Final answer:
To safely overtake or pass a bicycle, you should allow at least the width of one car, approximately 2 meters, of space. This distance is slightly more than one car length.
Step-by-step explanation:
In determining the safe distance for overtaking or passing a bicycle, we must consider the width of the car and the safety space needed. For a car traveling at 60 km/hr, a pedestrian needs to be able to walk 2 meters further than the width of the car (total of 4 meters) before the car reaches them. Applying this principle, it would be advisable to leave at least one car width of space, which equates to about 2 meters, when overtaking or passing a bicycle to ensure safety.
Using car-lengths as a reference for safe crossing can also be helpful. If a car is 3.5 meters long, and you need to cross safely at a distance of 4 meters, consider this distance to be slightly more than one car length away. Always err on the side of caution and provide as much space as possible when overtaking or passing cyclists.