Is cycling 2 a breast in the UK Legal and what are the benefits?

Question

No argument that cycling has its benefits for both health and the environment. What i cannot however understand is why cycling 2 a breast is so common placed. It makes driving very difficult at times, particulaly when on narrow roads or in national speed limit zones when wanting to drive at 60 is not being impatient. i can see no benefit to 2 a breast cycling other than the social side but roads are for getting around and talking can take your concentration off the road ahead and behind! If i am missing some point to the 2 a breast thing then thats what this question is for.

Answer 1

2 abreast is legal.  3 abreast is not.

When you get stuck behind two slow cyclists delaying your important journey, just remember that they are two of your fellow human beings and they have just as much right to use the road as you have.  Then kill them.

Answer 2

I do not know whether it is legal in all areas or all circumstances.

Given the assumption that the speed and convenience of the auto driver is of the utmost importance and cyclists are nuisances, no, there is not benefit to the auto driver.

However, for the cyclist, in times of lighter traffic, it is nice to be able to ride side by side to be social while riding.  Also, given that a number of auto drivers do not see us at all, two riders abreast pose a bigger visual image and might just get the driver's attention.

Sometimes we cyclists have to be a bit assertive about our space.  It's dangerous to be green.

Edit:  Yes, we cyclists simply live to be thorns in the sides of all motorists, especially the large ones driving alone in a large car.  And of course, getting knocked over is our fault.  How could it be any other way?

Answer 3

It's legal and I have nothing against cyclists in general but FFS it's pig-ignorant arrogance! It doesn't just hold up traffic, it tempts drivers to overtake where it is not safe to do so.

edit*

Reading PB's views I'm starting to feel an urge to side-swipe the b*st*rds! I always drive well clear around cyclists (I've ridden  bicycles, mopeds and motorcycles) but there is no excuse for riding two-abreast unless the inside rider is a novice or child. When I ride my bike I keep away from the gutter and leave myself somewhere to go if a car gets too close.

It doesn't just hold up cars for a "few seconds" it holds up a queue of traffic for anything up to 2 miles! I've had to sit behind two-abreast cyclists a few times myself, crawling along at 10mph for 5 minutes. Why can't they pull in and stop for a few seconds? Or are their "race times" more important than being courteous to other road users?

Answer 4

Hahaha I was about to come here and tell you not to cycle like that because it is such a pest to every other driver.  Yes, I agree with you, no wonder they are always getting knocked off their bikes.  I don't think there are any laws against it though.

Answer 5

As others have said, it is legal to cycle 2 abreast.

When I used to cycle with a club we often used to cycle side by side:

a) to socialise, as the noise of traffic can drown out voices and also the noise of air (like when you stick your head out of a car when it's moving, although obviously not quite that noisy) and to some extent the noise of the bike (gears, tyres etc)

b) was because it is safer, usually. It meant that the car had to slow down as it has to be clear for them to overtake (and therefore theygive a wide birth as it is then clear to overtake). When i've cycled by myself people get very close and don't give a wide birth especially if they are in a hurry and squeeze by, and have known of being clipped by wingmirrors.

In response to your other points, people talk when they drive, to their passengers or on mobile phones or look at maps etc etc and a car is far more dangerous if you lose concentration when your behind the wheel than compared to a bike where if you don't cncentrate it's pretty much you getting run over or ending up in a ditch.

Nearly done. My final point is sometimes you don't actually hear cars approaching from behind especially on country roads where they tend to be driving slower due to them being narrow and having more bends. I think I read somewhere that modern engines are so quiet it's the tyres that make the most noise so less speed = less tyre noise, if you see what i'm getting at. I normally try to get out of the way if I hear a car and i'm riding 2 abreast unless i'm doing it for a worthwhile purpose like safety, but everyone rides differently and there are bad cyclists like there are bad drivers.

Think that covers everything.

Answer 6

I'm fairly sure it is legal.

As for the benfits? - dunno

but you can talk to passengers in your car, motorcyclists are aloud to use radio to talk to passengers so why not let cycles be 2 abreast.

maybe its a case for government investment in tandems though! lol

Answer 7

Are you talking about tandem biking, or just riding side-by-side, or some other way I dont even know about?  I am confused by the meaning of 2 a breast.  Tandem bikes allow riders to give eachother a break when they need it, and it gives them a longer wheel base (not quite sure why that helps, but maybe i would if i tried it).

Answer 8

it is legal, and its a way of saying " go around me , dont act as if i'm not there."

the thinking is that if you ride right against the kerb you keep having to pull out to avoid falling down drains and holes, many car drivers just miss u by inches, better to be properly in the way and the driver has to negotiate around you correctly. making sure the way ahead is clear before passing you.

if you were cycling two bikes tight into the gutter cars just go by without thinking then may have to squeeze close to one of you if something is coming the other way..

also the one on the inside can safely pull around drains and holes knowing his available zone is right up to his buddy riding beside him, he doesnt have to check over his shoulder for oncoming cars as a pothole suddenly lurches up on him.

and the outside guy can always drop behind his chum if he sees he is causing a hold up which wont sort itself any time soon.

and yes it is ok to want to go at 60 on the right roads but when other legitimate users are going slower  then you have to slow down to negotiate these obstacles.. big deal , its a few seconds delay in your day.