Cycling two abreast....agree or not?
Discussion
VonSenger said:
Fingers crossed Darwin has his way. Imagine another mode of transport demanding that they be allowed to race on the roads or take up twice their own width to chat regardless of the impact it has on others? Bonkers and utterly bizarre how the sad t
ts cant see how stupid their behaviour is. As I've said before, there is a cycle shop near me and they arrange this nonsense regularly, in the summer its almost every weekend, at times its three bikes wide. But we are supposed to just STFU and accept it?
ts cant see how stupid their behaviour is. As I've said before, there is a cycle shop near me and they arrange this nonsense regularly, in the summer its almost every weekend, at times its three bikes wide. But we are supposed to just STFU and accept it? 
I'm a cyclist, I do a few thousand miles on the road a year according to Strava. I very rarely ride two abreast. If I do it's on the quietest road imaginable, if a car approaches from behind I'd very quickly move back in to single file.
People/groups that ride two abreast on busy roads, regardless of whether there's cars behind are in my opinion complete jackasses. I'm not a fan of huge group rides either. I see groups going out here in the lakes of 15+ which is a bit of a piss take.
People/groups that ride two abreast on busy roads, regardless of whether there's cars behind are in my opinion complete jackasses. I'm not a fan of huge group rides either. I see groups going out here in the lakes of 15+ which is a bit of a piss take.
Edited by lee_erm on Monday 26th October 21:10
2 abreast is fine, they still stay within the lane. All motorists should be moving to the other lane when over taking. just like you would with a car, and just like it says on the highway code. Unfortunately there are many thicko vehicle drivers who can't understand or comprehend this. They think it's fine straddling the middle lane and only giving a cyclist 1m or less room.
It's these latter people that I (when cycling) adopt a more defensive road positioning when riding.
too far to the left - a driver will try will overtake and straddle the lane, restricting the space you have to avoid drains/potholes
too far to the right/center (when wanting to turn right) - and an idiot driver will try and squeeze past you with a dangerous undertake.
Having said this, if I'm cycling with a friend, we tend to stay single file. I might go beside for extra protection/defense and visibility for both of us. This is me speaking as a london cyclist. not country laner or someone trying to beat a personal best.
Honestly i don't understand how people cannot comprehend this. It might be a cyclist, but give it as much room as you would any other car or horse rider, or anything on the road for that matter.
It's these latter people that I (when cycling) adopt a more defensive road positioning when riding.
too far to the left - a driver will try will overtake and straddle the lane, restricting the space you have to avoid drains/potholes
too far to the right/center (when wanting to turn right) - and an idiot driver will try and squeeze past you with a dangerous undertake.
Having said this, if I'm cycling with a friend, we tend to stay single file. I might go beside for extra protection/defense and visibility for both of us. This is me speaking as a london cyclist. not country laner or someone trying to beat a personal best.
Honestly i don't understand how people cannot comprehend this. It might be a cyclist, but give it as much room as you would any other car or horse rider, or anything on the road for that matter.
Edited by ambuletz on Monday 26th October 21:16
georgefreeman918 said:
My most recent annoyance as a cyclist is cars coming towards you on a single track road (passing places for cars) that seem to want to come passed you at full speed and not slow down at all. There is just enough room, but if I were to move or be knocked off my line by a rock or pot hole, I would be splat on the front of the car!
I'm afraid I take the view that if whoever (car/bike/whatever) is coming towards me on a narrow lane isn't slowing down/getting as far left as they can, then I treat them as I am being treated. ambuletz said:
2 abreast is fine, they still stay within the lane. All motorists should be moving to the other lane when over taking. just like you would with a car, and just like it says on the highway code. Unfortunately there are many thicko vehicle drivers who can't understand or comprehend this. They think it's fine straddling the middle lane and only giving a cyclist 1m or less room.
It's these latter people that I (when cycling) adopt a more defensive road positioning when riding.
too far to the left - a driver will try will overtake and straddle the lane, restricting the space you have to avoid drains/potholes
too far to the right/center (when wanting to turn right) - and an idiot driver will try and squeeze past you with a dangerous undertake.
Honestly i don't understand how people cannot comprehend this. It might be a cyclist, but give it as much room as you would any other car or horse rider, or anything on the road for that matter.
Unfortunately many drivers see us as an inconvenience in their journey. Generally most of the time, they might get held up for at most 30 seconds, before it is then safe to pass. Too many times I have seen cars overtaking on blind brows / corners and 9/10 times they will get away with it. I dont want to see what happens on the 10th!It's these latter people that I (when cycling) adopt a more defensive road positioning when riding.
too far to the left - a driver will try will overtake and straddle the lane, restricting the space you have to avoid drains/potholes
too far to the right/center (when wanting to turn right) - and an idiot driver will try and squeeze past you with a dangerous undertake.
Honestly i don't understand how people cannot comprehend this. It might be a cyclist, but give it as much room as you would any other car or horse rider, or anything on the road for that matter.
I was recently returning from a ride this weekend in an urban area where there was a cycle lane on the road surface. The cycle lane at most was 1m wide. Isn’t the rule to give cyclists atleast 1.5m? So really, I should be cycling up on the pavement! Unfortunately due to the clear cycle lane markings on the road, cars were passing far too close (right up to the cycle lane markings!).
Is there anything in the current driving test / lessons that might provide specific guidance / learning on driving and overtaking around cyclists?
I for one really look forward to this new “cycling friendly”
politically correct and thoroughly eco aware version of the Highway Code. Snowflakes rejoice!
‘Because of time pressures motoring groups were not involved in the new rules. Of course not. “The Department for Transport was keen to clarify the issue of riding two abreast,” he said. “I am hopeful they will accept our new proposal but I have no particular intelligence to say they are happy with it.”’
‘The proposals also suggest that drivers should give way to cyclists at junctions’
(Times)
It never ceases to amaze me how far away from reality the bureaucrats behind this latest insanity actually operate. Cyclists rarely demonstrate any sense of self preservation at the best of times, red lights and left turning trucks will soon be the least of their problems.
Creating yet more delays, anger and frustration on the roads will unquestionably make it all much safer for vulnerable road users. Hopefully far fewer cyclists will get mown down (or stabbed) by (for example) crazy white van driving nutters who are widely known across the land for their patient, co-operative and helpful driving.
Few enough read the Highway Code as it is. Changing rules and orders of priority is not going to end well, with vulnerable users coming off worse in the ensuing confusion.
‘Natural Selection’ at its finest will thin down the cyclist numbers at least. Let the carnage commence.
politically correct and thoroughly eco aware version of the Highway Code. Snowflakes rejoice!
‘Because of time pressures motoring groups were not involved in the new rules. Of course not. “The Department for Transport was keen to clarify the issue of riding two abreast,” he said. “I am hopeful they will accept our new proposal but I have no particular intelligence to say they are happy with it.”’
‘The proposals also suggest that drivers should give way to cyclists at junctions’
(Times)
It never ceases to amaze me how far away from reality the bureaucrats behind this latest insanity actually operate. Cyclists rarely demonstrate any sense of self preservation at the best of times, red lights and left turning trucks will soon be the least of their problems.
Creating yet more delays, anger and frustration on the roads will unquestionably make it all much safer for vulnerable road users. Hopefully far fewer cyclists will get mown down (or stabbed) by (for example) crazy white van driving nutters who are widely known across the land for their patient, co-operative and helpful driving.
Few enough read the Highway Code as it is. Changing rules and orders of priority is not going to end well, with vulnerable users coming off worse in the ensuing confusion.
‘Natural Selection’ at its finest will thin down the cyclist numbers at least. Let the carnage commence.
No problem with 2 abreast. Riding in supersize-peleotons on roads where it is inappropriate to do so (Poorly sighted; Leading to mega-tailbacks) or in extremely long lines of single file without return gaps, due to similar problems impeding traffic that would like to pass, and leading to additional danger for themselves.
I have no problem with 2 abreast in groups of say 6 and over. Keeps the overall overtaking distance shorter.
The one that really really pisses me off is when you wait patiently to overtake the group of cyclists. Then at the next set of traffic lights the whole group pile past you and then stop at the front of the queue (or worse still pile straight through the red light as obviously the rules of the roads don’t apply to them) rather than just waiting in the queue with everyone else. This then means the whole bunch of cars have to wait for spots to overtake them again. Bunch of c**ts of the highest order.
I saw a guy in Sudbury on Themes actually get out his transit van and go absolutely ape st at a group of cyclists that did just this. The cyclists to a man couldn’t see what his issue was, they all genuinely seemed surprised by his reaction. Inconsiderate tw*ts.
The one that really really pisses me off is when you wait patiently to overtake the group of cyclists. Then at the next set of traffic lights the whole group pile past you and then stop at the front of the queue (or worse still pile straight through the red light as obviously the rules of the roads don’t apply to them) rather than just waiting in the queue with everyone else. This then means the whole bunch of cars have to wait for spots to overtake them again. Bunch of c**ts of the highest order.
I saw a guy in Sudbury on Themes actually get out his transit van and go absolutely ape s
t at a group of cyclists that did just this. The cyclists to a man couldn’t see what his issue was, they all genuinely seemed surprised by his reaction. Inconsiderate tw*ts. I just think whenever i see topics like this, or hear about people complaining about cyclists or other motorists that aren't in the same car as them... The people in quesiton are incredibly self centered, selfish and serverely lacking of empathy and compassion.
If anyone should not exist on the roads, they are these kind of people.
I've driven, cycled and used a motorbike. I've never complained simply because someone is using a different type of vehicle on the road. We're all trrying to get somewhere. give them space, if you can overtake safety then do so and be on your way. Is there a forum for people who complain about old people walking slow? No, because you show some empathy/compassion and patience and give them the time/space they need.
If anyone should not exist on the roads, they are these kind of people.
I've driven, cycled and used a motorbike. I've never complained simply because someone is using a different type of vehicle on the road. We're all trrying to get somewhere. give them space, if you can overtake safety then do so and be on your way. Is there a forum for people who complain about old people walking slow? No, because you show some empathy/compassion and patience and give them the time/space they need.
When I cycled to college back in the day, drivers left me with 2 or three feet of space, and I was grateful for itl!
Seriously, so long as you don't run the over or blast them with road grit and turbulence it's fine in my book, no need to fully cross the line so long as passing speeds remain reasonable.
Seriously, so long as you don't run the over or blast them with road grit and turbulence it's fine in my book, no need to fully cross the line so long as passing speeds remain reasonable.
Edited by BritishBlitz87 on Monday 26th October 22:11
I did the motorcycle theory test recently, and the official guidance is to leave loads of room for cyclists, as they may have to suddenly swerve to avoid damaged manhole covers/potholes and so on.
So by riding two abreast, they are clearly idiots putting themselves in danger as they won't have the room to manoeuvre
So by riding two abreast, they are clearly idiots putting themselves in danger as they won't have the room to manoeuvre
If you are delaying other people by cycling 2 abreast then its just bloody rude not to fall into single file; and far too many of them do it round here & plainly don't give a st about being considerate to other road users.
It may be quicker to pass them than 2 in line but if there is any oncoming traffic then often you can't pass them safely at all (whereas you could if they were not side by side).
First rule of being a considerate road user (IMO): don't hold anyone else up if you don't have to.
t about being considerate to other road users. It may be quicker to pass them than 2 in line but if there is any oncoming traffic then often you can't pass them safely at all (whereas you could if they were not side by side).
First rule of being a considerate road user (IMO): don't hold anyone else up if you don't have to.
I don’t mind cyclists riding two abreast, I am going to overtake on the other side of the road anyway. What annoys me is when a bunch of cyclists stretch out over say 30+ metres ahead with no space in the middle. Most groups don’t do this, I have to say, and leave gaps to leap-frog through the group.
On most roads around here, I find it easier to pass two cyclists who are next to each other than two are in line. You need the oncoming lane to be empty to get past them safely either way, but with them riding abreast you don't have as much ground to cover to get past. Obviously single-track roads are different.
Johnnytheboy said:
I always give single cyclists loads of room when passing.
When they are two abreast by definition I can't give the guy on the right as much room unless the road is unnaturally wide.
Their choice.
This sounds like you’re trying to squeeze past them without leaving your side of the road? If so, fWhen they are two abreast by definition I can't give the guy on the right as much room unless the road is unnaturally wide.
Their choice.
k me that’s idiotic. Why not overtake like you would a motorised vehicle that’s moving slowly in front of you? Wait until there’s nothing oncoming and overtake properly.
kharma45 said:
Johnnytheboy said:
I always give single cyclists loads of room when passing.
When they are two abreast by definition I can't give the guy on the right as much room unless the road is unnaturally wide.
Their choice.
This sounds like you’re trying to squeeze past them without leaving your side of the road? If so, fWhen they are two abreast by definition I can't give the guy on the right as much room unless the road is unnaturally wide.
Their choice.
k me that’s idiotic. Why not overtake like you would a motorised vehicle that’s moving slowly in front of you? Wait until there’s nothing oncoming and overtake properly.
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