Mutual respect on the road!

spangoolies

I know this doesn't apply to everyone on here, but there are a few road cyclists that are ruining it for everyone. I was driving home today only to get stuck in a load of traffic that to my amazement was caused by a group of cyclist riding three wide! They were rightly getting abuse and giving a lot back. Now I'm a cyclist on both road and mainly off road and when in a group we always ride singlefile as we respect other road users. In the 20 years riding on the road like this I've never had problems with other road users. And when I'm driving and I see cyclists keeping left I make sure I pass with care. I'm sorry but anyone who rides thinking they own the road with no consideration to others deserves every bit of abuse they get thrown at them. They are helping to the increasing lack of consideration from drivers and ultimately more deaths of cyclists on the road. Drop the chip off your shoulders and think of others. End of rant.

clunkychunky

You get idiots in all walks of life.
Totally wrong that they didnt single out. IME Its fine riding 2 abreast (never ridden 3 abreast) so long as you single out when traffic approaches from behind, not least for your own safety. Common sense really.

Saying that, things like this could well be one of the reasons for some riders refusing to single out, or riding in middle of the lane:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-14575975

stinger53

You always get some that don't follow the road rules
if cyclists respect the rules and show respect to the other road users you get respect the back and visa versa.

chrisaonabike

clunkychunky wrote:

Saying that, things like this could well be one of the reasons for some riders refusing to single out, or riding in middle of the lane:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-14575975

I think that article is going to be counterproductive. "Aggression" is TOTALLY the wrong word to use in that context.

cougie

Aggression is the wrong word there.

Riding 3 up is irresponsible and stupid.
I've no problems riding 2up though if done sensibly.

essjaydee

I blame wiggle :roll:

Gizmodo

No excuses for riding 3 abreast. May I ask how big the group was?

In larger groups (5 to 12 or so) it is safer to ride 2 abreast in close formation to allow cars to overtake as long as you single out in heavy traffic or when conditions dictate.

diy

Aggression breeds aggression. It's going to be the cyclist who loses in the end. I actually think we need more courtesy to get more respect from other road users. A wave to say thanks does much more than riding wide and obstructing people. I can imagine the reaction of that large group if they came up on a slow bunch of cyclists. They'd cycle straight through them.

Gizmodo

diy wrote:

I can imagine the reaction of that large group if they came up on a slow bunch of cyclists. They'd cycle straight through them.

When did it become a "large" group? The OP only said it was a group - for all we know it could have been 3 people.

spangoolies

It was around 8 guys riding along a busy town road. I would have loved to have been on my bike and passed them as I would have given them a piece of my mind as I don't think they were listening to what looked like 'spirited' advice of passing cars

TakeTurns

Lippy having another go at this?

You can't make everyone perfect. It's human nature, some just lack common sense and/or are arrogant.