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

Pfft I had 3 a breast down a local lane near me the other day it gets full of them at times but these 3 let me know when it was safe to pass them by giving me a hand signal and then popping into single file. Still can't stand the buggers though. :D
 
Conscript said:
I don't think I've ever been unaware of a vehicle approaching from behind even at high speeds. A quick turn of the head every now and then is all it takes to defeat wind noise.
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I can't hear cars coming up behind me - the headphones block out most noise.
 
HardwareGeek said:
I would argue the exact opposite..

they increase traffic problems, would much rather have 1 more car doing the speed limit in front of me in traffic than be stuck in a tailback behind a bike.

they personally don't emit as much co2 as a vehicle but cause the rest of the traffic on the road to emit more, breaking, running in 2nd/3rd then flooring it to pass?

same ^^ with noise?

they may not personally kill anyone except maybe a pedestrian but i would argue there must be more accidents on the road network shared with cyclists then a road network without cyclists
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Where are all these terrible drivers coming from, who can't overtake an object the size of a bicycle that's riding almost in the gutter on a main road?

I don't think I've ever been held up by a cyclist, and I rarely find myself at the head of a queue of traffic when cycling myself.

Seems to me that most people here are simply of the opinion that they have a sole right to use of the highway and exaggerate the obstructiveness of cyclists to somehow justify their argument. Either that or I just live in a part of the country where the driving/cycling standards are enough that it's not a problem.
 
HardwareGeek said:
would much rather have 1 more car doing the speed limit in front of me in traffic than be stuck in a tailback behind a bike.
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Easy solution - make more roads cycle only - then they'll be no cars queing behind bikes.
 
HardwareGeek said:
I would argue the exact opposite..

they increase traffic problems, would much rather have 1 more car doing the speed limit in front of me in traffic than be stuck in a tailback behind a bike.

they personally don't emit as much co2 as a vehicle but cause the rest of the traffic on the road to emit more, breaking, running in 2nd/3rd then flooring it to pass?

same ^^ with noise?

they may not personally kill anyone except maybe a pedestrian but i would argue there must be more accidents on the road network shared with cyclists then a road network without cyclists
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Your post doesn't make much sense.

If you were stuck in a queue of traffic, you aren't going anywhere and Cyclists would just filter by you.

As for being stuck behind a massive tailback.... I'll give that some cyclists may be selfish, but if its causing a ten mile tail back, I think they would go single-file. I've never seen a situation like that and can't readily see it happening. Ultimately though, how is it any different to being stuck behind a horse rider, tractor, caravan, slow HGV?

There are too many cars on our roads as it is, which is something that is only going to get worse. Engine emissions are emissions, nit picking over whether somebody has to brake or speed up is silly because that is fundamentally how you drive any vehicle, regardless of whether you are behind a queue.
 
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HardwareGeek said:
I would argue the exact opposite..

they increase traffic problems, would much rather have 1 more car doing the speed limit in front of me in traffic than be stuck in a tailback behind a bike.

they personally don't emit as much co2 as a vehicle but cause the rest of the traffic on the road to emit more, breaking, running in 2nd/3rd then flooring it to pass?

same ^^ with noise?

they may not personally kill anyone except maybe a pedestrian but i would argue there must be more accidents on the road network shared with cyclists then a road network without cyclists
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Fantastic. A+ for effort.

As always with these threads, your problem is not with cyclists riding two abreast. Your problem is with people being knobs. This happens throughout life and is not exclusive to cyclists.

FWIW, I ride two abreast but always pull in single file to let drivers pass. Amazing how many drivers lack the confidence to overtake safely and efficiently though by grossly overestimating how long it takes to pass a bike. I spend two weeks cycling in France every year. There are exponentially more cyclists on the road but I very rarely see queues because drivers seem to be more confident in overtaking. Food for thought.
 
HardwareGeek said:
I would argue the exact opposite..

they increase traffic problems, would much rather have 1 more car doing the speed limit in front of me in traffic than be stuck in a tailback behind a bike.

they personally don't emit as much co2 as a vehicle but cause the rest of the traffic on the road to emit more, breaking, running in 2nd/3rd then flooring it to pass?

same ^^ with noise?

they may not personally kill anyone except maybe a pedestrian but i would argue there must be more accidents on the road network shared with cyclists then a road network without cyclists
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AHH hahahahahahahahaha
Let me think.
When was the last time you got stuck in a queue of traffic caused by a cyclist
When was the last time you got stuck in a queue of traffic caused by cars/lorries/some old coffin dodger in his micra doing 20.

I rest my case..

Overtake cyclists safely when you can. When you can't, WAIT UNTIL YOU CAN.
If you can't wait, you should have left home earlier!
 
Nexus said:
Your post doesn't make much sense.

If you were stuck in a queue of traffic, you aren't going anywhere and Cyclists would just filter by you.

As for being stuck behind a massive tailback.... I'll give that some cyclists may be selfish, but if its causing a ten mile tail back, I think they would go single-file. I've never seen a situation like that and can't readily see it happening. Ultimately though, how is it any different to being stuck behind a horse rider, tractor, caravan, slow HGV?

There are too many cars on our roads as it is, which is something that is only going to get worse. Engine emissions are emissions, nit picking over whether somebody has to brake or speed up is silly because that is fundamentally how you drive any vehicle, regardless of whether you are behind a queue.
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The areas i drive for work are mostly single file cyclists to be fair, but it still causes problems on narrow roads possibly with no overtaking markings or if the car behind is nervous to overtake the cyclist either because of the type of road or wanting to give the cyclist the same room as a car to pass, rather than just moving to the centre line of the road and passing close.

this thread is about cyclists but the same problems apply to horses, HGVs, tractors etc it is all about what meshes well together on the roads, the more the performance and speed characteristics of each vehicle matches the less problems will be caused.

i don't think mentioning anything that may cause an increase in emissions like breaking and accelerating is completely irrelevant, obviously the ideal would be the start the car, cruise perfectly to the destination and park, anything that deviates from this will increase emissions, not just cyclists, poor road design, sharp corners, junctions will all reduce efficiency
 
Fuzz said:
AHH hahahahahahahahaha
Let me think.
When was the last time you got stuck in a queue of traffic caused by a cyclist
When was the last time you got stuck in a queue of traffic caused by cars/lorries/some old coffin dodger in his micra doing 20.

I rest my case..

Overtake cyclists safely when you can. When you can't, WAIT UNTIL YOU CAN.
If you can't wait, you should have left home earlier!
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Exactly. Reminds me of that bike to work advert: "You're not stuck in traffic, YOU ARE TRAFFIC"
 
Fuzz said:
AHH hahahahahahahahaha
Let me think.
When was the last time you got stuck in a queue of traffic caused by a cyclist
When was the last time you got stuck in a queue of traffic caused by cars/lorries/some old coffin dodger in his micra doing 20.

I rest my case..

Overtake cyclists safely when you can. When you can't, WAIT UNTIL YOU CAN.
If you can't wait, you should have left home earlier!
Click to expand...

I do a lot of miles and i get stuck behind someone several times per day, i would say 50/50 as to the cause being cyclists or other slow moving traffic.

Not really an issue as you are going to be stuck behind someone sometime but cyclists can be the worst when your stuck going up a steep hill in 1st gear doing about 3mph with no room to overtake for miles with a big tailback forming behind.

There is a road like this i have to drive every day which cyclist seem to love, its quite scenic but it does make you worry about their safety, it just seems a really dangerous road to cycle on, so thin you can barely get 2 small cars to pass safely and very hilly and twisty

Just need 2 cars passing near a bend with an unseen cyclist around the corner for a death to happen i would imagine
 
Theophany said:
And yet - as you wonderfully demonstrate - '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. :rolleyes:
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I cycle daily and I agree with the OP and also agree with the above.
I try my hardest to be totally road compliant and will give way to things bigger than me at all times but every day I will have a 'near miss' driver story.
The best safety device I bought a few months ago was a Blackburn mirror that fits in my handlebars so I can see idiots trying to left hook me or getting too close.
I look down at the mirror at least twice a minute but there's no way I can keep turning around with an arthritic spine.
 
Groups of lycra-clad *******s are the worst!

I Belgium, particularly Fanders on Sunday mornings, you drive round the corner on a country road and you are met with a swarm of the buggers!
They think they own the road and will cycle right down the middle.

Sometimes there's a car with its hazards on behind them, driving at 20mph.
How they get away with this **** I'll never know.
 
Isn't it illegal to cycle on the pavement?
Cycling on the pavement is bloody annoying if you're trying to walk on it!
 
Cyclists and motor vehicles just don't belong in the same place, we need more dutch style segregated cycle paths.

Tom0 said:
People who don't use the empty pavements do my head in more. Far enough in a city or busy town center but otherwise, get up the ******* curb!
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Thought it was illegal to cycle on the pavement :confused:
 
Tom0 said:
People who don't use the empty pavements do my head in more. Far enough in a city or busy town center but otherwise, get up the ******* curb!
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Do you mean empty cycle lanes?
During one part of my commute I have about 1.5 miles of cycle lane and I've never seen any other cyclist use it as I go past them.
I've even shouted several times 'There's a cycle lane here'.
 
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