cyclists shown in the picture is/are riding legally, according to state law?

(A) Cyclist #1, because he has been riding on the sidewalk

(B) Cyclist #1 and also #3 because he can see traffic coming.

(C) Cyclists #2, #4 and #5 because they are obeying the same laws as other drivers.

(D) Cyclists #1, and #4

(E) None of the above.

The correct answer (the legal cyclists) is C (cyclists #2, #4 and #5).  Answers A and B are the prime detractors because many people confuse cyclists with pedestrians.

Question 2:

As you are driving on a two-lane road with very narrow lanes, you catch up to a person on a bicycle, who is riding near the middle of the lane.  You wish to pass.  Which of the following answers is correct?

(A) The cyclist should not be on the road, so you blow your horn to tell him to get out of your way as you force your way by.

(B) The cyclist should not be on the road but you have to wait until he moves.

(C) The cyclist has as much right to be on the road as you do.  You must wait until it is safe to pass, and then give adequate clearance.

(D) The cyclist should be riding on the left, facing traffic but you can’t run him over.

(E) The law requires the cyclist to ride as near as possible to the edge of the road so that you can pass the cyclist in the same lane of traffic even if the lane is narrow.

The correct answer is C.  Answers B and E are prime detractors, because many people mistake cyclists for pedestrians and confuse “as near as practicable”, which is in the law, to mean “as near as possible”, which is incorrect.

Educational Material

If motorists in training are to have a reasonable chance to answer these questions correctly, they must be given correct information.  The information below should be part of their training materials and included in driving courses.

• Bicycles are vehicles — both in fact and under Ohio law.  This means that bicycle operators are drivers of vehicles who must have the same rights and responsibilities as other drivers and use the same roads.  There are a few cyclist-specific laws just as there are a few specific laws for truck or taxicab drivers.  But in general, all drivers must follow the same rules.
• Cyclists should be expected to use ordinary roads — in the correct direction of travel.  While pedestrians should use sidewalks cyclists should be expected to use the roads.
• Pedestrians who walk on the roadway are expected to walk facing traffic so that they can step off the road if necessary.  Cyclists cannot step off.  They must ride the right way.
• Bicycles are usually, but not always, slower than other traffic.  Like other slow vehicles, they are expected to use the right-most lane that serves their destination.  This does not mean they should be in a right-turn only lane if they are not turning right.  And where they are turning left, they should use the appropriate lane, just as other drivers do.
• Novice cyclists and children may walk their bikes across an intersection, using the rules for pedestrians.  Experienced cyclists should not be treated like novices.
• Cyclists usually ride towards the right side of the road.  On some roads, there is room enough to share the lane with passing traffic.  However, on many roads, the travel lanes are not wide enough for in-lane passing.  In these places, many experienced cyclists ride near the middle of the lane to help motorists see that they must change lanes or possibly wait until it is safe to pass.
• In some places (like approaching a blind turn) passing is simply not safe.  In these places, a wise cyclist will deter passing by riding further left and holding out the left hand to signal “don’t pass.”

Want to help?

Is there an artist in the house?  Question #1 needs an illustration.  We could also use another question or two.

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© Copyright 2003-2015 Fred Oswald.
The author is a certified Bicycling Safety Instructor" and a professional engineer in Ohio.
Material may be copied with attribution.
For comments, questions, contact fredoswald_AT_yahoo.com.
Rev. 10/24/15