Riding several abreast?

[XmisterIS]

Today I was driving home in the early morning from dropping off XmrsIS at a conference and I happened upon a peleton of about 10 riders.

They were riding in primary all the way, three abreast, occupying the entire lane of a single carriageway road, no pinch-points, etc.

The pillock moton in front of me decided to give them all a close pass while holding his hand on the horn, I just dropped back and waited for a straight stretch to overtake them on the opposite side of the road (I then caught up with the moton at the next set of lights).

I'm just wondering what the law says about cycling three abreast? Is it allowed? Whenever I'm riding in a group, we all drop into single file when a car comes along.

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

Riding 3 abreast isn't actually illegal, but it is against the guidelines set out in Highway Code rule 66: "You should ... never ride more than two abreast ...". It is also rather selfish if someone wants to get past.

Having said that, it does not excuse the actions of the driver in passing too close.

 

[XmisterIS]

Riding 3 abreast isn't actually illegal, but it is against the guidelines set out in Highway Code rule 66: "You should ... never ride more than two abreast ...". It is also rather selfish if someone wants to get past.

Having said that, it does not excuse the actions of the driver in passing too close.

Quite so - I wish there had been two lanes at the lights, I wanted to pull up alongside the other driver and ask him, "Just how far did your aggressive and dangerous driving get you, you retard??!"

 

[downfader]

Quite so - I wish there had been two lanes at the lights, I wanted to pull up alongside the other driver and ask him, "Just how far did your aggressive and dangerous driving get you, you retard??!"

I find it quite sad that so many people find it as some form of justification to act like a complete c*ck. So many seem to think its illegal too, which is daft. Its often quicker to overtake 2 aside than several strung out in single. Depends on the road obviously.

 

[sabian92]

The highway code only says you shouldn't ride more than 2 abreast (as opposed to you MUST NOT), but it's a bit selfish to ride 3 abreast with traffic. I'm not saying what the driver did was OK, but I can understand his frustration.

 

[ClichéGuevara]

I can't believe I'm the only one that sees the title and thinks of Dolly Parton.

 

[Keith Oates]

I didn't know she had several!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ClichéGuevara]

I didn't know she had several!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Is two several? But they can each accommodate several people...well at least in some of my fantasies.

 

[gaz]

I've ridden four abreast before. In a bus lane in heavy traffic

 

[DrSquirrel]

The highway code only says you shouldn't ride more than 2 abreast (as opposed to you MUST NOT), but it's a bit selfish to ride 3 abreast with traffic. I'm not saying what the driver did was OK, but I can understand his frustration.

Might be easier and safer just to stick together in a group and pass through.

30 riders 3 abrest at 2m each is 20 metres long... 30 riders single file at 2m each is 60 metres... what you will have then is cars unable to complete a full overtaking manovere and usually squeezing between riders and oncoming cars. Having riders separate into blocks isn't something easily coordiatable though.

2 abreast is better though, since 2 riders take up little or no extra space than a single rider (as the inside rider has more security to ride closer to the verge).


I think we can all see the frustration, although ther eare a lot out there that frustration sits in within seconds, rather than actually taking a bit of time to look for a good pass without turning into stress mania. Driving behind someone doing 10mph for even just 30 seconds seems like an age.

 

[Shut Up Legs]

Well, pointy jokes aside , you've got it easier than here in Australia, where riding more than 2 abreast per lane IS illegal (and way too many motorists don't even know this, and still think cyclists must always ride single-file).

 

[DrSquirrel]

Well, pointy jokes aside , you've got it easier than here in Australia, where riding more than 2 abreast per lane IS illegal (and way too many motorists don't even know this, and still think cyclists must always ride single-file).

What if a 3rd rider was overtaking 2 cyclists riding 2 abreast?

How long does the 3rd rider have to pass before it being considered 3 abreast?

 

[John the Monkey]

... but I can understand his frustration.

Eh, my experience of driving in current conditions is one of occasional free flow in traffic between bottlenecks. If you can't pass for a little while, I don't think it makes a huge difference to journey times.

 

[numbnuts]

We are not flavour of the month with motorists so why upset them we all have to share the road it is better to live in harmony than against them IMO

 

[PaulB]

We are not flavour of the month with motorists so why upset them we all have to share the road it is better to live in harmony than against them IMO

Agreed. It's like an 'us and them' mentality from far too many cyclists and far too many car drivers. Being a driveist and a cycler, I can see things from both perspectives and always find it a bit sad when a cyclist thinks all motorists should regard him as having priority especially those who have never or rarely driven before. The same comes from the other side too and usually from car drivers with little or no cycling experience.

We've all got to live in harmony and so I ensure I give the courteous driver a thankful gesture for his/her consideration.