Sharing the Road with Pedestrians, Cyclists, Motorcyclists and Heavy Vehicles
Pedestrians
Pedestrians are the most vulnerable road users and the law protects them. Yield at marked crosswalks and at unmarked crosswalks at intersections. Never pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk - someone may be crossing in front of it. In school zones slow to 30 km/h and watch for children stepping out between parked cars.
Cyclists
A bicycle is a vehicle. Leave cyclists about a metre of space when passing, and more at higher speeds. Check for cyclists before opening your door - dooring is a common collision. Shoulder-check before turning right across a bike lane, and don't follow a cyclist so closely that you cannot stop.
Motorcyclists
Motorcycles are small and easy to lose against a busy background. Give them a full lane and a generous following distance; they may need to swerve for debris or a pothole. Never share a lane with a motorcycle.
Heavy vehicles
Large trucks and buses have big blind spots - directly behind, along both sides and especially to the right. If you cannot see the driver's face in the mirror, the driver cannot see you. Trucks need room to turn: a long truck may swing wide to the left before a right turn and may use two lanes. Never squeeze between a truck and the curb. A loaded truck needs far more distance to stop than a car, so don't cut in front of one and brake.
Worked example
You are behind a cyclist on a two-lane road and a car is approaching from the opposite direction. Passing now would leave less than a metre of space. The safe choice is to slow, let the oncoming car pass, then overtake with room.
Traps that cost marks
- Passing a cyclist and immediately turning right across their path.
- Driving alongside a truck's right side.
- Assuming a truck driver can see you because you can see the truck.