Group of cyclists not letting cars past- is this legal?

[Serenity674]

Interested in whether this was legal. Was driving to my parents this morning, they live remotely so it was a single track country road, although not narrow, with wide verges on either side.

i came up behind a group of circa 20 cyclists, probably doing about 15-20mph and ended up stuck behind them for about 10 mins. Round the bends was fine and they actually went faster than I would have gone in my car but there were several very long straight stretches of road where I could have got up to 30-40 mph (it’s a NSL road) but they wouldn’t move to let me past, just rode 2 or 3 abreast taking up the whole road. They definitely knew I was there as the ones at the back kept looking behind at me.

i know the law says cyclists can ride 2 abreast and it’s actually safer as it means cars overtake them properly but surely this doesn’t apply regardless of the road? Were they just doing the safe thing or should they have let me past?

I am a horse rider so i am always on the side of passing more vulnerable road users safely but this just seemed like a bit of a dick move- or were they actually doing this for a reason I’m unaware of? If I was riding my horse on a road like this I would ride 2 abreast until the car slows down then move into single file to let them past.

Yes, I paid over £400 last year.

They were just being selfish dicks. Probably congratulated each other and had a good laugh when they got off.

Love a bit of victim blaming.

It’s legal. One reason when riding in a large group to ride 2 abreast is to stop cars suddenly pulling in front of the cyclists. This is most important when on country roads. I do agree that when safe to do so the cyclist should form a line. I cycle with a group and all of us have insurance that include an option to report dangerous driving. This is then reported to the car driver’s insurance company. Driver are usually shocked when called by their insurance company as dangerous driving/parking can cause your insurance to be cancelled

He was so fat you couldn’t overtake or was it just the weaving that made it impossible? If the latter, fair point, if the former then it must have been a very narrow path.
I suspect his size is not relevant.

And shame on you.
So many women don’t do sport for fear of being sneered at. You’re no better

She wasn't being over assertive.

So the last bit "when you feel it is safe to let them do so" keeps getting dropped off.

The decision lies with the cyclist on what they feel is safe. In the case of a single track road, considering 1.5m is considered a safe distance I don't blame them to sticking to the guidelines.

It was the latter. And it is relevant as he struggled to maintain a straight line the entire time. He was almost hit when an oncoming car came. Cyclists like him should stay off the roads.

I always put this on these threads - please don't tar all cyclists with the same brush! 🙏🏼 Me and my DH are cyclists, we do wear lycra because it is the appropriate clothing for the sport and he is "middle aged" and a man! but we are considerate to other road users, will pull over for cars, etc. my parents are also cyclists, as is one of my sisters. We are all considerate but we are all subject to dangerous situations caused by cars. Almost every ride someone will pass me too close. I have two young kids at home, I cycle because I am trying to get fit again after having them and cycling is the most efficient way to do this (and I enjoy it). Other cyclists bad behaviour means that some drivers feel it is fair game to put our lives at risk by driving dangerously around cyclists because we "deserve it".

They’re probably allowed to do this. And it might even be the safest way to ride in this situation. But if it causes a holdup, and there ARE places they could pull in for a few moments to let traffic past, they’re being pricks if they don’t.

Same for tractors, caravans etc.

Precisely. As a pp pointed out, 20 cyclists in single file form will take up a lot of distance, I think it’s more like 5m per rider so 100 meters for the entire group

Moving at 20mph…

If an approaching driver is closing at 40mph- would she when overtaking have cleared them safely? No. She would likely have to try and pinch in somehow to let the oncoming car pass.

This is what stupid drivers don’t appreciate, as the annual death toll of cyclists on our roads proves. The riders were probably far more perceptive to the dangers as they are the ones that will be injured/killed if a crap, impatient driver attempts to get round when they can’t or rather shouldn’t

Count yourself lucky, I was stuck behind a group of cycling proficiency kids for ten minutes today!

Such a boring and inaccurate comment.

Ok, maybe that’s not what you meant in my mind I was envisaging the photo of the road which the OP was posted, so moving out would be 2 abreast. If you’re talking about moving to the other side of the white line on a wider road I apologise. I’ve never seen cyclists doing that and can’t understand any benefit to them in doing that. They’d just be putting themselves in danger from a car in the opposite direction. Cyclists don’t want cars being stuck behind them, it doesn’t make for a relaxed ride. I can see why they’d stay 2 abreast to prevent an unsafe overtake but can’t see why if there’s a whole other side of the road they’d block that to prevent an overtake. Really odd behaviour.

Sad thread this 😟

It’s the attitude of 95% of the posters (which I have to assume extends to the general population) which made me discourage my teens from cycling. I just don’t believe they’d be safe on the roads given the rage so many people seem to have.

The level of misandry and ageism (MAMILs) is depressing too.

I generally like to believe people are better than this, but I guess they are not really.

I have never cycled in London, never been to Richmond park but from what I’ve heard it’s very busy with cyclists especially at weekends. It’s maybe not the best place to go if you’re not prepared to be behind a cyclist at some point. I’m guessing cyclists use it hoping it’s quieter and not wanting to be a pain on busy London thoroughfares? Car drivers in the park would be there for leisure themselves wouldn’t they? Not getting from A to B in a hurry?

Every cycling thread on MN is like this. Shame, there’s actually research that threads and posts like this on social media endangers cyclists as it emboldens posters and readers in their anti cyclist rhetoric which follows them to the next time they’re driving and come across a cyclist.

So if they are taxed will it all be ok and no complaints about them anymore?! No I thought not..

Cyclists who cannot balance well should indeed stay off the roads.

No and neither do you. I do however own 2x cars so pay 2 lots of vehicle tax. Do you think that gives me double the rights of road use over other cars? Oh and course any electric car which may have £0 tax rate depending on emissions shouldn’t be on the road at all then???

Agree it's very odd and I've had it happen more than once. I'll try and get a passenger to grab a photo next time as people can't believe that cyclists would be so dickish. They do it on the straight bits when nothing is coming towards them (and cars would be able to overtake!)

This isnt true, im not saying op should of overtaken when its not safe to do so, but if I get caught by a driver doing 20 on the way to work, and I only live 7 miles away from my place of work, an extra 10- 15 mins gets added to my journey.

Maybe you should cycle there, it's not far. 🙊

I drive frequently, 7-8 times a month across the new forest between Lymington and Cadnam. The amount of times I’ve been stuck behind a driver in a Honda jazz or Nissan micra that’s scared to get above 28mph on these wide straight NSL roads.

You can’t often overtake due to oncoming traffic - these are busy roads. I groan a bit as I might have lost a few minutes on this 20 mile journey….

But I wouldn’t start a thread on MN about it.