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Cyclists
I'm not sure where to put this question but here goes.
I have found with increasing regularity that 2 cyclists travelling together will cycle side by side on the road, rather than one behind the other, effectively blocking cars from being able to pass them safely. I'm getting increasingly bothered about this as it's usually during rush hour and is holding up everyone. Is this legal for them to do?
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Rule 51 of the highway code states that you (the cyclist) should not ride more than two abreast. That means they are well within their rights to cycle as they do and if they brought some friends and cycled 5 abreast, then it's a bit naughty but perfectly legal.
I don't balme them for riding like they do. By doing this, motorists have to make a considered overtaking manoeuvre to get past. If they were in single file then the drivers mentality is "oooh, I can squeeze past" even if they can't or shouldn't. Catching a wing mirror on the end of the handlebars is something that bugs and terrifies the poo out of me.
I've said this before and I'm sure I'll say it again, but is it worth rushing past these guys because they bother you, then one day perhaps killing one of them? It's easier than you might think, particularly if they don't wear helmets. The onus not to kill them is on you rather than on them to wear helmets. If you're that worried about it, leave 5 minutes earlier. Then you'll either not meet them or have time to pass safely. Better still, get on your bike!
Thank you for confirming the rule ralph, but I also beg to differ in your opinion on motorists.
When I am approaching a cyclist I apply due care and attention when passing them, if it is not safe to do so for the cyclist, myself or the oncoming traffic then I will hang back. That was a generalisation you made and to but honest irked the hell out of me.
I apply consideration and so should the cyclists travelling in pairs during rush hour.
Dakota, it was not my intention to accuse you of the behaviour I referred to in my previous post. I apologise if it came across that way.
The reason I originally posted is that these questions appear occasionally and bash cyclists for being law breaking, non-tax paying hindrances to the general public at large that deserve to be treated as little more than speed bumps on the way to/from work. As I personally have been commuting in rush hour traffic on my bicycle recently, I have reason to believe that a small, yet still sizeable population of motorists don't give the vunerability of cyclists enough thought. Several times a trip, I'd have someone overtake me with a car coming in the opposite direction whereupon the overtaker would pull back in with their back wheel level with my front. That's too close for my comfort. I haven't been knocked off yet and hopefully never will.
I've stopped cycling for the winter because it's dark too quickly and I have to cycle a couple of unlit country roads. I don't feel I can trust the minority of drivers that think they have the right to get there quicker to observe me early enough and pass me with sufficient care. They are the reason I posted what I did earlier.
They are also the reason I don't blame the guys who are bothering you. If they are taking defensive measures to protect themselves from the occasional thoughtless motorist (not you!) then they are doing nothing wrong.
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