What Are the Rules for Passing a Cyclist in Ontario?

Ontario's Highway Traffic Act (s. 148(6.1)) requires drivers to give cyclists at least 1 metre of lateral clearance when passing, on any road, regardless of the posted speed limit. This is a flat 1-metre rule — Ontario does not have a tiered higher-speed clearance the way some other provinces do. The clearance is measured from the widest point of your vehicle to the widest point of the cyclist, including their handlebars.

If passing a cyclist within your lane is not possible while maintaining the required clearance, you are permitted to cross a centre line to pass, provided it is safe to do so and the road is clear of oncoming traffic. This applies even on roads with a solid centre line, as passing a cyclist safely overrides the normal lane restriction. You must return to your lane promptly but not so quickly that you cut off the cyclist.

Cyclists are legally permitted to ride on all public roads in Ontario (with limited exceptions such as controlled-access freeways). They have the right to use the full lane if the lane is too narrow to safely share side-by-side. A cyclist riding in the middle of a narrow lane is not breaking the law, and you must wait for a safe opportunity to pass rather than squeezing past.

Drivers must also be aware of the door zone: the area alongside parked cars where an opening door can strike a cyclist. Before opening your vehicle door, check for cyclists using the Dutch Reach (opening the door with your far hand, which forces your body to turn and look for cyclists). Dooring a cyclist is a chargeable offence with a fine of $365.

Failing to give a cyclist the required 1-metre clearance when passing is an offence under the Highway Traffic Act. The fine ranges from $110 to $500 for a first offence, plus 2 demerit points, and the charge can escalate to careless driving if the pass results in injury. Courts and police treat violations involving cyclists seriously given the vulnerability of cyclists in collisions.