Sharing the Road with Motorcycles, Bicycles, Pedestrians, Large Trucks, and School Buses
Everyone on the road is a vehicle - or a person you must protect
Motorcycles are entitled to a full lane. Never share a lane with a motorcycle, even at a stoplight, and never pass one in the same lane. Motorcyclists have less crash protection, so give them a 4-second following distance and extra room at intersections, where most motorcycle-car crashes occur. Kansas requires helmets for riders and passengers under 18; eye protection is required for all riders unless the bike has a windshield.
Bicycles are vehicles: they must ride with traffic, obey signals and signs, and use hand signals for turns. Kansas requires drivers to leave at least 3 feet of clearance when passing a bicyclist, and to wait rather than squeeze past on a narrow road. Check for cyclists before opening a car door and before turning right across a bike lane.
Pedestrians in a marked or unmarked crosswalk have the right-of-way. Never pass a vehicle that has stopped at a crosswalk - someone is likely crossing in front of it. A pedestrian using a white cane or a guide dog always has the right-of-way.
Large trucks have big no-zones on both sides, directly behind, and 20 feet in front of the cab. A truck making a right turn may swing left first - never pass on the right. Loaded trucks need far more distance to stop than a car, so do not cut in front to exit.
School buses: on a two-lane road, or any road without a physical median, stop for flashing red lights and the extended stop arm in both directions until the lights stop. On a divided highway, opposing traffic does not stop.
Trap: "Bicyclists must ride against traffic so they can see cars." False and illegal.
Rule of thumb: if you cannot see the truck driver's mirrors, the driver cannot see you.