Walk It Through: The Cyclist on the Shoulder
A narrow road, a cyclist ahead, the distance a pass needs, and the fine when care fails.
On a two lane road in South County, a car comes up behind a cyclist riding near the right edge.
Two things a person in this spot might do. Picking one shows what the law says about it.
A cyclist and a passing car. Electric bicycles, a crash at an intersection and a cyclist's own violations are not worked through here.
A practice walkthrough, not a prediction of how any real one will go. Legal information, not legal advice.
Words this turns on
Terms with a legal meaning that is narrower than the everyday one. Each links to the definition and the authority behind it.
- Serious bodily injuryInjury that creates a substantial risk of death, causes lasting loss or impairment of a body part or organ, or serious permanent disfigurement.
- Vulnerable road userA pedestrian, cyclist, worker or officer outside a vehicle, wheelchair user, skater or rider. Injuring one through lack of due care brings a fine of $200 to $1,000.
- Safe distanceEnough distance when passing a cyclist that there would be no contact if the cyclist fell into the driver's lane.