When should ride single file or side by side?
Question: My buddy and I ride side by side so we can talk. Honestly, the conversation is the whole reason we ride. It’s legal in our state. But when I glance back and see four or five cars stacked up on a road with no good place to pass, I feel guilty and single up. My buddy says I’m being a pushover, that we’re traffic too, and cars can wait 30 seconds. He’s right on the law. I still feel like a jerk. Where’s the line between our right to the road and plain courtesy? And does singling up actually help drivers pass, or does it just invite a closer pass? —Marty F.
RBR’S STAN PURDUM REPLIES: Let me first say that there are times when not letting traffic pass immediately is the safest thing to do. I have previously explained the matter of taking the lane. But because of lane-taking’s potential for angering drivers, it should be used sparingly. It’s best to read the road and decide whether taking the lane or singling up is the wisest tactic in a particular situation.
That said, you should not compromise your own safety — such as moving onto a potholed or a debris-covered surface — just to rush a driver’s convenience.
But essentially, I’m with you on this one. If you can single up safely — that is, if there’s room for the waiting cars to pass you after you single up without forcing you and your buddy off the road — then do it.
Some drivers don’t need much of an excuse to get pissed off about cyclists impeding their immediate forward progress, and no good can come from having agitated motorists on your tail.
Here’s the incident that brought this conclusion home for me: Several years ago, while riding with my buddy Wayne, we were on a low-traffic road with a paved shoulder. There wasn’t any other traffic within sight on this long straight section of the road, so we were riding side-by-side and conversing. Wayne had a hearing loss in his left ear, so when we were talking, he always preferred to ride on my left so that his right ear was facing me. Thus, I was riding on the shoulder, and Wayne was riding alongside me, on the traffic side of the white line. We both had mirrors, and eventually we noticed a pickup truck coming up from behind. It was still a long way off, so Wayne dropped in behind me, leaving the driver a completely open lane. Nonetheless, as the truck overtook us, the driver blasted his horn, and continued doing as he passed and even after he was fully ahead of us.
After he was gone, I said to Wayne, “I wonder what he was upset by. We weren’t obstructing him at all.” Wayne responded, “He was sending us a message: Bicycles don’t belong on the road.”
Some years later I had a more direct confrontation with another guy who had a similar opinion: Read about it here. That encounter confirmed for me that the pickup driver wasn’t the only motorist to hold that viewpoint.
I’m not suggesting that every driver of the cars stacked up behind you is opposed your right to be on the road, but life has all kinds of frustrations, and cyclists, exercising that two-abreast privilege, can be the straw that breaks the proverbial camel’s back, leading irritated motorists to take hostile action against you. And even if nothing that extreme happens, your riding partner’s insistence on staying doubled up adds fuel to the notion that bicycles don’t belong on the road.
What’s more, the current political environment doesn’t help, where recently, as the League of American Bicyclists explains, “federal safety regulators quietly stripped bike lanes off the list of Proven Safety Countermeasures. Now the administration’s transportation priorities would block all federal funding for bike infrastructure and actively support ripping out lanes that already exist.” The intent of eliminating bike lanes may not necessarily be anti-bicycle per se, but rather driven by the view that the roads are for motor vehicles only, but when we cyclists block traffic unnecessarily, we are not building good feelings about cyclists as road users.
You might want to remind your riding buddy that as adamant as he may be about exercising his legal bicycle rights, there are non-cyclists who are just adamant about keeping roads only for cars, trucks, buses, RVs and the like. You might also tell him that having insisted on exercising his bicycle rights will be cold comfort when he’s lying on the road, awaiting an ambulance, after a road-rage encounter with an angry driver.
And by the way, never assume drivers know about the laws covering cyclists on the road.
If conversation is really the whole reason you two ride together, choose lower-traffic roads or trails.
I like the comment that a cyclist named Peter MacMartin posted on Facebook: “Think amicable flow. Not ‘my right is to be here.’ Amicable flow. We can share. It’s not about pissing each other off; it’s about getting home. Learn to know the difference and ride to smile — not to sneer.”
Stan Purdum has ridden several long-distance bike trips, including an across-America ride recounted in his book Roll Around Heaven All Day, and a trek on U.S. 62, from Niagara Falls, New York, to El Paso, Texas, the subject of his book Playing in Traffic. Stan, a freelance writer and editor, lives in Ohio. See more at www.StanPurdum.com.
Really appreciate the tone of this article, and the last paragraph especially. I’ll add that those riding side-by-side on multi-use paths should approach blind corners carefully, and always be willing to switch to single file to accommodate oncoming pedestrian or bike traffic.
More than once I’ve had close calls with side-by-side riders who go full speed through a blind corner, and one time there was a couple who simply refused to move at all despite seeing me from far away, expecting me to ride off-path in the thorny bushes.
Not sure what the law is in other states, but in New Jersey, bicycles can ride two abreast as long as they don’t impede the flow of traffic. I’m sure how much they “impede the flow” is a matter of opinion, but legally, you need to single up and not block traffic.
My husband and I ride lightly traveled rural roads with minimal shoulders. We almost always ride single file, changing to side by side only if we need to discuss the route or something else. Since we’re together all the time anyway, it’s not like a ride with a friend where we have a lot of catching up to do! Riding as we do, well to the right if we see a vehicle behind and single-file, we find that the vast majority of motor vehicles, including big, honking pickup trucks, give us the entire lane and are very respectful when they pass. We haven’t had a road rage problem whatsoever. We agree that there’s no need to give drivers any more fuel for any dislike or rage they may have against cyclists on “their” roads. It’s better to be safe than right!
“It’s better to be safe than right.” I agree completely!
The solution to the challenge we all face when we like to actually communicate when out riding is not to ride side by side, but to get an intercom system that straps to our helmets. When my wife and I started riding together, she was always nervous when I would insist on riding up beside her to chat. She worried we might bump into each other or impede traffic, etc. Since that time, many happy years ago, we have gone through several technology generations but always found a system that allows us to chat as long as we are within 100 m or so of each other. Our current favorite, and one of the cheapest in our long series, is the BiKom 20: Ultimate Cycling Communication System, with a list price of $319 for 2 units on their website. It even comes with a clip to mount it on a cap, so we use it for kayaking. On my local commute/ride I often feel like handing out business cards about these devices–they are game changers!
Article is absolutely spot on. You never know the mindset of the driver. And as a cyclist myself, I would find it irritating if a couple of guys were riding side-by-side holding up 4-5 cars no matter the law or situation. Once you get a car or two holding back, it’s just common courtesy for the cyclists to go single file.
I’ve never understood why cyclists think they have to ride two up to converse. I’ve have many conversations with friends while riding single file.
I agree that while it may be technically legal to ride two abreast many places, it’s not always the best response. As a Colorado Highway patrolman told me some time ago “You can be dead right”. He also observed that it doesn’t matter who is right; he with the most lug nuts wins…
“he with the most lug nuts wins…” That’s a memorable phrase!
And never assume a motor vehicle driver actually sees you as they approach to pass you. You never know the driver’s state of mind. They may be literally driving on instinct with their attention drawn to the recent loss of a loved one or some other emotional tragedy. The only thing you can be sure of is that your loved ones will have the right of way in the line to purchase your casket. Try thinking of them as you insist on having the right of way with a 5000 lb, mindless SUV.
I live in an area with narrow, curvy mountain roads (Santa Cruz mountains). The weekend “chain gang” crews come up here and ride two abreast for miles, obstructing traffic and irritating the locals. I’m an avid cyclist and they make me see red.
If you are riding two abreast on a recreational ride so you can “chat” while obstructing traffic flow, you are doing none of us any favors (and probably violating vehicle code). Belligerent cycling just increases the divide and ends up endangering us all. Remember, that guy in the beat up van you are pissing off might be a tweaker who is already on the edge. Physics says we all lose that confrontation.
This really isn’t hard. Just don’t be a dick (his friend certainly is). Few are driving just for fun; cycling for the most part is recreation.
Whether it is one vehicle behind me or several vehicles behind me, I will do anything REASONABLY possible to let them safely get around me.
As long as they are behind me, they are a danger to me. The longer they sit behind me, my risk of injury increases. If I can get them safely get around, they will drive out of my life and never be seen again.
Sharing the road is a two-way street. Why anger a driver and risk an incident when a small action on my part can eliminate that risk?
A little common courtesy goes a long way, do unto others as you would like them to do unto you. If you have that much to talk about then be courteous to others and have an after ride talk.
I’m sorry, but I’m going to disagree with most of the posters here. Most cycling safety experts advocate riding two abreast: it makes passing by following vehicles shorter and easier, requires a motorist to move over the yellow center line to pass (ensuring the way ahead is clear), and makes cyclists more visible. It also helps to ride with front and rear daytime running lights. I agree that if cyclists are impeding traffic, they should pull off the road and let the motorists pass. That’s just being courteous.
The absolute *worst* thing you can do is ride single file and as close to the side of the road as possible (assuming there is no shoulder). This tempts motorists into thinking that they can “just squeeze” between the cyclist and the center of the road. And when there’s an oncoming vehicle and the motorist passing you realizes that there *isn’t* enough room, they’re going to want to move right. And that when their problem becomes your problem, because it’s not a hard decision between a head-on collision with another vehicle and pushing a few cyclists off the road.
John T – I’m gonna counter your argument a bit here. First, I do agree with your points about passing side-by-side riders being safer and easier, as well as most of your other points. But it strikes me that they are based on what should happen as opposed to what can happen. Riding side-by-side and backing up traffic signals that you don’t care about what’s happening to traffic behind you. To the non-cycling driver this can come across as discourteous, arrogant, and/or inattentive to what’s going on around you, leading to frustration and irritation with the driver. That’s not good. Do all drivers react this way in such a situation? Certainly not. I’d say the vast majority don’t, and they will indeed make a safe pass. But it only takes one to get really pissed off and force a pass around two cyclists, creating a really dangerous situation.
Thanks for all the comments!
So this is what Chris the LCI teaches:
To paraphrase Caesar: Omnes Viae in Partes Tres Divisa Est aka Lane Control Position
1. All motorists, and I do mean ALL, you included, have been taught that the road’s centerline is a pane of glass and and God forbid that you should ever break that pane of glass.
2. The natural consequence is that if a motorist has even the vaguest impression that they can pass you without breaking that pane of glass, then they will do so. They will squeeze between that pane of glass and you even if it means squeezing within an inch of you or hitting you (many imbeciles have no clue where the right side of their vehicle might be).
3. That said, if the motorist passes the rider by crossing the centerline, thus breaking that pane of glass, they most often do so by going wide and giving you the three feet to which you are entitled under law.
4. Conclusion (and what I teach newbies): On a narrow road, convince the motorist that they cannot pass you without crossing the centerline.
5. Which is why: Omnes Viae in Partes Tres Divisa Est. All roads are divided into three parts. I own one of the three parts.
a. If there is a real shoulder (one that is smooth, clean, at least a handlebar wide, and continuous), then I own that shoulder. But I still make myself very very visible there.
b. If there is no real shoulder, then I own the rightmost portion of the travel lane and I will be at least where the motorist’s right front tire would be and sometimes in the middle of the lane.
c. And I will always be replete with flashing lights, bright clothing, and, often, camera, to convince the motorist to break the pane of glass and pass me wide.
6. Do not take this to extreme, it’s really a dance of “catch and release,” i.e., hold up traffic if you must for your own safety, then let them go if you can do so safely; helps to have a mirror to know what the hell’s going on behind. Climbing hills during rush hour is a good way to piss off a lot of folks.
So, if there is no real shoulder (one that is smooth, clean, at least a handlebar wide, and continuous), then I have every right to be safe, and I am in fact safer, by not surrendering una pars mea of the road until I deem is safe for ME to let the traffic pass.
Chris
Chris – I had to chuckle at your first point about the center line being a pane of glass. It is so true for us in the US. A few years ago I was driving in Greece, where many of the major roads are two lane, albeit with pretty wide shoulders (I’d guess 4-5′). Standard passing procedure on these roads was that the car being overtaken moved to the right (straddling the fog line), the car passing moved to the middle straddling the center line, and any on-coming car straddled their fog line. Plenty of room for all three vehicles across the width of the road if everyone does the right thing and ignores the road striping.
After getting passed myself a few times and seeing how it worked, I came upon a slower car while rounding a turn. Sure enough, he moved over to the right (before I did anything), I took the center line, and started the pass. Suddenly, a cop appeared coming towards us, but he simply took his shoulder like anyone else. Very smoothly executed by all parties, and apparently perfectly legal (or at least accepted) as confirmed by the police car’s actions. I came to the conclusion that in Greece, road striping is merely a “suggestion”, and it works well for everyone.