Police pull over 'two abrest' cyclists - argument ensues
Discussion
The trouble is there are people using every form of transport that fit every description from conciderate to inconciderate to not understanding or interprating the road conditions correctly. My example here is me on my bike a couple of weeks ago, not a busy road, fairly wide, no traffic in opposite direction. I was going down a hill with the wind into my face (so hard to hear vehicles behind) and keeping out in the centre of the lane, not to "take control" but because the road surface has really bad cracks that open to several inches wide at the edge of it and I was avoiding these as they would put me in danger. Anyway a motorbike came quickly up beside me (I didn't hear it until the engine suddenly revved up very loud when just next to me and yes, I had been checking behind regularly) startling me. He then sped in front of me, matched my speed and pointed at the kerb and then the road directly next to his motorbike several times, then gave me a wan*er sign before speeding off. I decided not to react to him at all even though I wanted to as he obviously felt he was policing the roads in some way. I would say he is missguided and usually I feel an afinity for motorcyclists as both being on two wheels. Unfortunately even though I wanted to forget this incident every time I ride along that particular road, I now think of it.
FakeConcern said:
The trouble is there are people using every form of transport that fit every description from conciderate to inconciderate to not understanding or interprating the road conditions correctly. My example here is me on my bike a couple of weeks ago, not a busy road, fairly wide, no traffic in opposite direction. I was going down a hill with the wind into my face (so hard to hear vehicles behind) and keeping out in the centre of the lane, not to "take control" but because the road surface has really bad cracks that open to several inches wide at the edge of it and I was avoiding these as they would put me in danger. Anyway a motorbike came quickly up beside me (I didn't hear it until the engine suddenly revved up very loud when just next to me and yes, I had been checking behind regularly) startling me. He then sped in front of me, matched my speed and pointed at the kerb and then the road directly next to his motorbike several times, then gave me a wan*er sign before speeding off. I decided not to react to him at all even though I wanted to as he obviously felt he was policing the roads in some way. I would say he is missguided and usually I feel an afinity for motorcyclists as both being on two wheels. Unfortunately even though I wanted to forget this incident every time I ride along that particular road, I now think of it.
thers two sides to every storyyou shaw you want wobbling all over the lane unaware of him and he blip ed it all the time
i find round my way 8 out of 10 peddlers never look over there shoulder
and don't here me behind em with drag pipes on a Harley
then you get the morons that wobble from curb to center line in daze and look supervised or throw a fit when you have horn em or blip em so you can actually get past em with flattering them
optimate said:
thers two sides to every story
you shaw you want wobbling all over the lane unaware of him and he blip ed it all the time
i find round my way 8 out of 10 peddlers never look over there shoulder
and don't here me behind em with drag pipes on a Harley
then you get the morons that wobble from curb to center line in daze and look supervised or throw a fit when you have horn em or blip em so you can actually get past em with flattering them
Wow.you shaw you want wobbling all over the lane unaware of him and he blip ed it all the time
i find round my way 8 out of 10 peddlers never look over there shoulder
and don't here me behind em with drag pipes on a Harley
then you get the morons that wobble from curb to center line in daze and look supervised or throw a fit when you have horn em or blip em so you can actually get past em with flattering them
optimate said:
FakeConcern said:
The trouble is there are people using every form of transport that fit every description from conciderate to inconciderate to not understanding or interprating the road conditions correctly. My example here is me on my bike a couple of weeks ago, not a busy road, fairly wide, no traffic in opposite direction. I was going down a hill with the wind into my face (so hard to hear vehicles behind) and keeping out in the centre of the lane, not to "take control" but because the road surface has really bad cracks that open to several inches wide at the edge of it and I was avoiding these as they would put me in danger. Anyway a motorbike came quickly up beside me (I didn't hear it until the engine suddenly revved up very loud when just next to me and yes, I had been checking behind regularly) startling me. He then sped in front of me, matched my speed and pointed at the kerb and then the road directly next to his motorbike several times, then gave me a wan*er sign before speeding off. I decided not to react to him at all even though I wanted to as he obviously felt he was policing the roads in some way. I would say he is missguided and usually I feel an afinity for motorcyclists as both being on two wheels. Unfortunately even though I wanted to forget this incident every time I ride along that particular road, I now think of it.
thers two sides to every storyyou shaw you want wobbling all over the lane unaware of him and he blip ed it all the time
i find round my way 8 out of 10 peddlers never look over there shoulder
and don't here me behind em with drag pipes on a Harley
then you get the morons that wobble from curb to center line in daze and look supervised or throw a fit when you have horn em or blip em so you can actually get past em with flattering them
I'm a cyclist infact just got home from a 6am ride out..and have yet to really experience road rage....if someone is too close I just carry on, if someone gives me plenty of room I give them a wave. On the flip side in Ireland two weeks ago my brother and me ended up driving behind a group of about 25 for a good 10 minutes. Riding 3 or 4 abreast using the whole side of the road and preventing cars passing at all until the road was totally clear. Were they inconsiderate dicks, well yes I think they were, am I bothered?, couldn't give a f
k, life's too short. The issue is there are some absolute nutters out there, we all can spot them a mile off, best to stay well clear of them keep your head down and leave them to it.
k, life's too short. The issue is there are some absolute nutters out there, we all can spot them a mile off, best to stay well clear of them keep your head down and leave them to it. Peperami said:
Cycling two abreast on a busy A-road is natural selection at its finest.
Not really - it's the opposite - I was out for a longish off-road ride yesterday and rode back on the road for once as I was a bit tired. I then thought about road riders as one car out of 4 was probably within 50cm-70cm of me when overtaking. At max speed on the flat (24mph which is all my 11t sprocket allows me with a 34t chain ring!), it's a bit scary so I can sympathise with roadies deciding to ride 2 abreast to discourage "marginal" (ie dangerous) overtaking by the minority of inconsiderate drivers. But if you don't ride you don't have a clue what I am on about, sorry about that.nickfrog said:
Peperami said:
Cycling two abreast on a busy A-road is natural selection at its finest.
Not really - it's the opposite - I was out for a longish off-road ride yesterday and rode back on the road for once as I was a bit tired. I then thought about road riders as one car out of 4 was probably within 50cm-70cm of me when overtaking. At max speed on the flat (24mph which is all my 11t sprocket allows me with a 34t chain ring!), it's a bit scary so I can sympathise with roadies deciding to ride 2 abreast to discourage "marginal" (ie dangerous) overtaking by the minority of inconsiderate drivers. But if you don't ride you don't have a clue what I am on about, sorry about that.Does the distance for two ( or one ) abreast seem to be a problem anecdotally or does have a place in accident stats?
Where does the phrase 'abreast' come from?
Seems to me many drivers don't consider passing a cyclist as an overtaking manoeuvre at all and just expect to pass immediately regardless of the safety and whether there's oncoming traffic, blind bend, narrow road or whatever. Riding two abreast forces them to pull out and overtake as they would another car, although much more quickly and easily as the bikes are generally slower, but then they throw a temper tantrum and feel obliged to drive dangerously and/or accuse the cyclists of breaking the law (untrue).
Many near misses when riding solo and in single file with a group tell me that it's no safer than riding abreast.
Many near misses when riding solo and in single file with a group tell me that it's no safer than riding abreast.
BGarside said:
Seems to me many drivers don't consider passing a cyclist as an overtaking manoeuvre at all and just expect to pass immediately regardless of the safety and whether there's oncoming traffic, blind bend, narrow road or whatever.
Indeed and unsurprisingly cyclists, when behind the (steering) wheel, are very considerate of other cyclists when passing. So we need more cyclists to improve road sharing.nickfrog said:
Not really - it's the opposite - I was out for a longish off-road ride yesterday and rode back on the road for once as I was a bit tired. I then thought about road riders as one car out of 4 was probably within 50cm-70cm of me when overtaking. At max speed on the flat (24mph which is all my 11t sprocket allows me with a 34t chain ring!), it's a bit scary so I can sympathise with roadies deciding to ride 2 abreast to discourage "marginal" (ie dangerous) overtaking by the minority of inconsiderate drivers. But if you don't ride you don't have a clue what I am on about, sorry about that.
I'm a cyclist. I've had numerous road bikes, track bikes, mountain bikes, and have competed and cycled for clubs, so no need to be sorry bud. I understand where you're coming from.Cycling two abrest on a busy a-road and not taking some sensible advice from a policeman because you think you know the law better is natural selection at its finest. People will still try and overtake you, you'll just make it more difficult (and thus dangerous) for them to do so.
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