Cycling Behaviour

shergar22

I'm looking for some opinions on this one.

I do a good bit/fair bit of cycling myself, and would consider myself to be generally on the side of the cyclist, particularly when it comes to motorist behaviour.

However, yesterday (Sunday), when driving through Adare, I was stuck in a long, slow-moving line of traffic, as we were stuck behind a group of cyclists, spread out across the lane. Given the road in this area and the line of traffic out against us, there was absolutely no way of overtaking.

Through the village we went, with a good half-mile of traffic built up behind the cyclists, until the road widened heading out towards Patrickswell. Then they were able to go into the hard shoulder and continue their cycle in a bunch.

My query is why did they not go in single file through the village when they knew they were the cause of a build-up of traffic? It wasn't that they weren't aware of what was happening behind them. If they weren't then I would have serious questions about them actually being on the road in the first place.

I'm genuinely interested in the opinion of other cyclists on Boards. Do you find their behaviour right/wrong?

Does anybody think that it was pure grist to the mill of those who think cyclists are a menace to themselves and others? Manners? And the final question: when cyclists put themselves in this position (obviously purposefully) do they not realise that all it takes is one irate cowboy of a driver trying to pass them out, before they find that car is harder than cyclist?

coolbeans

shergar22 wrote: »

I'm looking for some opinions on this one.

I do a good bit/fair bit of cycling myself, and would consider myself to be generally on the side of the cyclist, particularly when it comes to motorist behaviour.

However, yesterday (Sunday), when driving through Adare, I was stuck in a long, slow-moving line of traffic, as we were stuck behind a group of cyclists, spread out across the lane. Given the road in this area and the line of traffic out against us, there was absolutely no way of overtaking.

Through the village we went, with a good half-mile of traffic built up behind the cyclists, until the road widened heading out towards Patrickswell. Then they were able to go into the hard shoulder and continue their cycle in a bunch.

My query is why did they not go in single file through the village when they knew they were the cause of a build-up of traffic? It wasn't that they weren't aware of what was happening behind them. If they weren't then I would have serious questions about them actually being on the road in the first place.

I'm genuinely interested in the opinion of other cyclists on Boards. Do you find their behaviour right/wrong?

Does anybody think that it was pure grist to the mill of those who think cyclists are a menace to themselves and others? Manners? And the final question: when cyclists put themselves in this position (obviously purposefully) do they not realise that all it takes is one irate cowboy of a driver trying to pass them out, before they find that car is harder than cyclist?

Do a search. Covered ad nauseum before.

Dermot Illogical

Single file encourages drivers to try to squeeze through.
A lot of drivers aren't bright enough to realise how dangerous that can be.

buffalo

There's always a tailback through Adare. The sooner they plan a bypass properly, and then build it, the better.

Darkglasses

We've been through this a hundred times...do a search for "single file" or something.

DirkVoodoo

What's the point here? They moved in when they were able to.

What is it about these "long lines of traffic" and "purposefully putting themselves in a position" that I never, ever seem to meet these traffic obstructing cyclists? Could it be gross hyperbole on your part? How long was your journey delayed?

I've been held up more by Caravans, JCBs, old people, tourists, tractors, farmers moving livestock, temporary traffic lights, etc. than I have ever been by cyclists.

Keep calm and keep driving. Were you in a rush to get your pregnant wife to the local hospital?

Was it a leisurely Sunday drive? What kind of leisurely Sunday drive would become irate at being held up for a few minutes?

To be honest, it sounds like you were creating a problem for yourself.

Beasty

coolbeans wrote: »

Do a search. Covered ad nauseum before.

Agreed - best search term "abreast";)

Thread closed

CramCycle

MOD VOICE: It has been done to death in recent months, the general conclusion is that if you can't overtake cyclist cycling two abreast then you can't overtake them safely at all for various reasons. They pulled in to the hard shoulder when they had a chance. THREAD LOCKED. Plesae PM me if you think there is more to this.