Another pathetic dim witted tweeting driver...

[nickyboy]

Precisely, it's also worth pointing out that riders two abreast are less long than two riders single file, so a correctly executed overtake should take less time, therefore any vehicles wishing to overtake are in theory "held up" for less time.

Logic does not support your statement. Single file takes twice as long to overtake but two abreast is an active discourager of overtaking per se. The delay suffered as a result of being discouraged from overtaking is far longer than the additional time required to overtake two riders riding single file

 

[nickyboy]

You're not serious about this are you?

Yup, 100%. Happens all the time

 

[KneesUp]

Do you remember the chap who tweeted that he was going to blow Robin Hood airport up if they didn't clear the snow in time for him to make his flight?

Do you remember how when he was convicted of an offence, most people thought it was ridiculous because clearly he didn't mean he was literally going to blow the airport up - and in fact he was cleared on appeal and everyone thought the whole thing had been very silly and a waste of time and money?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-19009344

This reminds me of that.

 

[John the Monkey]

Precisely, it's also worth pointing out that riders two abreast are less long than two riders single file, so a correctly executed overtake should take less time, therefore any vehicles wishing to overtake are in theory "held up" for less time.

Crucially, they, and the driver, are exposed to risk for less time.

(Unless the driver is some sort of tailgating bellend, of course). I'd reiterate that "held up" is a spurious idea for the most part anyway - the "quick" bits of our road network being, mostly, ways of shuttling you between bottlenecks.

 

[benb]

Logic does not support your statement. Single file takes twice as long to overtake but two abreast is an active discourager of overtaking per se. The delay suffered as a result of being discouraged from overtaking is far longer than the additional time required to overtake two riders riding single file

If a driver is delayed from overtaking due to cyclists riding 2 abreast, then there wasn't room for a safe overtake in the first place.

 

[Apollonius]

The reductio ad absurdam enthusiast might suggest that smaller cars could drive very close to the edge of the road so that faster vehicles could use the spacious middle of the road to pass at any time.

 

[winjim]

You'd be happy to ignore mobile phone driving laws don't because you feel they don't make sense?

They are inconsistent and haven't kept up with the progress made in mobile phone technology. I could use many of the functions of my phone whilst driving if they were on a dedicated device, eg camera or dictaphone, but because they happen to be integrated into a pocket computer which also has a phone function I can't? And I can make a phone call with a hands free kit? Or use a CB radio?

As it happens I wouldn't personally do any of these things whilst driving, but my point is that the law really needs updating.

 

[Mugshot]

The reality is that if someone is cycling single file, a car can pass and there's still room for another car coming the other way. That isn't the case riding two abreast. One can bang on about "correct" overtaking as much as one likes but that's the reality and is a major cause of friction between cyclists and other road users

The reality is that if we ride in the gutter we encourage close overtakes because we are presenting space to the car drivers which most of us would far rather they didn't use as it brings them too close to us. If you look at @User s post above it shows quite clearly what we should be working towards. We all know that in reality this isn't always the case, but as cyclists we need to try to encourage it by our road positioning. The fact is that the more cyclists there are that believe they should hug the gutter to enable cars to pass them whilst also allowing cars to continue from the other direction the worse it is for those of us who do not.

 

[Drago]

How is overtaking 2 x cyclists riding abreast any more onerous than overtaking a car of a similar width?

 

[slowmotion]

The reductio ad absurdam enthusiast might suggest that smaller cars could drive very close to the edge of the road so that faster vehicles could use the spacious middle of the road to pass at any time.

That's a good idea. Fiat 500s would be expected to drive in the gutter to allow more prestigious Chelsea tractors to sweep by "unimpeded".

 

[Mark1978]

Come and live near us. Tractor city around here at this time of year. Living in rural Norfolk is lovely most of the time but I swear those tractors leave the farms at 2 minute intervals and TT to their destination. It's all narrow roads around here but we just accept that tractors (or tourists pulling caravans) go slowly and that there is nothing that can be done. Getting arsey and tweeting photos (not sure how to tweet anything though as we don't twit) is just showing stupidity.

I quite like following a good tractor . I've "scalped" a few on my bike too, but normally only the one with the caterpillar tracks on them as they don't seem to get above 20mph.

And kind of on topic... are tractor drivers the worst out of the lot for driving while being on the phone? I think pretty much 95% of all tractor driver are on the blower to someone.

 

[nickyboy]

I am genuinely interested in the subject of single file/two abreast riding. If you ask car drivers they all will claim that two abreast is an ignorant way to ride and not considerate of other road users. If you ask cyclists some will agree with this and some will not.
So a simple question: If two cyclists are riding two abreast does this, in your opinion, have any effect on a car driver's ability to overtake compared to riding single file? If the answer is no, why do you think car drivers disagree?

No agenda here, a genuine question as two road user groups appear to have very different positions on this

 

[Apollonius]

Yes! Slowmotion, you are beginning to understand the hierarchy that is the reality of road use. Less of this egalitarian nonsense that we have an equal right to use the road going back centuries. (Is there an irony smiley?)

 

[Markymark]

I am genuinely interested in the subject of single file/two abreast riding. If you ask car drivers they all will claim that two abreast is an ignorant way to ride and not considerate of other road users. If you ask cyclists some will agree with this and some will not.
So a simple question: If two cyclists are riding two abreast does this, in your opinion, have any effect on a car driver's ability to overtake compared to riding single file? If the answer is no, why do you think car drivers disagree?

No agenda here, a genuine question as two road user groups appear to have very different positions on this

Because some car drivers think they should be able to squeeze past cyclists and overtake dangerously. This is easier to do if they are single file.

 

[Drago]

Does it really need updating? Is people fiddling with cameras or Palm pilots while driving a big problem? And even if it were we'd simply use the "not in proper control" legislation, his like we always quite happily used to do with mobiles.