Ok here goes ... I've read through this thread and read through the one on CarToDay and just saw someone post the following on that site: You know, whether its legal or not, one needs to apply some common sense. I've ridden with Roastie in the UK, I ride a motorbike, and I drive cars. I can understand most of the argument from all sides. What everyone seems to think, is its their "right", as with the majority of the country, to do as they please. End of the day, what is their "right", is not necessarily the smart thing to do. Roastie and I would ride 2 abreast on little country roads, and when cars were coming, move to single file. However, on A and B roads, we NEVER ride side by side, regardless of whether there are cars. I ride a motorbike, and ride it defensively. While its my right to be on the road too, standing by my rights would have gotten me killed. I've moved over to allow passes and such. Cyclists riding abreast are being silly. There is a large speed diffirential between cycles and cars. Cars will need to pass, and they will get impatient. The same happens when there is an overloaded truck or something doing 10km/h up a hill with a blind corner, people will try overtake. Riding with a little sensibility will ensure a better sharing of the roads. I'd love to see any counter argument to this. End of the day, bicycles are the minority on the road. They are also the ones that have no chance in a collision. Why they'd put themselves in danger because its "their right" to be there is beyond me. Whilst I don't think much of the posters on that site that think its helluva funny to try and scare/clip/hit cyclists this poster (think his name is KillBoy) has a point. As cyclists we have the right to ride on the road. But with rights come responsibilities, in this case the responsibility to obey the law. As many have already said, legally we as cyclists must ride single file unless overtaking another cyclist. So its quite simple ... if you're riding two abreast and someone hoots at you, you've not upheld your responsibility and therefore have broken the law. Don't get all agro and flip the motorist one regardless of what you think of him/her - you've broken the law and you're wrong. It doesn't help saying that motorists are impatient or also jump red robots - that's just childish. Its tragic when a cyclist gets killed and sometimes the motorist is to blame and sometimes it is purely an accident and sadly, sometimes the cyclist is to blame. I think an attitude "shift" is the only thing that is going to make a difference. If you're in a bunch on a busy road and you get hooted at, rather just back down, move out of the way and lift a hand to say you're sorry. You might just change one motorists point of view. Somethings got to give somewhere and why shouldn't it start with cyclists?
