Highway code

"MSA" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Has anyone got a copy of the Highway code. What is the official position

on

Quoted message said:

riding two abreast?

a..
b.. not ride more than two abreast
c.. ride in single file on narrow or busy roads

highwaycode.gov.uk03.shtmlOpen ↗
--
Simon Mason Anlaby East Yorkshire. 53°44'N 0°26'W simonmason.karoo.netsimonmason.karoo.netOpen ↗

MSA said:

Has anyone got a copy of the Highway code.

Of course. All cyclists do.

Quoted message said:

What is the official position on riding two abreast?

The HC is also at:

highwaycode.gov.ukcyclists.shtmlOpen ↗

"51. You should... ride in single file on narrow or busy roads."

This is not a 'MUST'so is not a legal requirement.

In itself it is perfectly legal to ride two abreast, but there are other rules which may also apply
such as "be considerate to other road users" and "You MUST NOT ride in a dangerous, careless or
inconsiderate manner".

FWIW last year I was out with my son (10) on a wide quiet main road on a Sunday morning when an
idiot in a car blasted his horn and pulled in in front of me. He lectured us for riding two abreast.
I suggested he might like to check his HC or call the police. Like a true prat he phoned 999 and
said he had "caught" two cyclists riding two abreast. I grinned. His wife avoided eye-contact and
was obviously embarrassed.

I sat down and waited. A patrol car came along and the officer gave the driver a right bollocking. I
grinned even more.

The PC then wished us a pleasant ride and we pedalled off - two abreast.

John B

"John B" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

A patrol car came along and the officer gave the driver a right

bollocking.

Quoted message said:

I grinned even more.

Blimey, the plod turned up did they? Where was this utopian town?

--
Simon Mason Anlaby East Yorkshire. 53°44'N 0°26'W simonmason.karoo.netsimonmason.karoo.netOpen ↗

"John B" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

FWIW last year I was out with my son (10) on a wide quiet main road on a

Sunday

Quoted message said:

morning when an idiot in a car blasted his horn and pulled in in front of

me.

Quoted message said:

He lectured us for riding two abreast. I suggested he might like to check his HC or call the
police. Like a true prat he phoned 999 and said he had "caught" two cyclists

riding two

Quoted message said:

abreast.

It always amuses me how some people are in such a rush one minute then can take time out to
lecture/abuse/fight the person they feel is delaying them ;-)

Pete

Simon Mason said:

"John B" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

A patrol car came along and the officer gave the driver a right

bollocking.

Quoted message said:

I grinned even more.

Blimey, the plod turned up did they? Where was this utopian town?

In Hampshire.

I find the Hampshire police to be quite turned on to cycling matters and I think on this occurrence
they quite enjoyed the stupidity of Mr Know-it-all-driver.

John B

< Of course. All cyclists do

Not completely correct ;-)

I was just wondering after getting 'hooted' a total of 9 times during todays 130km ride, a bit of a
record for me/us. Bear in mind that we are very considerate cyclists, form single file wen we hear
cars approaching...and that 3 of the hoots happened before 10am this morning whilst we were riding
at 28mph in a 30mph area!

We just wave at them, I'm sure it annoys them more :-) One car of lads did slam there brakes on as
if to stop, but they decided to carry on...shame.

Mark

In "]news:[email hidden], John B <[email hidden]> typed:

Quoted message said:

I find the Hampshire police to be quite turned on to cycling matters

My experience also

Tony

--
raven-family.comraven-family.comOpen ↗

"All truth goes through three steps: First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed.
Finally, it is accepted as self-evident." Arthur Schopenhauer

On Sun, 22 Jun 2003 16:05:40 +0100 someone who may be John B <[email hidden]>
wrote this:-

Quoted message said:

highwaycode.gov.ukcyclists.shtmlOpen ↗

"51. You should... ride in single file on narrow or busy roads."

Quoted message said:

In itself it is perfectly legal to ride two abreast,

And three, four or whatever abreast. There are occasions when it is sensible to ride in such a
manner, such as when part of a large group.

--
David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number F566DA0E I will always explain revoked
keys, unless the UK government prevents me using the RIP Act 2000.

"David Hansen" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

And three, four or whatever abreast. There are occasions when it is sensible to ride in such a
manner, such as when part of a large group.

This isn't sensible it's selfish.

Andy P said:

"David Hansen" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

And three, four or whatever abreast. There are occasions when it is sensible to ride in such a
manner, such as when part of a large group.

This isn't sensible it's selfish.

Perhaps David can tell us just when he thinks it is sensible?

A bunch sprint in the TdF maybe?

John B

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

FWIW last year I was out with my son (10) on a wide quiet main road on a Sunday morning when an
idiot in a car blasted his horn and pulled in in front of me. He lectured us for riding two
abreast. I suggested he might like to check his HC or call the police. Like a true prat he phoned
999 and said he had "caught" two cyclists riding two abreast. I grinned. His wife avoided
eye-contact and was obviously embarrassed.

I sat down and waited. A patrol car came along and the officer gave the driver a right bollocking.
I grinned even more.

It'd have been even nicer if they'd done him for wasting police time. I mean, a 999 call even if he
thought he was right is a little over the top.

Colin

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

"David Hansen" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

And three, four or whatever abreast. There are occasions when it is sensible to ride in such a
manner, such as when part of a large group.

This isn't sensible it's selfish.

Why selfish? If the group is tightly packed and within the lane then they are offering a shorter
length for an overtaking car to negotiate. That doesn't sound selfish to me. Selfish would be strung
out in single file making overtaking impossible.

Colin

Tony Raven said:

In "]news:[email hidden], John B <[email hidden]> typed:

Quoted message said:

I find the Hampshire police to be quite turned on to cycling matters

My experience also

Tony

I find this to be a recent change in their attitude, after years of doing sweet f- all.

"Colin Blackburn" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Why selfish? If the group is tightly packed and within the lane then they are offering a shorter
length for an overtaking car to negotiate. That doesn't sound selfish to me. Selfish would be
strung out in single file making overtaking impossible.

Well, I think that whatever you do in life you should do it in a way so as not to cause any
annoyance or hindrance to anyone else be it playing loud music in a park where everyone else goes
for peace and quiet, not keeping your dog under control, parking your car on the pavement so that
mums can't get by with a puschair, dumping rubbish about the countryside, whatever. And riding bikes
in large groups undoubtedly annoys a lot of other road users. What's the attraction anyway? If it's
a social thing what's wrong with a pub?

"Andy P" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Well, I think that whatever you do in life you should do it in a way so as not to cause any
annoyance or hindrance to anyone else

Well please stop posting here then since you're annoying me.

Or you could try recalibrating your rules to accept that some people enjoy doing things you don't.
Like a nice pleasant bike ride with some friends.

cheers, clive

Thanks to all who replied!

Mark

On Sun, 22 Jun 2003 21:12:17 +0100 someone who may be "Andy P" <[email hidden]>
wrote this:-

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

And three, four or whatever abreast. There are occasions when it is sensible to ride in such a
manner, such as when part of a large group.

This isn't sensible it's selfish.

What is selfish? Riding in a large group? Motorists do that all the time and block a number of
roads, causing problems for other people, as a result.

Is it selfish for cyclists to have a social gathering now and again? Doing the sort of specialist
things that any group tends to do. Why single out cyclists?

--
David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number F566DA0E I will always explain revoked
keys, unless the UK government prevents me using the RIP Act 2000.

On Sun, 22 Jun 2003 21:27:47 +0100 someone who may be John B <[email hidden]>
wrote this:-

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

And three, four or whatever abreast. There are occasions when it is sensible to ride in such a
manner, such as when part of a large group.

This isn't sensible it's selfish.

Perhaps David can tell us just when he thinks it is sensible?

Such as when part of a large group.

--
David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number F566DA0E I will always explain revoked
keys, unless the UK government prevents me using the RIP Act 2000.

On Mon, 23 Jun 2003 16:53:34 +0100 someone who may be "Andy P" <[email hidden]>
wrote this:-

Quoted message said:

And riding bikes in large groups undoubtedly annoys a lot of other road users.

Driving cars in large groups and walking in large groups, undoubtedly annoys a lot of other road
users. Why just single out large groups of cyclists?

--
David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number F566DA0E I will always explain revoked
keys, unless the UK government prevents me using the RIP Act 2000.