yes you are a total outsider on this topic if you do not cycle on these roads. so let me enlighten you, firstly i agree to the rules that should be obeyed when cycling on a public road, and yes the cradle route are public roads. however, in any of the pics, how many vehicles have you seen? exactly, the roads are almost empty for the morning rides during the weekend. hence the cyclists have become comfortable cycling in bigger bunches as there was no immediate danger to them. so they have started a habit, (and you can call it a bad habit). there is always sufficient space to go pass the cyclists. and how many residents are there?? a hand few, i suppose, hence not much traffic. the majority of vehicles that travel through the route are people who cycle there. the more important point here is the lack of respect to our cycling enviroment when someone just decides to urinate at the side of the road. that is totally unacceptable. Littering the area as well is not on. we should be attacking this problem in the cradle. But to keep harping on the riding 2/3 abreast in cradle is wasting time. You can also the see the individual cyclists leisurely cycling in the middle of the lane, only more indicates how quiet the roads are. this type of riding is not acceptable, (and you may want to say cyclists not following the law of the road, that went out the window ages ago), but has a geater impact when it is this type of riding is done on more busier / high traffic roads. Apart form obstructing traffic etc, the cyclists are more endangered, so for their own good they should follow the rules. so cut the bull**** on "shut up or act up", you need to know the enviroment to know why it is like that. I enjoy cycling on the cradle routes, no traffic, tons of cyclists, thats where i want to cycle.
