bike riding question: single file?

Dave Tallo

I do most of my training on a route that gives a little bit of everything ... a greenbelt area protected from suburb development, single-lane country roads, hills, shade, windy flats, the works.  But, it's a victim of its success, because on the first sunny weekends of the summer, there are a gadzillion riders out on the roads. 

And not that a gadzillion riders is inherently wrong ... it's just that they ride in big clusters of 2-3 across.  Which is also fine (and apparently legal around these parts), except when I'm coming in one direction, and the cluster of 2-3 is coming the other direction, and a car comes up behind them, and can't see around them, and has to pull out into the lane of ongoming traffic - which in this case is me - to pass.    Oddly, I don't blame the drivers anymore, because they have probably spent the last 20 minutes having to pass 15 groups of riders, and have no way to see through a group of spandex and bikes that are taking a full lane to see that there is a rider coming in the opposite direction.  This happened four times over a 3h ride last weekend, and each was a progressively closer call.  By the end, I had turned into 'that guy' who would yell 'single file!" to groups.  Riders in clusters seemed ticked.  

Other people are hell.  Am I wrong here? 

   

robin sarner

I think you are right.

Three abreast on a road is bad manners and dangerous to others like you say.

Two abreast on a road, IMO, should only be in rare situations where it is clearly safe.     wide shoulders.    wide road.     no bikes the other way.   etc.

It is hard to find a good group ride where folks are not doing dangerous things as you experienced.  

Al Truscott

Dave ... My attitude, honed from years of bicycle commuting and long distance touring. When I'm a cyclist, I try to watch out for everyone's safety on the road, not just mine. That way, I find I stay safer. E.g., when going around a blind 90* corner (lotta trees, hiding the oncoming traffic), I'll move near the center line around the curve, to prevent any driver coming from behind from foolishly hitting an unseen oncoming car while trying to avoid me. In the situation you describe, if I were riding two abreast, I would be worrying about vehicles on the opposite side, including cyclists, and what danger they might be facing. Not to be a nice guy, but to be ready if they try to save themselves.

One of the biggest irritants I feel in life is when someone,whether a pedestrian, driver, cyclist, skier, whatever, takes actions or positions themselves with seemingly no regard on how their action affects others. There are 7 billion people in the world, not just one!!!!!

gopetego

Agree with you Dave. When it comes to group rides I think its often the case of the bigger the group, the less fear of harm from vehicular traffic. Maybe I'm wrong, but we humans tend to follow the herd and foolishly grow bigger cojones when in groups vs alone. So if the leaders of the group don't lead by example and call out riding 2/3 abreast, everyone assumes its okay (even if they know its wrong). Bad riding habits being enforced. Group think at its worst. Until cyclist have their own roads - we share with the car - which will win every collision.

kimmydct

Yikes. The group I ride with apparently has good manners. Occassionally, if not riding in single file on a more quiet road, if a car is coming up from behind, the person in back (usually me!) yells "Car back!" which prompts everyone to move in single file to let the car pass. I figured this was "normal" group riding etiquette since I've only been riding with this particualr group.

Coach Patrick

Dave, such a bummer. You are right to be extra wary at this time of year...easy to get distracted thinking you are safe!!!

J.T. Thompson

I've seen an interesting change on this issue since moving to Boulder - which as you can guess has a ton of cyclists out on almost any given day. Fortunately, the roads here are much better for cycling than in NJ - most have pretty good shoulders - to the point where you can ride 2 abreast and still be in the shoulder.....But cars do expect you to be over there and are less accomodating if you are outside the shoulder......

But to your question - I do agree that groups of cyclists often should be for aware of their actions. I've always found it annoying when a group of cyclists come to a red light and then the run it....Same thing when they are 3 or more wide in traffic - just pisses off cars and not worth it....But I will add that often it may be the drivers issues as well...

Just have to be very careful and never take anything for granted....

Dave Tallo

Thanks all! I'm trying to build up the nerve to crosspost this on ST and take the consequential flaming.

Coach Rich

You don't know how bad it can be until you drive on the IMWI course on any weekend from mid July through the race. Last year I drove the course from Madison to Verona to start a ride from there and in that 16 miles I was pissed at how little regard cyclists had for impeding drivers. I can only imagine how bad it must be for the locals.