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 indeed. The OP asked, Group of cyclists not letting cars past- is this legal?. And later posted, legally, I can ride my horse down the middle of the road.

So you are quite right, the word can is important in understanding that yes, cyclists can legally cycle in the middle of the road, even if drivers feel they should not. As others have pointed out - most of the roads are not there exclusively for the use of motorists, other road users are allowed to be there. However much motorists feel they should not be...

All these lovely discussions and wonderful weather. Time to get the bike gear on and go for a cycle I think. 🤣

I agree with posters who say the cyclists were being dicks. I used to live on a country lane which was hilly and winding, very attractive to cyclists who would arrive en masse at weekends.
It was also used a lot by horse riders.
I will never forget one incident when a big group of cyclists totally surrounded a horse and rider — the horse totally lost it and was rearing etc, the young rider was screaming in fear and the cyclists did nothing to help although they had to slow down (a bit) due to the behaviour of the horse. It was a total mess and very frightening even to watch. Definitely dick behaviour.

i think OP was sating that just because she can unnecessarily slow down other road users, she doesn't just it for the sake of it, where it is safe to so do. Obviously we weren't there but if one (pedestrian/horse/bike/car/lorry/tractor) can choose safe options that are considerate of other users, then why wouldn't you? emphasis on SAFE!

Does it matter how many cars?
if the poor drivers been stuck doing 15 mph behind a cyclist for ages, and there’s been plenty of places for the cyclist to pop into a side turning or suchlike to wait 30 seconds for the car to pass……..pretty much unheard of.
but no, the cyclist expects the driver to wait relentlessly.

Many rural roads near me are not wide enough to overtake easily. Sometimes cyclists and horse riders pull into a driveway or right near the bank at a wider bit to let me past. I really appreciate it when they do.

Many don't, which is perfectly legal AFAIK, but not so considerate. Being stuck behind one can add 10 minutes to my journey. I suspect it encourages the (nevertheless inexcusable) horrible attitudes that I often see towards these slower road users.

I am a cyclist and often ride with my family down country roads. We always ride two abreast. However, when cars approach, we ALWAYS reduce to single file so that cars can pass us.

The riders you encountered this morning were, in my opinion, out of order!

There's no such thing as road tax. And roads weren't built for people to drive cars on, with everyone else being "guests"

So you propose that cyclists wait for around 30 seconds every time a car comes 😂

It’s legal and I think it’s what cyclists are advised to do as it prevents unsafe overtaking.

However, I think it’s a bit of a dick move too, and I doubt it’s particularly safe to make drivers angry.

It also says safely, which means the cyclists make the decision on when is safe for them to pull in. I don't pull in immediately for a car behind, but I do whenever there's a gateway or area I can safely pull into and then also get out of again (e.g. i wouldn't pull in if I wouldn't have good visibility getting out again)

I often encounter horses and I always slow right down, or stop, depending on the road and how the horses are behaving. That is appalling behaviour from the cyclists. There are bad versions of everything, one group of bad cyclists doesn't make all of us bad! But some people see a few bad cyclists and think that entitles them to pass too close or run us off the road the next time they come across one.

It should be etiquette that they ride single file, some do, others like to be pita! Xx

20 bikes in single file?

Many horse riders have cameras on their hats now. I really hope this incident was recorded and the cyclists tracked down and prosecuted if it was a bridleway. If it was the road then obviously it's against the Highway Code but not illegal.

I've never seen such behaviour in all my years living near an area with lots of cyclists and horses.

As a driver I am most fearful driving around towns and cities at dusk when many, many cyclists don't have lights, never mind any sort of high viz. Hopping on and off pavements, weaving between the traffic. When you're turning at a junction there are only so many times you can check all your blind spots.

Actually, it's not fearful, it just makes me cross and makes me wonder if they are stupid or have a death wish.

You know exactly what I mean….stop being facetious.

@GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing However, I think it’s a bit of a dick move too, and I doubt it’s particularly safe to make drivers angry.

Yup, absolutely fine for drivers to lose their temper and hurt other road users. Completely reasonable. Other road users are the ones at fault, obviously.

I don’t cycle and I agree with NeedAnyHelpWithThatPaperBag leave earlier

@C36M how much earlier would you recommend? My commute is 45 minutes, I add another 20 minutes for tourists/cyclists.
Can’t leave any earlier than that 🤷‍♀️

Yes its legal highway code, as a lifelong cyclist I always take the safest line in traffic don't want to argue with a 2 tonne Chelsea Tractor driven by a Karen

Why oh why did you have to bring this topic to MN! Its bad enuugh on NextDoor (I'm a Moderator there) when this comes up. Mostly posts from irate car drivers with inbuilt hatred of cyclists., and a shaky grasp of what 'road tax' actually pays for. There are a few aggressive cyclists about, usually men, but far more drivers with a bee in their bonnet. Shame these people didn't let you pass, they'd earn major brownie points by being reasonable. Much more of shame that MN is also infested with the mad anti cyclist brigade.

Well, if 45 minutes isn't enough then allow longer🙄

When I cycled and we did coast to coast, yes. We would follow each other, not cycle side by side as it was too dangerous and inconvenient for other road users. Was usually a group of about 20 to 30 but don't see why same rules can't apply? Xx

It’s hauntingly similar to the victim blaming women keep encountering when they are hurt by men. “Don’t go out at night, don’t drink, don’t dress provocatively”
Interesting to see that it being the physically powerful person makes everyone think it’s ok to be aggressive. Obviously you wouldn’t be if those pesky weaker people just behaved themselves and did exactly what you expect.

Not you personally @LordEmsworth just a generic one