Law on cyclists in groups holding up traffic??

coffeenuts

What is the law for cyclists in groups?

I was driving down towards the Castleknock hotel yesterday and its a small enough road.

The cyclists in front of me were in a group of about 12 I'd say and were takin up the entire lane.

I thought the law was you had to be in single file. I think its madness personally as I had to along with a huge que behind me wait to pass for ages!! They made no attempt to go single file to let even some traffic pass.

Anyway as I said what is the law on this?? Do cyclist have to go single file or is it just one of those things?

thanks

07Lapierre

2 abreast is legal. Safer too when there's a big group.

Cookie_Monster

coffeenuts wrote: »

What is the law for cyclists in groups?

same as for cyclists on their own or if only 2 or 3.

two abreast is the max, no requirement to move over just to allow you to pass or anything except politeness when they feel it is safe to do so.

coffeenuts

07Lapierre wrote: »

2 abreast is legal. Safer too when there's a big group.

So law is 2 abreast.

Thanks for that.

Pity this group were being so ignorent then so going in 3/4 abreast!

Jumpy

Why post this in multiple forums? You put it in Motors too.

coffeenuts

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

same as for cyclists on their own or if only 2 or 3.

two abreast is the max, no requirement to move over just to allow you to pass or anything except politeness when they feel it is safe to do so.

dont get me wrong I'm not saying cyclists shouldnt be on the road. I like a cycle myself and I know they dont have to move if they dont want to but if its safe to do so out of politeness I think they should, just as I would on the road in a car.

Anyway not looking to get in to a debate about it. Just didnt know the law on it.

cheers.

Jumpy

coffeenuts wrote: »

So law is 2 abreast.

Thanks for that.

Pity this group were being so ignorent then so going in 3/4 abreast!

2 abreast will still take up the lane.

The reason its done is so you dont attempt to overtake dangerously.

kenmc

coffeenuts wrote: »

So law is 2 abreast.

Thanks for that.

Pity this group were being so ignorent then so going in 3/4 abreast!

They're allowed to go 3 abreast when a pair of cyclists are overtaking a single one, or a single cyclist is overtaking a pair of them.

coffeenuts

Jumpy wrote: »

Why post this in multiple forums? You put it in Motors too.

why not?

I wanted to get the answer and they were the 2 places that I thought I'd get the answer for my question from. :rolleyes:

markpb

coffeenuts wrote: »

So law is 2 abreast.

Thanks for that.

Pity this group were being so ignorent then so going in 3/4 abreast!

Obviously I wasn't there but if they had been 2 abreast (which can be increased to 3 if the third is overtaking), wouldn't it be harder to overtake them because they'd be strung out over a longer distance?

kenmc

coffeenuts wrote: »

why not?

I wanted to get the answer and they were the 2 places that I thought I'd get the answer for my question from. :rolleyes:

You really think that the motors forum is the best place to ask a question on cycling? OK.

Gavin

This question has been answered previously.
See http://wiki.boards.ie/wiki/CommonDebates#Why_do_cyclists_take_up_the_road.3F