not really, he's right in a way. it's much safer for the cyclist(s) if the car driver has to consciously overtake, rather than trying to squeeze through a gap that isn't really there.
No, it's not safer for the cyclists. Idiot motorists will still try to squeeze past, especially if they feel the cyclists are behaving anti-socially, so there's more chance of disaster.
Is it more dangerous to overtake a long line of cyclists riding single file or a wide, short group such as the one in the photo?
It would be quicker to overtake this group than a lorry travelling at 50mph and safer for everyone than trying to overtake a single bike when there is oncoming traffic.
Make my blood boil? It's practically turned to black pudding!
I'm outraged, OUTRAGED!
It's well known that organised groups of cyclists are almost exclusively passed-over middle managers just trying to give their lives some purpose until retirement.
It's just their pathetic way of imposing order, however briefly, compensating for their lack of authority at work where the standard reply to any instruction they give is "Yeah, in a minute".
Following consultation about the new Highway Code, it's recommendation is that Rule 66 be amended as follows,
"update Rule 66 to ensure cyclists are considerate towards horse riders, along with the following text:
Start quote:
[cyclists’ should] ride in single file when drivers wish to overtake and it is safe to let them do so. When riding in larger groups on narrow lanes, it is sometimes safer to ride two abreast
Since we have started to use our bikes more than the car we have learned to cycle two abreast until there is a length of road where cars can pass us safely and give us space. At that point we will move to single file to make using the roads safer for us and the motorist.
If we cycle one behind the other all the time most motorists will try to pass as if the road was empty of other users.....that's what would make my blood boil if I was so inclined.
When driving we prefer cyclists to be riding two abreast. That stops the idiot driving behind us from trying to overtake us and a single cyclist when it's not safe.
Highway code Rule 163:
Overtake only when it is safe and legal to do so. You should
- give motorcyclists, cyclists and horse riders at least as much room as you would when overtaking a car.
The problem is car drivers don’t leave a cars width before overtaking, often being only a few inches away.
If car drivers bothered to learn the rules and obey them, there would be no need for defensive cycling.
The road markings say the speed limit is 40mph, and the cyclists are likely to be going near to that.
A car would need to overtake at 60mph on the wrong side of the road which would be dangerous.
I was always informed that you get 5 points for knocking a cyclist over. Surely, when they are reading in a pack, it's much easier to knock many of them over, thereby scoring multiple points in one swift movement :-J