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 Texas handbook says a bicyclist may take the full lane when the road has unsafe conditions, such as objects, vehicles, pedestrians, animals, potholes, or debris. That means a rider may need room to move around something in the lane. When you pass, leave space and expect the cyclist might move sideways instead of holding a perfectly straight line.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A. You are moving faster than the bicycle. — Moving faster than the bicycle does not by itself explain the caution; the handbook points to road hazards that can make a rider move within the lane.
- B. The bicycle always has the right-of-way. — The handbook treats a bicycle as a vehicle with the same rights and responsibilities as other vehicles, not as a vehicle that always has the right-of-way.
- C. Oncoming traffic may not see you pull out to pass the bicycle. — The handbook's warning about oncoming traffic concerns left turns in front of bicycle traffic, not a passing driver being unseen by oncoming traffic.
Remember it
Watch the lane ahead of the bike, not just the bike: a pothole or object can make the rider move sideways.