You should be cautious when passing a bicycle because:
- You are moving faster than the bicycle.
- The bicycle always has the right-of-way.
- Oncoming traffic may not see you pull out to pass the bicycle.
- The cyclist may have to swerve into traffic to avoid an object on the road. ✓
Answer: D. The cyclist may have to swerve into traffic to avoid an object on the road.
You should be cautious when passing a bicycle because the cyclist may have to swerve into traffic to avoid an object on the road.
Why this is the answer
The New York manual tells drivers that a bicyclist near or in front of them can react to road hazards with sudden changes of speed, direction, or lane position. It also says cyclists do not have to stay to the right when they must move left to avoid hazards. That means the space you plan to use for passing may close without much warning. Passing cautiously and giving the cyclist room leaves them somewhere to go if they need to move around an object.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A. You are moving faster than the bicycle. — Moving faster than the bicycle is normal when you pass, but the manual's caution comes from the cyclist's possible sudden reactions to hazards, not from the speed difference alone.
- B. The bicycle always has the right-of-way. — The manual does not say a bicycle always has the right-of-way; it says to pass only when safe and give the cyclist sufficient space.
- C. Oncoming traffic may not see you pull out to pass the bicycle. — The passages do not point to oncoming traffic failing to see you pull out; the stated concern is the cyclist's need to change position for road hazards.
Remember it
Expect the cyclist to move around road hazards, so leave room for a sudden shift.