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The California Department of Motor Vehicle Driver Handbook provides the following regarding bicycles:
Bicycles
Bicyclists on public streets have the same rights and responsibilities as automobile drivers. Respect the right-of-way of bicyclists because they are entitled to share the road with other drivers. Here are some critical points for drivers and cyclists to remember:
Drivers must:
- Look carefully for bicyclists before opening doors next to moving traffic or before turning right.
- Safely merge toward the curb or into the bike lane.
- Not overtake a bicyclist just before making a right turn. Merge first, then turn.
Bicyclists:
- Are lawfully permitted to ride on certain sections of freeways. Be careful when approaching or passing a bicyclist on a freeway.
- Must ride in the same direction as other traffic, not against it.
- Must ride in a straight line as near to the right curb or edge of the roadway as practical—not on the sidewalk.
- Must ride single file on a busy or narrow street.
- Must make left and right turns in the same way that drivers do, using the same turn lanes.
- Must signal all their intentions to motorists and cyclists near them.
- May legally move left to turn left, to pass a parked or moving vehicle, anotherbicycle, an animal, or to make a turn, avoid debris or other hazards.
- May choose to ride near the left curb or edge of a one-way street.
- May use a left turn lane. If the bicyclist is traveling straight ahead, he or she should use a through traffic lane rather than ride next to the curb and block traffic making right turns.
- Are lawfully permitted to ride on certain sections of freeways and in some rural areas where there is no alternate route. Be careful when approaching or passing a bicyclist on a freeway.
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