When may you pass on the right?

With two or more lanes your way, or a left-turner ahead

On the shoulder, if it is paved and wide

Whenever traffic ahead is moving slowly

Only on roads with a single lane each way

When should you slow down to leave a freeway?

On the shoulder before the exit

On a freeway with three lanes each way, which lane should you usually use?

The centre or a right-hand lane

Any lane; it makes no difference

The left lane at the speed limit

The shoulder when traffic is slow

BC Class 6 / 8 Motorcycle overview

BC Class 6 / 8 Motorcycle: Lanes, turns, passing and parking

Choosing a lane, lane tracking for right and left turns, turning lanes, U-turns, HOV, bus and bicycle lanes, passing and merging, freeway entrances and exits, and parking rules.

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Lanes, turns, passing and parking · Question 1Score 0/0

May motorcycles use HOV lanes in B.C.?

Tip: press 1–4 to answer and Enter for the next question.

Study reference: Learn to Ride Smart (ICBC, March 2026 edition), Ch. 5 Rules of the road — Using lanes correctly, passing, merging, freeway entrances and exits, parking tips and rules, pp. 54–65

All 19 questions in this test

Every question and its answer choices. The correct answers and explanations appear when you take the test above.

May motorcycles use HOV lanes in B.C.?
1. Never, whatever signs are posted
2. On some roads, where 'Motorcycles OK' is posted
3. Always, on every road with an HOV lane
4. Only when you are carrying a passenger
When may you pass on the right?
1. On the shoulder, if it is paved and wide
2. Whenever traffic ahead is moving slowly
3. With two or more lanes your way, or a left-turner ahead
4. Only on roads with a single lane each way
How far from the nearest rail of a railway crossing must you park?
1. At least 15 m
2. At least 6 m
3. At least 5 m
4. At least 30 m
When should you slow down to leave a freeway?
1. While still in the right lane
2. After you are in the exit lane
3. Before you signal
4. On the shoulder before the exit
On a freeway with three lanes each way, which lane should you usually use?
1. Any lane; it makes no difference
2. The centre or a right-hand lane
3. The left lane at the speed limit
4. The shoulder when traffic is slow
How close to a fire hydrant may you park?
1. No closer than 2 m
2. No closer than 10 m
3. Any distance if you stay with the bike
4. No closer than 5 m
What is the acceleration lane of a freeway entrance for?
1. Stopping to wait for a safe gap
2. Parking briefly in an emergency
3. Matching your speed to freeway traffic
4. Passing slower traffic while still on the ramp
How should you park a motorcycle on a street?
1. Parallel against the curb
2. On the boulevard beside the curb
3. Across two marked stalls
4. At about a 45-degree angle to the curb
When may you turn left across a solid double yellow line in the middle of a block?
1. Only at night when traffic is very light
2. When safe, not impeding traffic, and not signed
3. Only to make a U-turn in the middle of a long block
4. Never, whatever the traffic conditions are
Someone is passing you. What should you do?
1. Flash your brake light repeatedly
2. Keep your speed or slow down to let them in
3. Speed up to close the gap ahead
4. Move toward the centre line
You turn left from a two-way road onto a one-way road. Which lane do you turn into?
1. The centre lane of the one-way road
2. The right lane of the one-way road
3. Any lane, if signalled
4. The left lane of the one-way road
How close to a crosswalk or intersection may you park?
1. No closer than 10 m
2. No closer than 6 m
3. Right up to the line
4. No closer than 3 m
You must park on a slope. What should you do?
1. Face uphill and leave it in gear
2. Park across the slope on the stand
3. Face downhill in neutral
4. Leave the engine idling
When may you cross a bicycle lane?
1. Never, even to reach a driveway
2. Where the line is broken, or for a driveway
3. Only when your light is showing green
4. Wherever the bicycle lane looks empty
Why is the centre lane of a three-lane road a little riskier than the right lane?
1. It has a slippery grease strip down the middle of it
2. Traffic can move into it from both sides
3. It has more potholes
4. It is closer to oncoming traffic
May you ride in a bus lane marked with a diamond and bus symbol?
1. Only to pass a slow bus
2. Yes, motorcycles always may
3. Yes, but only if you have a passenger with you
4. No, motorcycles aren't permitted
Where is a U-turn illegal?
1. At an intersection controlled by traffic lights
2. At an uncontrolled intersection outside business areas
3. On a quiet residential street
4. In a cul-de-sac
Leaving a one-way street, you turn left onto a two-way street. Which lane should you end up in?
1. The curb lane on the far right
2. The bicycle lane beside the curb
3. The lane nearest the centre line
4. Whichever lane has the least traffic
How far must other traffic be able to see you before you may U-turn near a hill crest?
1. 75 metres
2. 50 metres
3. 300 metres
4. 150 metres

Lanes, turns, passing and parking: key rules to remember

Our summary of what the official handbook says on this topic, in our own words. Read it before or after the practice questions above, then check the original chapter. Read the official chapter ↗

Choosing a lane and lane tracking, pp. 55–58

Pick the lane that gives the best view and gets you where you are going; on a multi-lane highway use a right-hand lane, especially when slower than traffic.
Riding at the speed limit is not a reason to stay in the left lane; it invites others to pass on the right.
Freeway with three or more lanes each way: use the centre or a right lane and leave the left lane for faster and passing traffic; the centre lane carries extra risk because traffic can merge into it from both sides.
Lane tracking means being in the correct lane before a turn and finishing in the correct lane after it; lane position is the part of the lane you ride in.
Right turn: move to the right part of the right lane, then turn into the right lane of the cross street.
Left turn, two-way to two-way: from the lane nearest the centre into the lane nearest the centre of the cross street.
Left turn, two-way to one-way: from the centre-side lane into the left lane; one-way to two-way: from the left lane into the centre-side lane; one-way to one-way: left lane to left lane.
Turning lanes let you wait without holding up through traffic; use a left-turn lane only to turn left.
With two left-turn lanes, turn from each lane into the matching lane of the cross street.
Two-way left-turn lanes are shared by left-turners from both directions; check for oncoming users before entering.
Mid-block left turn: allowed, even across a solid double yellow line, when done safely without impeding traffic and no sign forbids it; a right turn is safer when you can plan it.
U-turns are illegal: when they interfere with traffic, on a curve, on or near a hill crest where others can't see you within 150 m, where signed, at an intersection with traffic lights, in a business district except at an intersection without lights, and where a bylaw prohibits them.

Reserved lanes, pp. 58–59

HOV lanes are for buses and carpools; motorcycles may use them on some roads, shown by a "Motorcycles OK" sign.
HOV lanes run along the median or shoulder on highways and beside the curb on city streets; most run 24 hours, some only at peak times.
Enter and leave an HOV lane only where broken lines mark a crossing point; HOV traffic can be faster.
Using an HOV, bus or bicycle lane illegally brings penalties.
Bus lane sign: diamond and bus symbol; motorcycles may not use bus lanes; vanpools of six or more may when a tab permits.
Bicycle lanes: don't ride, stop or park in them; cross only where the line is broken or to enter or leave a driveway; signal early and yield to cyclists.
Turning onto a street with a reserved lane you can't use: turn into the lane next to it; to turn right off such a street, move into the reserved lane where allowed.

Changing lanes, passing and merging, pp. 60–61

Entering any lane, yield to vehicles already in it; the gap must be big enough that the driver behind does not need to slow down.
You are legally required to signal a lane change.
Pass on the right only where there are two or more lanes your way, or when the driver ahead is turning left; never use the shoulder to pass.
Pass on the left only when safe and markings allow; never across a solid double yellow line; crossing a single solid yellow is risky.
Stay within the speed limit while passing.
Don't change lanes in an intersection.
Speeding up while someone passes you is illegal; slow down and make room.
Passing lanes let slower vehicles keep right; signs show the distance to the next passing lane and when it ends; both lanes must merge before it ends.
If your lane ends, adjust speed within the limit and wait for a gap; if a lane beside you is ending, help those drivers merge.

Freeway entrances and exits, cul-de-sacs, pp. 62–64

A freeway entrance is an entrance ramp, an acceleration lane and a merging area.
Use the ramp to scan for a gap; the acceleration lane (solid white line) is for matching freeway speed; the merging area (broken white line) is where you move in.
Don't stop in the acceleration lane or merging area; some freeways allow cyclists, so don't cut one off.
Exits: plan your exit number, move right early, signal, keep your speed until you are in the exit lane, then slow gradually.
Help merging drivers by moving left when safe or adjusting your speed.
Cul-de-sac: closed at one end; slow down, keep right and watch for children and cars backing out.
Before turning around, make sure no other traffic is near.

Parking, p. 65

On a street, park at a 45-degree angle so drivers see the motorcycle and you can see well when leaving.
Park on firm, level ground; on a slope, face uphill and leave the motorcycle in gear.
Illegal parking: sidewalks or boulevards; across a driveway, lane or intersection entrance; within 5 m of a hydrant; within 6 m of a crosswalk, intersection, stop sign or traffic light; within 15 m of the nearest rail of a railway crossing; bicycle lanes; bridges or highway tunnels; blocking a sign's view; yellow or red curbs or no-parking signs; disability spaces and their striped access aisles.
In a parking lot, backing into the stall (or riding through to a facing stall) means you can leave facing out.

Study the Lanes, turns, passing and parking rules as flashcards →