---
title: O.C.G.A. § 40-6-56. Procedure for passing a bicyclist.
collection: code
id: 40-6-56
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 40-6-56 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/40-6-56
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/40-6-56.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/40-6-56/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t40-ch6-16-(v29)-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=f322c22b_0#page=19
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/40-6.md
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index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC / UNIFORM RULES OF THE ROAD / DRIVING ON RIGHT SIDE OF ROADWAY, OVERTAKING AND PASSING, FOLLOWING TOO CLOSELY
---

# O.C.G.A. § 40-6-56. Procedure for passing a bicyclist.

(a) The operator of a motor vehicle approaching a bicycle shall approach the bicycle with due caution and shall proceed as follows:

(1) Make a lane change into a lane not adjacent to the bicycle if possible in the existing road and traffic conditions; or

(2) If a lane change under paragraph (1) of this subsection would be impossible, prohibited by law, or unsafe, reduce the speed of the motor vehicle to a reasonable and proper speed for the existing road and traffic conditions, which speed shall be at least ten miles per hour less than the posted speed limit or 25 miles per hour, whichever is more, and proceed around the bicycle with at least three feet between such vehicle and the bicycle at all times.

(b) Any violation of this Code section shall be a misdemeanor punished by a fine of not more than $250.00.

## History

Code 1981, § 40-6-56, enacted by Ga. L. 2011, p. 426, § 2/HB 101; Ga. L. 2021, p. 470, § 1/HB 353.

## Editor's Notes

Ga. L. 2021, p. 470, § 2/HB 353, not codified by the General Assembly, provides that: “This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2021, and shall apply to offenses committed on or after that date.”

## Amendments

The 2021 amendment, effective July 1, 2021, substituted the present provisions of this Code section for the former provisions, which read: “(a) As used in this Code section, the term ‘safe distance’ means not less than three feet.

“(b) Notwithstanding any provision of this article to the contrary, when feasible, the operator of a motor vehicle, when overtaking and passing a bicycle that is proceeding in the same direction on the roadway, shall leave a safe distance between such vehicle and the bicycle and shall maintain such clearance until safely past the overtaken bicycle.” See Editor’s notes for applicability.