Why do cyclists have to ride side by side

[martinhayes17]

Has anybody else noticed any cyclists riding side by side taking up the whole of the road doing 20mph, they must think they have the right to take up the same amount of room as a car doing 1/3 the speed. I've seen the same 2 cyclists doing it on my way to and from work every day this week and every day I'm getting more and more frustrated, I can see myself plowing through them both if they are still doing it next week.

[Complex]

Doesn't annoy me as much as the pricks near my village that decide to ride on the NSL road rather than on the cycle path ONE fkING FOOT to their left. Always the 'serious' cyclists with their gloves, glasses and faggot gear on too.

[mikefacel]

I was always under the impression this was perfectly within their rights?

[poing]

I was advised to do this by the police when I was a kid because it stops idiots forcing their way past and makes them go around you just like any other road obstacle.

[missing the VR6]

As a keen cyclist myself, it annoys me massively just really inconsiderate.

[vrooom]

arghh... that is my pet hate. One of my most hated thing ever.

[Rubin215]

They don't have to.

They only do to piss you off...

Learn some patience and wait for a suitable opportunity to overtake.

[NorthernBoy]

As mentioned above, it's for safety. It tends to make drivers overtake properly, instead of coming past too close when there isn't actually room for acsafe overtake.

If fewer drivers did this, then maybe cyclists would not feel the need to protect themselves in this way.

[Blue Meanie]

Not particularly sure that it is 'safer'. It may force a car further out to overtake, but surely you are positioning yourself deeper into the traffic, as well as meaning the car driver will have to 'wait his turn', and possibly do a more dangerous overtake to get back, as opposed to just pulling out a touch to go past? Surely a driver that will drive past at X distance from the rider will do so no matter where?

[LRdriver II]

Its like fecking horse riders.. also side by damn side.

ing ass fker cyklits dont pay road tax and ride with their faggot lycra gear and clog up MY road!!! get off MY fecking road as I demand you clear your future glue pots and lycra clad fat butts from it.

I HAATE ALL OTHERS ON MY DAMN ROAD!!! I PAID ROAD TAX SO DEMAND YOU ALL GO AWAY.

[Blue Meanie]

LRdriver II said:

Its like fecking horse riders.. also side by damn side.

ing ass fker cyklits dont pay road tax and ride with their faggot lycra gear and clog up MY road!!! get off MY fecking road as I demand you clear your future glue pots and lycra clad fat butts from it.

I HAATE ALL OTHERS ON MY DAMN ROAD!!! I PAID ROAD TAX SO DEMAND YOU ALL GO AWAY.

And if the rider has a car? Oh yes, they pay road tax!

[RRS_Staffs]

LRdriver II said:

Its like fecking horse riders.. also side by damn side.

ing ass fker cyklits dont pay road tax and ride with their faggot lycra gear and clog up MY road!!! get off MY fecking road as I demand you clear your future glue pots and lycra clad fat butts from it.

I HAATE ALL OTHERS ON MY DAMN ROAD!!! I PAID ROAD TAX SO DEMAND YOU ALL GO AWAY.

This really messes with my head

I pay 400 quid a year for my RRS

And nothing for my Bluemotion VW

Im really struggling with the road tax abuse as regards cyclists

Please advise

[Silent1]

LRdriver II said:

Its like fecking horse riders.. also side by damn side.

ing ass fker cyklits dont pay road tax and ride with their faggot lycra gear and clog up MY road!!! get off MY fecking road as I demand you clear your future glue pots and lycra clad fat butts from it.

I HAATE ALL OTHERS ON MY DAMN ROAD!!! I PAID ROAD TAX SO DEMAND YOU ALL GO AWAY.

Road tax doesn't exist

I don't care who uses the road providing they do it in a considerate manner.

Round my way a cycle group has set up and every weekend we get a tour de east anglia 40 of them in a group filling to road to and sometimes over the white line. They also see it as their duty to make oncoming traffic drive slowly as well FFS.

[LRdriver II]

No they dont.. dont be silly

[Oldandslow]

Highway code says

"Rule 66
You should never ride more than two abreast, and ride in single file on narrow or busy roads and when riding round bends."

I've heard the argument about two abreast being more visible but when you've got a queue of traffic behind you it's time to go single file because they've seen you already.

[sc4589]

mikefacel said:

I was always under the impression this was perfectly within their rights?

Highway Code, rule 169:

Do not hold up a long queue of traffic, especially if you are driving a large or slow-moving vehicle. Check your mirrors frequently, and if necessary, pull in where it is safe and let traffic pass.

Pretty sure a pair of wkers on bikes count as slow-moving vehicles.

[Colin 1985]

I think LRdriver II might be downloading the whoosh parrot.

[LRdriver II]

My urin is boiled that I am so rage filled with HATE AND gall towards anybody on MY road. I pay road tax and demand my right.. I refuse to SHARE.. EVER!!

[LRdriver II]

Colin 1985 said:

I think LRdriver II might be downloading the whoosh parrot.

you got it...

[NorthernBoy]

Blue Meanie said:

Not particularly sure that it is 'safer'. It may force a car further out to overtake, but surely you are positioning yourself deeper into the traffic, as well as meaning the car driver will have to 'wait his turn', and possibly do a more dangerous overtake to get back, as opposed to just pulling out a touch to go past? Surely a driver that will drive past at X distance from the rider will do so no matter where?

No, in practice it just doesn't happen. Drivers will tend to keep further away from more dangerous objects, which means oncoming traffic gets a wider berth than a cyclist. If they have to wait for a proper gap, then they overtake properly, and don't squeeze by.

The people complaining perhaps need to get a sense of perspective. Theyvare possibly slowed by 30 seconds, once a month, and have just used up more than a year of this in posting on here.

As to cyclists not paying road tax, does this idiotic line never go away? I taxed only two of my vehicles last week, and paid over £500, so I probably pay more than mostvpeople who whine about cyclists not paying.