Riding with other people

[arallsopp]

This makes me think of Lee's and my ride. That was fun!

Was that User3143? Rode back from a FNRttC with him once. Man filters like a salmon.

 

[summerdays]

Mostly in bus lanes. Cyclists often cycle three abreast in the rush-hour, JJ - imagine that!

I do the two abreast both in bus lanes, cycle paths, and on quiet roads. But in all three situations I will move to single file if I'm in the way of another person/car etc. The only time I break that rule is when there is queued traffic and effectively there are multiple people sharing a car space - not with friends just strangers (well occasionally I know the person next to me).

 

[John the Monkey]

Nicely put.

but that dosent make either of them right.

And yet one of them is done by 90% of road users and no one whinges about that.

I'm sick of the moton "DON'T STOP ME REACHING THE NEXT RED LIGHT 10 SECONDS BEFORE YOU" attitude atm. It doesn't need us reinforcing it.

 

[jonny jeez]

I do the two abreast both in bus lanes, cycle paths, and on quiet roads. But in all three situations I will move to single file if I'm in the way of another person/car etc. The only time I break that rule is when there is queued traffic and effectively there are multiple people sharing a car space - not with friends just strangers (well occasionally I know the person next to me).

Thats what I'm talking about.

I specifically stated...not in the rush hour and not in Cities...at that time, in that environment I think its inconsiderate and flippin dangerous.

and John TM...no-one is re-nforcing motorists "rights" to drive like idiots and rush to the next stop at all costs...that's not my point...read the OP and you'll see that.

Bottom line for me is that if you want a safe and enjoyable ride (in to work -through a city-in the rush hour) then dont give other road shares a reason to get upset with you.

out of town, out of the rush hour...ride how YOU want and enjoy the company of riding double breasted...just not in the crush hour.

 

[summerdays]

But in rush hour you may be doing the same speed as the other traffic - so if you are two abreast and only taking up one space as opposed to single file and two spaces. In the town centre where it may be solid semi gridlock traffic, I'm often in primary - if someone wants to share that bit of space I have left to my left then as long as they are cycling sensibly I don't mind.

 

[John the Monkey]

and John TM...no-one is re-nforcing motorists "rights" to drive like idiots and rush to the next stop at all costs...that's not my point...read the OP and you'll see that.

Bottom line for me is that if you want a safe and enjoyable ride (in to work -through a city-in the rush hour) then dont give other road shares a reason to get upset with you.

out of town, out of the rush hour...ride how YOU want and enjoy the company of riding double breasted...just not in the crush hour.

I'm not really having a go at you jonny - I'm just a bit fed up with the way things are over here.

I'd feel uncomfortable riding two abreast in traffic, if I'm honest. But why the hell should I? It's not illegal, generally I'm not going slower than the traffic ahead (and even if I were, the world won't stop turning or civilisation collapse if Mr. Moton can't pass me). Looking at the things routinely done by 60-70% of the drivers I see on my commute, and then looking at the way "cyclists" have been vilified in the press lately, I despair of this bloody country.

 

[BentMikey]

Was that User3143? Rode back from a FNRttC with him once. Man filters like a salmon.

Here you go, temporarily online again:


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMWuPsUoBB0

 

[BentMikey]

Bottom line for me is that if you want a safe and enjoyable ride (in to work -through a city-in the rush hour) then dont give other road shares a reason to get upset with you.

You're already doing that just by cycling. Maybe you shouldn't cycle?

More seriously, there are times and places for two abreast, and there are plenty of opportunities to do it well on my commute. There's no reason to see that your and Origamist's views are that far apart, apart from the polarization in the debate that is. I'm betting he singles out when appropriate, just as you would expect.

 

[Origamist]

What Jonny doesn't seem to appreciate is that you can ride two abreast in a city, in the rush hour, and not be inconsiderate (by reverting back to single file when necessary). It is not a straight "nope" as he said earlier.

 

[jonny jeez]

Ok, I'll concede that a straight "NOPE" may be too strong...but only if you know what you are doing and that you are aware of the right and wrong time to do it...and crucially, you know when to single out at the right time.(is that enough caveat's??)

Unfortunately, many of the riders I see doing this (which in truth isn’t that many), don’t seem to have much of a clue, never check over their shoulders and just seem to be almost going out of their way to wind others up (even me, when I'm riding as I need to go out "super wide" to get past them)...I dont see any "club" type riders doing this at all.

Oh and John TM, your point "I'd feel uncomfortable riding two abreast in traffic, if I'm honest. But why the hell should I? " is a very good one and is kinda what I'm saying. If the roads could take it and drivers were better educated then you wouldn’t feel uncomfortable...but, unfortunately...neither is true today..

What a great debate