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- Something that can often annoy drivers
is cyclists riding two abreast, or side-by-side.
Now, for motorists who don't have experience
riding bikes in a group on the road,
or perhaps they don't have knowledge of the laws of cycling,
it can be seen as inconsiderate, illegal, downright rude
and just really inconvenient.
Here at GCN we're passionate cyclists,
but we all own and drive cars too,
meaning we can understand both sides of the argument.
But why do cyclists do it?
Is it even legal?
And if so, when?
In this video, I'm going to answer those questions.
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Well, the first thing to say on the matter
is if you live in the United States, United Kingdom
and many other parts of the world,
yes, it is perfectly legal for cyclists to ride two abreast.
For example, in the UK, Rule 66 of the Highway Code
states that cyclists should,
"Never ride more than two abreast,
"and ride in single file on narrow or busy roads
"and when riding around bends."
However, it doesn't specify how narrow, how busy
or how bendy the road should be
in order to necessitate single file.
In the USA, CRS 42-4-1412(6) states
that cyclists may ride two abreast.
It says, "Persons riding bicycles
"or electrical assisted bicycles upon a roadway
"shall not ride more than two abreast
"except on paths or parts of roadways
"set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles.
"Persons riding bicycles or electrical assisted bicycles
"two abreast shall not impede the normal
"and reasonable movement of traffic
"and, on a laned roadway, shall ride within a single lane."
Here, the term "roadway" excludes the shoulder,
the implication being
that if you have two cyclists riding two abreast,
one on the shoulder, one on the roadway,
this is perfectly legal,
as it's technically only one cyclist on the roadway.
But again, the term "reasonable movement of traffic"
is open to interpretation,
and the law is very similar in many other countries, too.
Now, the problem here is that,
while it is legal to ride two abreast,
the law does suggest that there are times
when riders should single out,
and this is a potential cause of conflict,
the reason being that, at times,
a car driver may think
that cyclists should be single file,
whereas the cyclists may interpret the law
in a different way and believe
that riding two-by-two is a safer course of action.
Which brings me on to the next question.
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- The number one rule is safety.
Cyclists are very vulnerable road users.
- So, by riding side-by-side,
cyclists become easier to spot for other road users.
And because they're easier to spot
and have a greater road presence,
they're therefore less likely to be hit from behind.
- Yeah. It also discourages vehicles from overtaking
when it's not safe to do so.
So, when you do overtake,
make sure you give cyclists plenty of space.
- Yeah. In many parts of the world,
it is advised that minimum overtaking space
should be one-and-a-half meters,
so bear this in mind.
- [Presenter] Consider that if it
is not possible to overtake
without giving one point five meters of space,
then it is not safe to overtake.
It is also quicker to overtake cyclists riding two-by-two.
For example, riding two abreast
decreases the overtaking distance for drivers,
also increasing safety.
Ten cyclists riding single file
would create a line twenty meters long.
The same group riding two abreast
would only be 10 meters long.
- If a group of cyclists is riding in single file
down a road with oncoming traffic,
this could increase the temptation for vehicles behind
to try and overtake,
which may mean they end up passing too close
to the group of cyclists,
who could be in danger if, for whatever reason,
they have to move into the road,
say, there's a pothole, or another obstruction
they have to avoid.
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- Now, if there's a situation that riding two abreast
is stopping the car from passing behind you,
and by singling out enables the vehicle to pass
with a safe distance,
then you should cease riding two abreast
and start singling out.
This is courteous,
and also falls in the word of the law.
Ultimately, just be considerate to other road users.
You don't own the roads, you share them.
If you're a cyclist, single out and let other drivers past,
in the same way that you'd expect a tractor to let you pass
if you were in a faster moving vehicle.
If you are a car driver, be patient.
Cyclists have just as much right
to be on the roads as you do.
Many cyclists also drive cars,
and by riding bikes they're often reducing
the number of cars on the road and pollution.
It's important not to dehumanize the cyclist
by categorizing them as just a cyclist.
Cyclists are also mothers, fathers,
sons, daughters, butchers.
We're all humans.
I hope you found this video useful,
and if you have then please give it a big thumbs up.
And also consider sharing it
with anyone who may be unsure
as to why cyclists ride two-by-two.
And for another video, you can click down here.