Is it mandatory to maintain a minimum lateral distance of 1 m when overtaking a bicycle in a cycle lane?

In the photo, you are driving across a bridge; on the right, in a red cycle lane, there is a cyclist in a blue shirt, and cars are coming from the opposite direction. When overtaking a bicycle riding in a cycle lane, you must keep a lateral clearance of at least 1 m from it. The answer is: yes.

The Road Traffic Act states that when overtaking, the driver of a vehicle is obliged to exercise particular caution, and in particular to keep a safe distance from the vehicle or road user being overtaken, and when overtaking a bicycle, this distance may not be less than 1 m. The rule makes no exception for a cyclist riding in a cycle lane: a cycle lane is part of the roadway, driving past a bicycle travelling in the same direction is overtaking, and the one-metre distance applies regardless of whether the bicycle has its own lane or not. The cyclist may move out beyond the line for a moment to go around a pothole or a puddle. If your lane is so narrow that you cannot keep a metre without entering the opposite lane, and cars are coming from the opposite direction, you slow down and wait behind the cyclist until there is space.

Legal basis: Art. 24 para. 2 and Art. 2 point 5a of the Road Traffic Act (Prawo o ruchu drogowym)