Cyclists two abreast on busy 'A' road, selfish?

It depends how busy the road is and how many lanes it is. If it is actually busy, then yes because it does say in the highway code that whilst you DO NOT have to single out, it is courteous.

But some people might just say it was busy to start an argument of driver v cyclist.
 
Nexus said:
This always comes up in these threads, but I'd wager that you will find most people out on club rides, with decent bikes and wearing spandex as you put it.... well they will actually for the majority be car owners and licensed drivers who have done such tests. Its what makes it even more ridiculous when people start shouting about not paying 'road tax'.

The people who won't are kids and those on old beater bikes, which you typically see riding on the pavement anyway. Inner cities like London are a bit of an exception because obviously there are going to be cyclists there who have never driven because there is little need to learn.

Yes cycling is pretty accessible to everyone, but given the expense and effort that people will have to put in to do it seriously, I think you will find they also own cars.
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That's all well and good and whatnot, but why is it every time I go into a public car park it's full of oblivious morons who just moments previous were in a car?

People are retarded. As soon as they get out of a car, they are no longer motorists they are pedestrians. The same applies to cyclists. They expect motorists to take all responsibility.

So no, just because you're in a ****ing fruity little cycling club with your spandex buddies doesn't excuse you. :rolleyes:
 
Theophany said:
That's all well and good and whatnot, but why is it every time I go into a public car park it's full of oblivious morons who just moments previous were in a car?

People are retarded. As soon as they get out of a car, they are no longer motorists they are pedestrians. The same applies to cyclists. They expect motorists to take all responsibility.

So no, just because you're in a ****ing fruity little cycling club with your spandex buddies doesn't excuse you. :rolleyes:
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Where was why I defending Cyclists who are breaking road laws or acting irresponsibly?

I was picking up on the fact that you said:
operators' of these vehicles are not required to pass a basic competency test as all motorists are. Seems bloody barmy to me that any twot in spandex can pick up a bicycle and play make believe that they're racing for Team Sky.
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When the fact is the majority of proper cyclists you see on the road will drive a car also and more than likely did a proficiency test at school.

The tone of your comments suggests that you overall have a hatred for cyclists, and its worrying when there are people such as yourself on the road.
 
Rimsy said:
You say normally - when wouldn't you ride two abreast?
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When I'm by myself or the situation means that there isn't space. If motorists wish to overtake then they can do so when it's safe.

newbiejim said:
Who trained you?
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The Police.

newbiejim said:
Would you go single file if there was a substantial traffic queue building up?
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I'd try to, but it depends on what else is going on and the road conditions. Sometimes it's safer for the cyclist to stay in adjacent to each other because of the road layout or other factors and my safety comes first.

newbiejim said:
When you say about anyone voicing an opinion regarding this it sounds like you would react aggressively?
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No, not aggressively, but I would make sure they understood the errors of their ways. One of my colleagues was cycling on a cycleway and had a motorist give a load of abuse to him on how he was cycling on the pavement. He was visited at his home address and was warned about his inappropriate behaviour.
 
Nexus said:
Where was why I defending Cyclists who are breaking road laws or acting irresponsibly?

I was picking up on the fact that you said: When the fact is the majority of proper cyclists you see on the road will drive a car also and more than likely did a proficiency test at school.

The tone of your comments suggests that you overall have a hatred for cyclists, and its worrying when there are people such as yourself on the road.
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Woosh?

People take their driving test and that seems only to apply when they're in a car. Cyclists, on par, do not cycle with a motorist mentality, they cycle with a cyclist's mentality. Having a driving license is largely irrelevant and bringing it up is frankly moronic. It's like saying that having a driving license entitles you do drive a motorcycle.

I have no hatred for anybody. But as somebody who does an awful lot of miles, I find it irritating that I'm put in a position where the burden of responsibility is mine for no good reason other than somebody is on a health kick or has watched a stage of the Tour de France.
 
Theophany said:
Woosh?

People take their driving test and that seems only to apply when they're in a car. Cyclists, on par, do not cycle with a motorist mentality, they cycle with a cyclist's mentality. Having a driving license is largely irrelevant and bringing it up is frankly moronic. It's like saying that having a driving license entitles you do drive a motorcycle.

I have no hatred for anybody. But as somebody who does an awful lot of miles, I find it irritating that I'm put in a position where the burden of responsibility is mine for no good reason other than somebody is on a health kick or has watched a stage of the Tour de France.
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What what exactly is a cyclists mentality?
 
Burnsy2023 said:
When I'm by myself or the situation means that there isn't space. If motorists wish to overtake then they can do so when it's safe.



The Police.



I'd try to, but it depends on what else is going on and the road conditions. Sometimes it's safer for the cyclist to stay in adjacent to each other because of the road layout or other factors and my safety comes first.



No, not aggressively, but I would make sure they understood the errors of their ways. One of my colleagues was cycling on a cycleway and had a motorist give a load of abuse to him on how he was cycling on the pavement. He was visited at his home address and was warned about his inappropriate behaviour.
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Your points have some validity, if a tad tenuous.I still strongly believe though cyclists two abreast on a busy A road causing constant say 6-7 vehicle queue behind them is just plain wrong, tractor drivers get done for causing queues and not pulling over to let traffic flow and imho so should cyclists if they are clearly refusing to be reasonable. I for one would forego my Wiggins/Froome inspired hobby for the greater good if I was causing hassle for the numbers of people I see *some* inconsiderate cyclists doing. I suppose though it again comes down to people being impolite.
 
Theophany said:
Woosh?

People take their driving test and that seems only to apply when they're in a car. Cyclists, on par, do not cycle with a motorist mentality, they cycle with a cyclist's mentality. Having a driving license is largely irrelevant and bringing it up is frankly moronic. It's like saying that having a driving license entitles you do drive a motorcycle.
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Having a driving licence of any sort means that you must have read the highway code and passed a theory test. That in itself means the cyclist should be aware of what they should and should not be doing on the road. It'll also give a good understanding of what it's like to be another motorist and see it from the other side of the fence.
 
Theophany said:
Woosh?

People take their driving test and that seems only to apply when they're in a car. Cyclists, on par, do not cycle with a motorist mentality, they cycle with a cyclist's mentality. Having a driving license is largely irrelevant and bringing it up is frankly moronic. It's like saying that having a driving license entitles you do drive a motorcycle.
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This may be the case on main roads, go to somewhere like Cambridge and you'll get mowed down by cyclists on the paths.

MW
 
Mr-White said:
Every morning because some dozy bint would be doing 10mph in a 40mph in rush hour causing 1-2 mile tail back of traffic :(

MW
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Where do you live and how narrow are your roads? I've been cycling around London for the past year and a bit and I've never seen more than a few cars stuck behind a cyclist.
 
explicit4u said:
Where do you live and how narrow are your roads? I've been cycling around London for the past year and a bit and I've never seen more than a few cars stuck behind a cyclist.
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That's because in London they simply drive over them. London has way too many cyclists who ignore the highway code and way too many motorists who don't care about anyone but themselves. I think I'll stick to being a pedestrian there.
 
Theophany said:
Woosh?

People take their driving test and that seems only to apply when they're in a car. Cyclists, on par, do not cycle with a motorist mentality, they cycle with a cyclist's mentality. Having a driving license is largely irrelevant and bringing it up is frankly moronic. It's like saying that having a driving license entitles you do drive a motorcycle.

I have no hatred for anybody. But as somebody who does an awful lot of miles, I find it irritating that I'm put in a position where the burden of responsibility is mine for no good reason other than somebody is on a health kick or has watched a stage of the Tour de France.
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But you are applying some huge generalisation that all Cyclists who are also drivers are ignoring rules of the road on a bicycle and that is simply not the case.

Further to that, what exactly is a motorists mentality?
I see people everyday who presumably passed a driving test, yet they aren't following the rules of the road and in some cases are even breaking the law in their cars.

If you really don't bare any hatred, you aren't doing a very good job of showing it.
 
My workplace has a one way system around it and the amount of times ive almost hit someone on a bike because they are going against the flow of traffic and come flying around the corner is unreal.

They also never stop for pedestrians on zebra crossings. Some vehicle eh.

Personally I think they should either be restricted to certain areas or designated bike lanes or should have to sit a driving exam like the rest of us.

That all being said im aware its illegal to ride a bike on the pavement but people do it all the time. In fact ive seen people riding past police officers and nothing ever gets said.

There are some really considerate and 'decent' cyclists out there but the vast majority should never be allowed on a road. How someone going from pavement to road continuously just to beat traffic lights is perfectly acceptable I don't know. I call it acceptable because naff all ever gets done about it, suggest to me that its considered ok to do.
 
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