[Closed] Why do some people on bikes ...?

Biscuit anyone?

a very uppy & downy & bendy stretch of the road

the cars in front of me had taken some crazy opportunities to pass them

Did you consider the fact that it would've still been dangerous to them if they were riding single file? Maybe they didn't want to encourage people to risk their lives?

Or something.

Yep.

Tea and a jammie dodger please.

Bikes are traffic - they don't hold up traffic

STWer in part time cyclist, full time driver shocker!

You're supposed to leave cyclists as much overtaking room as you would a car. Going single file would've just encouraged you to squeeze past, endangering them.

Soooo if I leave about a foot between me and a car when I overtake I only need to leave a foot for cyclists...?

What would all the drivers have done if it was 2 or 3 horses in single file?

They'd all have waited patiently for their chance to overtake, they'd have done so smoothly and quietly without taking chances.
But cos it's a group of cyclists (which take up about as much room as 3 horses would), the attitude is "just get past the ****ers".

Imagine how much extra time your journey would have taken if you'd have had to untangle a cyclist or two from your bumper and explain to the police exactly what happened...

How come when you see mtb'ers on the road they are not in a bunch 2/3 abrest ?

Because MTBers know where it's at 😆

Driving out to the trails, with my bike on the rack, I joined some very slow traffic

very important, urgent driving to get to somewhere to ride*

*yes i do it but I accept that bikes, runners, walkers, kids have as much right to the road as me

[i]What would all the drivers have done if it was 2 or 3 horses in single file?[/i]

They would have waited of course but then when I've been behind horses they tend to stop and let you pass when the opportunity presents itself...just common courtesy really.

...and for me that's it as personally I'd never ride 2+ abreast if there was traffic: seems like common courtesy to at least minimise your width to let vehicles pass.

Plus nothing worse than having a vehicle right on your tail on a climb imo...let them overtake, get back to concentrating on the climb and avoid unnecessary potential aggro

How come when you see mtb'ers on the road they are not in a bunch 2/3 abrest ?

dark clothing and slow speed ensures those on the outside have been taken out

Taking the piss! is taking the piss!!! there is never a need to ride 4 abreast, making people wait for ages or having to risk their lives to overtake, is just plain shitty.

What if I want to pull in front of them, then start driving very slowly so they have to slow down for me, am I entitled to do that by law ❓

Just out of curiosity 💡

Giving them as much room is not the same as how much you miss them by, or to put it another way, just because you think you can get away with squeezing a car through an unpredictable gap doesn't mean you should. Leave a big gap in case they wobble, get blown by the wind, get wobbled by the draft from your car if you are going fast enough. Maybe a gap big enough for a car...

What if I want to pull in front of them, then start driving very slowly so they have to slow down, am I entitled to do that by law

yes it's called approaching traffic lights or a left turn

PS it's us not them?

...and for me that's it as personally I'd never ride 2+ abreast if there was traffic

As Teej, says, bikes ARE traffic!

It's courtesy for slower 'traffic' to pull over at regular intervals so to allow faster traffic to pass. This has the advantage of reducing the amount of risks some people will take when frustrated because they are being held up by some inconsiderate lycra louts thinking they are Mark Cavendish

.and for me that's it as personally I'd never ride 2+ abreast if there was traffic: seems like common courtesy to at least minimise your width to let vehicles pass.

Nope - its adding to the dangers. It means a longer line of bikes to pass so more chance some idiot will abort the overtake dn try to cut in, its enciouraging cars to sqeeze past hen there is no room Was there room to pass a car safely? If not then there is not room to pass a bike safely

Why was your journey so important you had to squeeze past so urgently

FFS, all it takes is a bit of common sense and courtesy from both parties. When in a group, I always usher other riders in to allow cars to overtake - as do most other riders I know (some don't bother). And when in a car, I like to think I know how to judge when to overtake - if they're riding 2-3 abreast for no reason then I'll beep 'em. Have on occasion decided to get verbal because they just won't move (always roadies).

None of us own the road - we share it. So grow up and show some maturity. Tis all.

spacemonkey - how about acting on that then - you know -sharing the road. Not forcing bikes out of your way.

I'm waiting for some motorist to bring up Vehicle Excise Duty (What was road tax) as a reason for cars over bikes. Sorry mate, you're not paying for the roads, everyone that pays any tax pays for them.

Sorry if im slightly off topic...

Sharing the road is fine. But as a bike rider (or a runner or horse-rider), you also need to respect that fact that a car can cover distance faster than you, and as such, a sensible driver should be given the opportunity to overtake (safely).

As a driver, you should respect runners, horsey types, cyclists, etc - but also be aware that you can power past them once the opportunity arises.

Simples.

EDIT: cyclists that ride 2-3 abreast on long straight country lane (singletrack-type sections) should grow up and get some manners.

What a knob, how dare someone waste your valuable time 🙄

spacemonkey
if they're riding 2-3 abreast for no reason then I'll beep 'em. Have on occasion decided to get verbal because they just won't move

that really sounds like you are respecting other road users.

Have already replied TJ with my edit.

I really don't get why people complicate this matter. It's really ****ing simple.

Yes - it is really simple. You are not more important in your car than the cyclist is. You do not have the right to bully your way past. Beeping your horn and having verbal with them is not sharing the road with them.

You need to behave like an adult and share the roads.

I cannot believe the anti bike rhetoric from a supposed cyclists forum

Sharing the road is fine. But as a bike rider (or a runner or horse-rider), you also need to respect that fact that a car can cover distance faster than you, and as such, a sensible driver should be given the opportunity to overtake (safely).

As a driver, you should respect runners, horsey types, cyclists, etc - but also be aware that you can power past them once the opportunity arises.

Simples.

I'd give up now if I were you SM. You are talking about common sense and reasonableness in this issues with TJ. He doesn't do common sense and reasonableness. He'll just spout highway code and total a unbending single-sided logic at you in the manner of one of those little terriers that has got hold of your ankle until the point where you'll want to top yourself. Do yourself a favour and find something else to do.

Bikes are traffic - they don't hold up traffic

This. Terribly sorry to hear that they delayed your arrival to the knarly trails for two miles though.

How come when you see mtb'ers on the road they are not in a bunch 2/3 abrest (sic)?

Maybe because their bars are as wide as three roadies riding alongside each other?

Convert - do you really think beeping your horn and shouting at cyclists because they want to ride on the road is acceptable?

That is not reasonable behaviour.

Sorry, I've had this conversation with you before. What I think or don't think is totally irrelevant to you as you don't come here to learn or debate but to preach and as such there is very little point in bothering to type it.

When the chance to overtake presents itself take it, but halfway through the manouvre, change up a gear, floor it and envelop them in a cloud of PM10's and carcinogens - if in a diseasal, of course.

Like Convert says, you just don't get it TJ. It's not about bullying - that's bullshit. It's about respecting other road users. In a car, I can cover ground more quickly than a bike. End of.

I've said it before on here and I'll say it again: I honestly believe that the horsey types around here are more respectful of cars than many cyclists. At least they look for an opportunity to 'pull over/in' and let people past, as opposed to hogging the (often singletrack country) road.

spacemonkey

It's not about bullying It's about respecting other road users. In a car,

spacemonkey
if they're riding 2-3 abreast for no reason then I'll beep 'em. Have on occasion decided to get verbal because they just won't move

sounds really respectful to me 🙄 Not bullying at all.

What makes you so important that the bikes have to get out of your way instantly?

Convert - its about pointing out to people their unacceptable attitudes.

Like I said TJ, you just don't get it. Can't be bothered anymore. Sounds to me like you think cyclists have a right of way regardless. That's just bollocks.

Its you that does not get it. Blowing your horn and shouting at bike riders so you can get past is unacceptable

Nor do you understand that its a shorter line to overtake if they are side by side - and that they take up no greater width cos you shouldn't ride in the gutter.

Learn to share the road - sharing does not mean bikes have to get out of your way instantly.

I do understand - you and your car are so important your needs outweigh everyone else's

we normally ride 2 abreast on the road as it's safer. Never had a nearly moment when 2 abreast, but had many when i've been out on my own.

Sorry, I've had this conversation with you before. What I think or don't think is totally irrelevant to you as you don't come here to learn or debate but to preach and as such there is very little point in bothering to type it.

You're right, but then you already knew this to be true but i thought i point it out anyway [b]lol[/b]

Surely it is in fact easier to overtake a bunch of cyclists safely when they are in group rather than single file as the driver only has to actually drive on the opposite side of the road for a shorter amount of time?

How come when you see mtb'ers on the road they are not in a bunch 2/3 abrest ?

On the road? Thats just wrong!

It's a sad fact that the majority of cyclists are stone cold idiots.. there's nothing you can do to get away from it.. it's just the way it is..

I think you mean ' the majority of people are stone cold idiots' yunki.

no no.. I have never and will never confuse cyclists with people... they are two entirely different things.. 🙂

😀

If this trend by inconciderate cyclists continues, we will see greater and greater tailbacks on country roads and also more accidents and incidents of confrontation.

Not too mention what will happen if a stolen car comes up behind these individuals.

Holding up traffic because you are an asshole, is not good, and repeatedly saying bikes are traffic too! 🙄 doesn't do anything to resolve the very real issues that riding in this fashion causes.

Two abreast is fine.

4 or 5 single file is fine.

Bigger groups need to split up, you're probably going to create issues for yourself.

If you doing less than 20mph and a driver can't get past you? they need to have their Hyundai Getz taken off them....

I'm a roadie as well as a mountain bike but I'd have to concede that there are some riders out there, especially in large road groups, who appear to go out of their way to be as inconsiderate to other traffic as possible.

2 cyclists riding single file will take up up approx 1 car length of road. Multiply that by 3 or 4 and that's arguably too long a train to safely pass(would people pass a slow moving artic on the same road?)

Riding two abreast can make more sense in some circumstances though you will inevitably encounter people who don't get that concept.

Three or more abreast is just selfish and potentially stupid for all concerned if something goes wrong.

Tis a fact of life that you get morons using [u]all[/u] forms of transport being it feet, hooves and wheels, motorised or not.

When I'm out on't bike I will invariably wave my thanks to someone who's waited to pass me. Similarly I will, whenever possible, signal and dip into a driveway, layby etc to let a truck or big van go by. - I don't want to be helped down the road by 3 - 40 tons of truck any more than the trucker wants to be stuck behind some muppet on a push bike.

9/10 I will get a toot or indicator flash of thanks when doing this.

Bigger groups need to split up, you're probably going to create issues for yourself.

So basically you're saying that roadie clubs shouldn't be allowed to do group rides, then?

Nor do you understand that its a shorter line to overtake if they are side by side - and that they take up no greater width cos you shouldn't ride in the gutter.

What does the Highway Code say about cycling with regards to 'riders abreast' TJ?
I'm surprised you haven't quoted that yet
How's about we get some facts going, eh?

I had this yesterday in the lakes, surprisingly most cars let us past, one guy reversed to let us past (coming the opposite way), one driver in front stopped and waved us past when going downhill so we weren't held up by him. On the flipside on the return home, lots of cars coming past us however we were well spread out along the road,tucked into the side with no real problems to let traffic past. Yet one pillock thought it a great idea to try and overtake on a blind bend. Suffice to say it was a nice day in the lakes and there was traffic coming the other way! So his course of action was to swerve into me. I managed to avoid him by braking and he got a bollocking of his other half as they went into the distance. Anyway I can't see why cyclists can't yield road space to drivers. You'll always get people taking risks in whatever mode of transport.

Meandering further off topic - I love it when people slow down waiting to pass me and forget to change gear. The sound of a car chugging from 15 up to 30mph in 4th or even 5th is a real pleasure.

And meandering back - Doesnt the highway code say if a bike is travelling at a reasonable speed, ie 18mph or more on a road that isnt a 60 it cant be considered as impeding traffic. I know some tractors go this slow!

The cycling club I belong to runs social Saturday morning road rides. When we started we had about 8 people. Now we regularly get about 60. We've had to change the route so that we don't take so many small lanes and split the ride into different groups according to speed.

What is surprising having observed the growth of this ride is how people initially tend to lose a sense of where they are (and all road sense) when they start riding in a group. It takes more experienced riders to remind people where and how they should be riding.

Broadly speaking, cyclists riding two abreast is fine and actually a good thing as it gives cyclists a road presence. Three or four abreast is daft and will only wind up other road users.

There's a lot of new cyclists on the road, many of whom are unused to riding in groups. Many of them would benefit from a bit of structured group riding. This is especially true when it comes to racing. Some of the moves are pretty nerve jangling. There's no great mystery to it.

This is the intro for newcomers from our site:

Most of the following common sense tips on riding in a group can be picked up by just going out on rides with us but here they are just for good measure if you've not ridden in a group before:

When you ride in a group on the road it's even more important than when you're on your own to pay extra attention to the road and traffic as those behind you can't see what's up ahead.

Don't ride more than two abreast, and only where the road is wide enough. When the road is narrow single out to allow traffic to pass by. When singling out, the rider near the middle of the road slows down to pull in behind the rider that they were riding next to. This avoids the confusion of both riders slowing down at the same time leaving the one in the middle of the road with nowhere to go.

If you're riding at the front you need to let the riders behind know if there are any holes, parked cars, glass or any other hazards by shouting out of pointing with hand signals. Pass these warnings down the group so that the ones at the back aren't left in the dark. If people know what's coming up it makes for safer riding with less swerves and sudden braking.

If you're in a large group it's important not to wait at junctions longer than necessary as you'll get in the way of other traffic and make it hard for them to see. Instead find a suitable place to wait at the side of the road while you wait for others to catch up.

If you have a puncture shout out that you have a flat so that you don't get left stranded with some in the group wondering where you are. Also, it helps people to know that you're stopping so that they don't ride into the back of you when you slow down.

When the group approaches a junction or traffic lights and needs to slow down or stop, shout out, "Easy", to let riders behind know that you're putting on the brakes. If you don't there's a chance they will ride into the back of you!

One thing to remember about Saturday and Sunday club rides is that they are exactly that, rides not races! Be nice to each other.

People in clubs are very idiot

It's courtesy for slower 'traffic' to pull over at regular intervals so to allow faster traffic to pass.

This. Some cyclists seem to think this shouldn't apply to them.

People in clubs are very idiot

There's certainly a fair number of them.

TandemJeremy - Member
Yes - it is really simple. You are not more important in your car than the cyclist is. You do not have the right to bully your way past. Beeping your horn and having verbal with them is not sharing the road with them.

You need to behave like an adult and share the roads.

I cannot believe the anti bike rhetoric from a supposed cyclists forum

Another view...

Yes - it is really simple. [s]You[/s] [u]Cyclists[/u] are not more important in your car than the [s]cyclist[/s] [u]driver[/u] is. [s]You[/s] [u]Cyclists[/u] do not have the right to [s]bully your way past[/s] [u]slow other road users down unecessarily[/u]. [s]Beeping your horn and having verbal with them[/s] [u]Intentionally riding in a way that stops drivers overtaking safely when they otherwise could [/u]is not sharing the road with them.

You need to behave like an adult and share the roads.

I cannot believe the [s]anti bike rhetoric from a[/s] [u]fact that some folk drive cars and feel cyclist should behave considerably towards them on a[/u] supposed cyclists forum

I cannot believe the anti [s]bike[/s] [b]idiot[/b] rhetoric

🙂

I was going to type something about the fact that tractors move over to let faster vehicles past, so why shouldn't cyclists.. then I experienced a sense of [url= http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/public-apology ]deja vu[/url] and ...

[img] [/img]

OK. The Higway Code says:

You should

b) never ride more than two abreast, and ride in single file on narrow or busy roads and when riding round bends

So, yes, the cyclists in the OPs case were being arses. No two ways about it.

Patience is a virtue.

One that seems lost on most modern road users.

"I pay all this money, I was promised freedom, my motorcar coddles me like a baby so I can act like a spoiled child, where's my freedom. . . . "

OK. The Higway Code says:

You should

b) never ride more than two abreast, and ride in single file on narrow or busy roads and when riding round bends

So, yes, the cyclists in the OPs case were being arses. No two ways about it.

Lots of ways about it.

Like I said TJ, you just don't get it. Can't be bothered anymore. Sounds to me like you think cyclists have a right of way regardless. That's just bollocks.

cyclists,horses and pedestrians have an unalienable right to use the queens highway.
motorists are merely licensed and can have that privilege taken away.

so it's you that's talking bollocks.

Bikes are traffic - they don't hold up traffic

Traffic can hold up other traffic.

If I am travelling slowly I pull over to let people by if I'm causing more than a slight obstruction, regardless of whether or not I am on a bike or in a car.

It's a common bloody courtesy and helps everyone have a better day. Sticking to your 'rights' just because you can when it pisses off other people makes you a bellend imo.

Oh and suggesting cyclists ride with consideration for other road users is not anti-cyclist.

cyclists,horses and pedestrians have an unalienable right to use the queens highway.
motorists are merely licensed and can have that privilege taken away.

Succinct, I am going use that one next time I am faced by a self important motorist.

It's a common bloody courtesy and helps everyone have a better day. Sticking to your 'rights' just because you can when it pisses off other people makes you a bellend imo.

Oh and suggesting cyclists ride with consideration for other road users is not anti-cyclist.

OK if I keep this as a copy and paste for the next time this conversation comes up (next week I suspect)?

🙂

wynne: do you have any conventions about drafting?

My mate and I, relatively inexperienced road cyclists, were experimenting with drafting yesterday.

In a car, I can cover ground more quickly than a bike. End of.

If this trend by inconciderate cyclists continues, we will see greater and greater tailbacks on country roads and also more accidents and incidents of confrontation.

making people wait for ages or having to risk their lives to overtake

I've been stuck behind quite a few slow vehicles and I've only ever seen 1 pull over to let other traffic passed, so don't be saying tractors immediatley pull over when a car or two get behind them. No idea what the OPs road was like but there's a few properly narrow roads near me where it's not wide enough for 1 car + 1 bike so sorry you'll have to wait for a passing place - and if it's a downhill section and I'm doing >30mph you'll be waiting til the bottom - 30 is not [i]unreasonably[/i] slowing you down.

"Stuck" is not the same as "had to slow down for a while". I drive a fair few miles a year, cyclists cause me pretty much no bother at all, maybe 5 minutes of delays in hundreds of hours of driving.

Rubberneckers on the motorway and tailgaters, (who often end up causing much rubbernecking) on the other hand, need to be eradicated. I sat on the M3 for an hour so that people could have a look at a minor shunting accident last week.

Fair amount of rubbish being spouted here.

The general take I have of this situation is this: If it's safe to overtake, then it's safe to overtake.

It doesn't matter if there is one cyclist, or ten. In exactly the same vein, it doesn't matter if its a tractor or a horse. If it's not safe to pull completely over to the otherside of the road to overtake and get back in without causing them any grief, then I won't overtake.

I'm not an ambulance driver, brain surgeon or in bomb disposal, so probably doesn't matter if I spend a couple of moments waiting for a safe spot to pass.

there's a few properly narrow roads near me where it's not wide enough for 1 car + 1 bike so sorry you'll have to wait for a passing place

On singletrack roads, climbs particularly, I pull over to let cars through.

Roter Stern - Member

Surely it is in fact easier to overtake a bunch of cyclists safely when they are in group rather than single file as the driver only has to actually drive on the opposite side of the road for a shorter amount of time?

Yup. there is this. There is also the fact that when riding two abreast the outside rider is where a single rider should be - out from the kerb.

Of course its polite to assist faster traffic to overtake _ I do it all the time but to be beeping your horn and getting into verbal with cyclists 'cos they wont pullover / put themselves in danger to let you past is wrong.

Lots of ways about it

Explain your firt six then.....

It's a common bloody courtesy and helps everyone have a better day. Sticking to your 'rights' just because you can when it pisses off other people makes you a bellend imo.
Oh and suggesting cyclists ride with consideration for other road users is not anti-cyclist.

+1

Some cyclists = bellends.
Some drivers = bellends.

Actually, scratch that. Some people = bellends.
The world is full of them, it doesn't matter if they ride a bike or drive a car, or post on an internet forum.... You've got to live with them. 😉

On singletrack roads, climbs particularly, I pull over to let cars through.

Without wishing to get embroiled in this debate I do find a lot of car drivers become obsessed by passing cyclists, even if you're not really impeding their progress.

My commute to work includes a reasonable descent towards the town, where there's always slow moving traffic I can easily keep up with and often overtake. However, even when freewheeling behind a car, you'll get people trying to overtake, then realise they have nowhere to go.

Many drivers seem to have some innate feeling that if there's an obstacle infront of them they must overtake - they'll do it irrespective of whether it's safe, whether it's one rider, or a bunch of 20595, riding 85 abreast. Some people are just cocks. Sadly, it seems a few are on this thread.

It should be mandatory for cyclist to have "Running in, Please Pass" notices stapled to their lycra clad behinds.