Should cycling two abreast be allowed?

Kimbot · 13-01-2019 06:04PM

mikhail wrote: »

Seems like you've little enough to be worrying you. I literally can't remember the last time I met a pair of cyclists riding abreast. I'm fairly sure that I had overtaken them seconds later though.

I come across it all the time and in some cases they are 3-4 abreast holding up traffic.

PeadarCo · 13-01-2019 06:06PM

Tyler Famous Sailfish wrote:

Absolutely no way should it be allowed, causing needless hold ups for cars and other vehicles where you could get past one easily but two abreast makes it too tight to get past with oncoming traffic.

If its not safe don't pass. Basic driving. In general on most roads if its not safe to pass one cyclist its not safe to pass 2 that are abreast. And when it comes actually passing its safer for the driver. 10 cyclists 2 abreast is shorter than 10 cyclists single file.

And when it comes to unnecessary hold ups for drivers surely accidents M50 are the worst. Not a cyclist in sight and a someone can be held up for an hour plus on top of the rush hour standstill. All caused by drivers driving too close together.
.

Fighting Tao · 13-01-2019 06:07PM

Kimbot wrote: »

I come across it all the time and in some cases they are 3-4 abreast holding up traffic.

So they had 3-4 breasts? Was this on Mars by any chance? I heard the floozies in the bars there are a bit better endowed than on Earth.

Sam Quentin · 13-01-2019 06:07PM

https://youtu.be/E9eSYSjDrDo

Fighting Tao · 13-01-2019 06:09PM

Sam Quentin wrote: »

https://youtu.be/E9eSYSjDrDo

Cool...a video dump without comment always goes down well. :P Although I have to say the car in front of you was doing so well until some magic forcefield moved him across a solid white line.

tuxy · 13-01-2019 06:11PM

Sam Quentin wrote: »

https://youtu.be/E9eSYSjDrDo

Very good example of how much safer riding two abreast can be.
If they were single file the SUV could have been tempted to overtake on a bend and with a long single file the only place to go with oncoming traffic is back in on top of the cyclists.

I see lots of crazy stuff out on public roads but that's a good example of both drivers and cyclists sharing the roads and being considerate of others.

PeadarCo · 13-01-2019 06:14PM

Fighting Tao wrote:

So they had 3-4 breasts? Was this on Mars by any chance? I heard the floozies in the bars there are a bit better endowed than on Earth.

To be fair in most cases the issue here is limitation of human depth perception. If the cyclists are not directly in line one another it can appear that they are more spread out than they actually are. Apparently the human eyes can't see the gap between the rows of cyclists.

Fighting Tao · 13-01-2019 06:16PM

PeadarCo wrote: »

To be fair in most cases the issue here is limitation of human depth perception. If the cyclists are not directly in line one another it can appear that they are more spread out than they actually are. Apparently the human eyes can't see the gap between the rows of cyclists.

Yes I know that and it has been said many times on Boards. However, people who post about 3, 4, 5, 6 abreast are not normally the type that care about the facts of the matter and so my attempt of a joke reply.

Fann Linn · 13-01-2019 06:21PM

They should be made wear hi viz also.

Kimbot · 13-01-2019 06:21PM

Fighting Tao wrote: »

Yes I know that and it has been said many times on Boards. However, people who post about 3, 4, 5, 6 abreast are not normally the type that care about the facts of the matter and so my attempt of a joke reply.

So your saying that no cyclists anywhere ride 3-4 abreast?

Fighting Tao · 13-01-2019 06:22PM

Fann Linn wrote: »

They should be made wear hi viz also.

I'm getting so close to shouting "bingo"!

Fann Linn · 13-01-2019 06:22PM

Fighting Tao wrote: »

I'm getting so close to shouting "bingo"!

That was the intention.

tuxy · 13-01-2019 06:23PM

Fann Linn wrote: »

They should be made wear hi viz also.

All cars should come in hi viz colours only.

Fighting Tao · 13-01-2019 06:23PM

Kimbot wrote: »

So your saying that no cyclists anywhere ride 3-4 abreast?

Well it would be a very stupid comment to say that something has never ever happened somewhere in the world and you know that. Of course it has happened...look at cycling races and you'll often see it. They even do 4 abreast while standing around at the start line! :eek:

Seth Brundle · 13-01-2019 06:27PM

Kimbot wrote: »

So your saying that no cyclists anywhere ride 3-4 abreast?

Have you?
Evidence from some dash cam footage will suffice.

tuxy · 13-01-2019 06:27PM

Yes it not uncommon in large races but there will be cars motorbike and marshals working on traffic safety.

The only other time I've seem 6 abreast was children playing in a housing estate.

I'm sure at some point 6 cyclists out on their own have done it but I've never seen it and I would be happy to see the Garda pull them over if I ever did come across such a thing.

Wombatman · 13-01-2019 06:28PM

Fighting Tao wrote: »

It’s been a while since there’s been a person on bikes bashing thread. Well done op. You managed to reinvent the wheel.

What are you on about? This is very topical considering the scrapping of the minimum passing distance proposal. I cycle to work every day. Where am I bashing exactly?

Kimbot · 13-01-2019 06:30PM

Seth Brundle wrote: »

Have you?
Evidence from some dash cam footage will suffice.

Unfortunately I don't have a dash cam so can't provide it but if I do come across it again I'll be sure to get my passenger to take a video of it.

Beasty · 13-01-2019 06:33PM

Wombatman wrote: »

Where am I bashing exactly?

Starting a thread on Cycling in AH? Seriously??

Seth Brundle · 13-01-2019 06:35PM

Kimbot wrote: »

Unfortunately I don't have a dash cam so can't provide it but if I do come across it again I'll be sure to get my passenger to take a video of it.

You imply that it is a common sight so maybe come back to us tomorrow or Tuesday with that footage so!
Thanks.

mrcheez · 13-01-2019 06:38PM

Ooh ooh another cyclist thread..has anyone said "red lights" yet???

Or road tax?

Or Joe?

Kimbot · 13-01-2019 06:39PM

Seth Brundle wrote: »

You imply that it is a common sight so maybe come back to us tomorrow or Tuesday with that footage so!
Thanks.

If you bothered your hole to actually read my initial response I said it's fairly common to see 2 abreast in response to the poster that said riding 2 abreast isn't common and I said in SOME cases I have seen people ride 3-4 abreast which does happen and when I do see it happen again and have a passenger in the car to safely video it then I will.

Wombatman · 13-01-2019 06:42PM

Beasty wrote: »

Starting a thread on Cycling in AH? Seriously??

Results fairly balanced so far. Surely a better reflection of Joe Public view here than in a cycling or motoring forum?

Fighting Tao · 13-01-2019 06:43PM

Wombatman wrote: »

What are you on about? This is very topical considering the scrapping of the minimum passing distance proposal. I cycle to work every day. Where am I bashing exactly?

Ah, you must not be aware of AH's history with cycling related topics. Or else, the most likely is that you are very aware.

Fighting Tao · 13-01-2019 06:48PM

mrcheez wrote: »

Ooh ooh another cyclist thread..has anyone said "red lights" yet???

Or road tax?

Or Joe?

Footpath, traffic jams, roads built for cars...

StinkyMunkey · 13-01-2019 07:01PM

I drive cars, motorbikes and cycle. Personally I think single file is best in urban areas, while over taking cyclists I like to leave a large space between me and the cyclist in case they changes Road position suddenly.

When over taking cyclists 2 abreast it means I've to move further over the opposite side of the road, in urban areas this can be dangerous unless of course the cyclists are in a bus lane, then it's a non issue.

The only time cycling 2 abreast makes sense to me is when it's a large group of cyclists on regional roads, I'm happy to wait until it's safe to overtake.

In large towns or cities a cyclist has no business cycling 2 abreast. I personally take other roads users into consideration when using the roads, no matter your mode of transport, others should exercise the same ethos.

I hate people who are militant when using the roads, whether they be driving a vehicle, using a push bike, pedestrian or any other type of getting from A to B.

Inconsiderate people are the problem, not the mode of transport.

Lefty Bicek · 13-01-2019 07:01PM

Seth Brundle wrote: »

You imply that it is a common sight so maybe come back to us tomorrow or Tuesday with that footage so!
Thanks.

Three is a common sight on the old N7, morning, noon, or night, particularly in the environs of the Birdhill roundabout.

I am not referring to the 'peloton' :rolleyes: of the Summer evenings, with the marshals, flags, and flashing ambers everywhere. A few domestique fantasies lived out there, no doubt, as they take up the whole lane.

amcalester · 13-01-2019 07:16PM

Sam Quentin wrote: »

https://youtu.be/E9eSYSjDrDo

Why not show the video of you dangerously passing a single cyclist at speed on the same road?

You know the one where you were only holding the road.

mrcheez · 13-01-2019 08:38PM

Sam Quentin wrote: »

https://youtu.be/E9eSYSjDrDo

Looked at that whole video, the only available opportunity to overtake a SINGLE line of cyclists while providing the requisite 1.5m was right at the end.

Had it not been for the 2 abreast there would have been attempts to squeeze by the group.

13-01-2019 08:44PM

Definitely not but really the horse has bolted. The rise in popularity of cycling means that country roads are filled with groups of cyclists riding 3-4 abreast no less two.

I'd prefer if cyclists judged the road and went single file in narrow country roads but that just doesn't happen. So making two abreast legal will just add to the problems there already with cyclists asserting their "right" to cycle two abreast instead of using their judgement based on road conditions.

Should cycling two abreast be allowed?

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