whats the law for riding 2 abreast

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tonythegreek 21 May 14:27  

Joined: 08 Oct 2008

Posts: 45

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My Profile 		i have been getting some comments about me and my friend riding two abreast (on quiet country roads)
i was told that it was legal to do so,but now i am thinking IS IT?
nothing i can see in the highway code
am i abiding or breaking the law
please help!



My Latest Route: Apr 2009 New Hartley Circular via Seaton Burn
RobBeck 21 May 20:13  

Joined: 21 May 2009

Posts: 5

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My Profile 		Hi Tony, i have been asked by passing plod not to do this but to the best of my knowledge and understang, it is not against the law but it is not safe to ride two abreast and the police will ask you not to do so as this does cause and inconvience to other road users. i hope this helps. PS if i am wrong i stand corrected

My Latest Route: May 2009 Houghton Le Spring to Seaham Loop via NCN1

happy 21 May 23:29  

Joined: 15 Mar 2006

Posts: 302

Bike: Orange P7 with Rock Shox, Michelin Wildgripper Lites, XTR Chainset

My Profile 		On certain busy roads I sometimes feel safer riding 2 abreast. Cars pass you far too fast. If anything its good to go 2 abreast to force them to slow down, then once they have move into single file to allow them to pass. Hopefully by that point they wont try and whizz pass leaving you no room.

Seems to work most of the time, but specifically above is actually illegal. They say on busy roads you should always ride single file, but otherwise 2 abreast is ok.

Highway Code for Cyclists


My Latest Route: Oct 2010 Livingston to Ayr Avoiding A71

tonythegreek 22 May 16:24  

Joined: 08 Oct 2008

Posts: 45

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My Profile 		thanks for the info robbeck and happy
i know most of its common sense but now i know i am not going to get a fixed penalty or something like that
the website is interesting
cheers for that


My Latest Route: Apr 2009 New Hartley Circular via Seaton Burn

Patt 24 May 20:10  

Joined: 20 May 2009

Posts: 10

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My Profile 		We've been pulled over for riding 2 abreast before on a main road when there's been solid white lines in the middle of the road meaning cars couldnt overtake us. Fair enough I guess.

I dont tend to worry about the laws per se, more if Im causing an obstruction to motorists behind encouraging them to take risks trying to get past me. If I am I will see that we single out for a bit.


roseycheeks 25 May 12:20  

Joined: 22 May 2009

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My Profile 		I work for a construction company and we are based by the side of a fairly busy road. I have noticed lately that there seems to be an increase in cyclists using this road. There is also a definate increase in the amount of dual cycling on this road and this does not seem to cause any problems to drivers. I think it is all about the "common Sense" approach. Pam


tonythegreek 26 May 16:16  

Joined: 08 Oct 2008

Posts: 45

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My Profile 		hi pat just been reading the law about double solid lines and you can overtake slowmoving vehicles legally
if it wasnt legal think of the queue you would build up
(i would do a circuler route just to P them Off) LOL

My Latest Route: Apr 2009 New Hartley Circular via Seaton Burn

Patt 26 May 22:23  

Joined: 20 May 2009

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My Profile 		Thanks Tony I will look into this then as there are loads of solid white line roads around here


yram9 23 Jun 16:30  

Joined: 23 Jun 2009

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No sorry -its extremely rude to other road users. I travelled 15 mins behind two cyclists today who wouldn't pull in to let me (and others) pass. Further behind me was a police car who eventually caught up with them.


shnuggs 30 Jul 14:41  

Joined: 10 Jul 2009

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My Profile 		I am a serving police officer as well as a keen roadie and can confirm there is no law preventing riding two abreast, it just comes down to common sense and courtesy. Two cyclists riding alongside each other should really pose no different an obstacle than a roadsweeping vehicle or a milk float, these vehicles take up similar road space and at similar speeds but do not have the abbiltiy to suddenly thin out to let others pass as we do.

The law permits solid white lines to be transgressed in order to pass vehicles not exceeding 15mph (us most of the time!) But in the case of yram being caught behind a pair of cyclists for 15 mins, that is a bit lacking in regard for other road users and I too would have been having a well worded chat with the culprits.

The problem we all have to acknowledge is that the narrow strecth of asphalt we are trying to navigate is there for use by cyclists, motorists, horses, farm vehicles and in some cases pedestrians too; no-one has expressed right of way over the other and in order for the roads to flow freely we all need to show consideration to each other.

My Latest Route: Sep 2009 Durham Circular via Iveston and Thornley

dudley 31 Jul 07:19  

Joined: 16 Jan 2009

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My Profile 		nicely put, Officer!

My Latest Route: Nov 2009 Forth Estuary Circular

wolfboy 02 Aug 23:20  

Joined: 02 Aug 2009

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My Profile 		Hi, I'm new to the forum. When my son started cycling in the road, we didn't ride two abreast, but I did ride behind him and further out into the road. In my experience most cars go to close and by positioning my self in this way, even if the cars went close to me, there would be a reasonable gap as they passed my son.

Sometimes it's not just a about the law, but doing what you have to be safe.


happy 02 Aug 23:50  

Joined: 15 Mar 2006

Posts: 302

Bike: Orange P7 with Rock Shox, Michelin Wildgripper Lites, XTR Chainset

My Profile 		@wolfboy

Yeah I agree, if I go cycling with my wife I do exactly the same. Without endagering myself or the road users, I position myself further out than usual to make sure there is plenty of room for not only when the car passes both of us, but also incase there is a drain e.t.c. that we have to swerve around.

My Latest Route: Oct 2010 Livingston to Ayr Avoiding A71

wolfboy 03 Aug 10:02  

Joined: 02 Aug 2009

Posts: 18

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My Profile 		Given the scenario you have just described, you would think it would be obvious to car drivers why we are positioned that way. But they don't seem to get it! Are the only car driver that give you space the ones that are cyclists too! I have noticed that when driving, if I take an exaggerated path around a cyclist, the cars behind follow like sheep!

Woolfboy


Dizzybird 02 Oct 00:13  

Joined: 01 Oct 2009

Posts: 2

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Yes cycling two abreast is fine, however, as discussed previously it can cause problems to following traffic. If the cyclists involved do not move into single file where appropriate then the offence of cycling without due care and consideration to other road users seems appropriate. The Police should not have to resort to reporting anyone though, use that most rare of things "common sense," and everyone can get along.


ravc 24 Jan 10:20  

Joined: 24 Jan 2010

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I think riding two abreast is totally out of order. First I have a car and a bike that’s worth around two grand (sorry not showing off just giving you an example of how dedicated to cycling I am). The problem with cyclists is that they get very sanctimonious about the fact they are 'environmentally' sound and all cars are evil etc. But in truth break just about every law on the road. I beeped two cyclists’ today riding two abreast on a very busy road. There was absolutely no reason for them to be doing this. I watched them chatting away and looking at each other (hardly a safe thing to do when you are supposed to be concentrating on the road ahead). Riding two abreast should be made illegal. They were riding no faster than 15 miles per hour causing a traffic tailback.




nerostjames 02 Oct 15:10  

Joined: 02 Oct 2011

Posts: 1

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Riding two abreast shouldn't be a problem providing cyclists use common sense and show courtesy to other road users, if the road is quiet no problem, if there's traffic about getting into single file is the way to go.
Unfortunately it's the morons who deliberately stay two or even three abreast, and refuse to get into single file when they know traffic is behind that ruin the cyclists reputation amongst other road users.
I'm a regular cyclist and it makes me cringe when I see selfish groups of riders, deliberately hogging the road, when showing a bit of consideration to other road users should be the way to go!!


cyclinglawyer 23 Nov 19:40  

Joined: 23 Nov 2011

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On the vast majority of roads if it is safe to pass a single cyclist, it is safe to pass cyclists two abreast. Official government advice is to ride in the centre of the left lane or at least 1 metre from the road edge.. If there is something coming the other way it is not possible to overtake in accordance with HC r 163; if there is nothing coming the other way, motor vehcile can move into the other lane and pass. You do have to be very careful that you do not, by singling out, encourage an unsafe pass when the other lane is not clear.


mamil 30 Nov 09:13  

Joined: 30 Nov 2011

Posts: 1

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I agree with cycling lawyer. Cars should not squeeze past cyclists. If the other lane is free, the car should use it, whether I'm cycling singly or two abreast. If it isn't free there usually isn't space to pass, either way. I wonder if cycling lawyer could give us a weblink to the government advice mentioned?

I'd love to get more awareness of cars always taking the other lane. It's cars failing to do this that scares me most when I cycle on roads.


skiad1 10 Dec 00:32  

Joined: 09 Dec 2011

Posts: 70

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My Profile 		Regularly(and legally) ride side by side with my buddy. I use a mirror though(wouldn't ride on road without one) and so can easily 'see' what's approaching from behind and fall in front or behind so allowing the unhindered flow of traffic, benefitting all road users.....


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