Moaning about cycling two abreast

[Accy cyclist]

10 mph is pretty slow though.

I agree, but one yesterday was a very big 4x4 with a big trailer. He could've waited till the road was straight but he overtook us by crossing the double white lines on a left hand bend He must've been on the right side of the road for 7 or 8 dangerous seconds.

 

[Milkfloat]

I agree, but one yesterday was a very big 4x4 with a big trailer. He could've waited till the road was straight but he overtook us by crossing the double white lines on a left hand bend He must've been on the right side of the road for 7 or 8 dangerous seconds.

At least if something came the other way he could pull to the left and not damage his vehicle in a head on.

 

[benb]

Where's that diagram from @benb and can it be reused widely?

I just googled "easier to overtake cyclists 2 abreast" went to images, and it was on the first page.
Page it came from is: https://twitter.com/forestcyclist/status/480778771692535808
I'm sure he won't mind you reusing it, but drop him a message.

 

[andyfraser]

I witnessed an accident this morning. Large roundabout, 3 lanes: turn left, straight on and turn right. First car in left lane waits for 2 people they'd called out to to get in the car. Car behind edges forward a little then stops. First car starts to pull forward to see around a bus at the front of the straight across lane. Second car accelerates right into the back of the first car as if it wasn't there and as if the roundabout was clear but the second car couldn't see the traffic on the roundabout because of the bus.

Talking of buses, some of them have a notice on the right hand side: "Please let me pull out" and reference to highway code rule 223:
Rule 223
Buses, coaches and trams. Give priority to these vehicles when you can do so safely, especially when they signal to pull away from stops. Look out for people getting off a bus or tram and crossing the road.

I've been using the buses a lot lately because of a bad back. I know rule 223 isn't a "must" but the amount of people who have to get in front of the bus before it pulls out of the bus stop (off road lay by type) is amazing. I've been on buses that have had to wait 5 minutes to pull out on busy roads.

Where the bus stop is actually on the road it amazes me how many drivers will take chances and just go round the bus, often stopping traffic coming in the other direction. They even overtake once the bus has started moving causing the bus to slow down or stop just so they're in front.

There are too many motor vehicles on the road driven by too many people who are impatient and who have forgotten the highway code and too few measures to police the roads.

 

[Hip Priest]

My favourite was recently being beeped and gesticulated at by the driver of an oncoming car because we were riding two abreast. He wanted to come into our lane to overtake a small farm vehicle thing (maybe a quad bike, I forget). And, of all the cheek, we were actually using our lane, which meant he had to wait all of 10 seconds before furiously performing his overtaking manoeuvre. (Long, straight, relatively wide, minor road btw)

Happened to me on a time trial last year. I was passing a cyclist in my lane, and there was a car parked in the opposite lane. A 4x4 driver coming the other way had to slow down slightly as a result, and let rip a volley of abuse in my direction. Tit.

 

[mjr]

There are too many motor vehicles on the road driven by too many people who are impatient and who have forgotten the highway code and too few measures to police the roads.

You're very charitable. I doubt many of them ever knew the highway code and passed the HC questions of the old driving test by hearsay and dumb luck - and that's ignoring the 3% or so of motorists without valid licences. Expecting them to know recent changes to the HC (such as flashing bike lights, which many motorists whine about being illegal) would be fantasy at best.

 

[Milkfloat]

I've been using the buses a lot lately because of a bad back. I know rule 223 isn't a "must" but the amount of people who have to get in front of the bus before it pulls out of the bus stop (off road lay by type) is amazing. I've been on buses that have had to wait 5 minutes to pull out on busy roads.

Conversely near me a large number of busses will go straight from indicating left whilst picking up passengers to, indicating right and accelerating with barely a glance in the mirror. Certainly when passing a bus that is parked up I am incredibly wary in case they just decide to go.

 

[andyfraser]

You're very charitable. I doubt many of them ever knew the highway code and passed the HC questions of the old driving test by hearsay and dumb luck - and that's ignoring the 3% or so of motorists without valid licences. Expecting them to know recent changes to the HC (such as flashing bike lights, which many motorists whine about being illegal) would be fantasy at best.

You're right. I'm actually starting to think that there should be more of those cameras that can catch unlicensed and uninsured drivers. Then they can invent a camera that can catch morons!

 

[andyfraser]

Conversely near me a large number of busses will go straight from indicating left whilst picking up passengers to, indicating right and accelerating with barely a glance in the mirror. Certainly when passing a bus that is parked up I am incredibly wary in case they just decide to go.

I see that too, especially if a bus is running late. In those cases the driver seems to think he or she is Lewis Hamilton. Mostly the bus drivers here will edge forward when trying to get out of bus stops.

 

[andyoxon]

This is good...


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTGRQgw6PDA

 

[winjim]

Where's that diagram from @benb and can it be reused widely?

I assume you've seen this one?

http://ukcyclelaws.blogspot.co.uk/p/the-laws-according-to-highway-code.html?m=1

It gets used a lot, but the blog it's from never seemed to get updated after the first couple of articles.

 

[RMurphy195]

I was told to never argue with an idiot. They would always bring you down to their level, and beat you with their experience.

Just remember - if having an argument with a fool, make sure he isn't doing the same thing ...

 

[User16625]

Amazing how much abuse you get when riding 2 abreast, makes you wonder how many more rules these angry drivers dont understand.

Smile and wave.... only way to win these confrontations. In my experience they don't know what to do with it and just drive away swearing and cross and you can carry on enjoying your ride without raising your own blood pressure. Don't let them ruin your ride.

Or apply a bit of common sense, pull into single file and let the son of a bitch speed off. This is better for the driver because he is no longer being held up. This is better for you because you no longer have an irate idiot in control of a ton or more of metal behind you. This is also better for cyclists in general because failing to yield when ever reasonable may make drivers even more antagonistic towards us.

 

[winjim]

Or apply a bit of common sense, pull into single file and let the son of a bitch speed off. This is better for the driver because he is no longer being held up. This is better for you because you no longer have an irate idiot in control of a ton or more of metal behind you. This is also better for cyclists in general because failing to yield when ever reasonable may make drivers even more antagonistic towards us.

 

[sidevalve]

You're very charitable. I doubt many of them ever knew the highway code and passed the HC questions of the old driving test by hearsay and dumb luck - and that's ignoring the 3% or so of motorists without valid licences. Expecting them to know recent changes to the HC (such as flashing bike lights, which many motorists whine about being illegal) would be fantasy at best.

Well it's about 100% more of them that the number of cyclists who have had to pass ANY sort of test.

Mostly the bus drivers here will edge forward when trying to get out of bus stops.

Seen a lot of cyclists doing similar things at junctions too.

Or apply a bit of common sense, pull into single file and let the son of a bitch speed off.

Most sensible comment here.
Just wondering why do cyclists need to ride two abreast anyhow ?
Just a question [which many won't like] but if a large tractor got in your way and sat at a quite legal 4mph and and you couldn't get around be honest how many here would simply be happy to follow for maybe a mile or two and not get just a leetle impatient ?
Follow the highway code [oddly it applies to cyclists too]and NOT ride more than two abreast AND ride in singe file on narrow or busy roads.
Sorry but don't cry about the other guy not following the rules if you don't yourself.