AlmostTrick

What? You have to drive into the ditch with oncoming cars? Really?

The time spent waiting behind a cyclist(s) is extremely relevant to a reasonable person.

RR3

Yes to the first, but your questioning the veracity of my statement is wholely unreasonable.

With respect to the wait time. You took part of my quote out of context, which is also unreasonable.

If cyclists are riding illegally, the amount of my time that they steal is irrelevant to the discussion. The law does not allow groups of cyclists to ride three abreast under any circumstances.

AlmostTrick

It is the responsibility of the person doing the overtaking to do so in a safe manner. If a driver attempting a pass has to drive into the ditch (or forces oncoming traffic into it) they are breaking the law, and creating a dangerous situation. That those they are overtaking may be breaking the law is immaterial.

Cool thing is, the OP understands this.

italktocats

uh

"deal with it"

italktocats

a 20sec google taught me its not legal to pass a cyclists on a solid in your state

italktocats

and whenever people will take their car on the road, there should be a event or something blabla

12strings

1. Where I live, It is not uncommon to get stuck behind a slow moving tractor or farm machine on a narrow road. In ALMOST EVERY CASE...it doesn't last more than a mile or two, because after being tailed for a few minutes, the tractor will be considerate and pull over when there is an opporunity to do so, letting the faster traffic pass. Common sense, courtesy, cars have to drive slower for a short time, but not very long.

2. In my group bike rides in these same areas, we often ride 2 or even 3 sided by side when there is no traffic, but when cars come from either direction, we stretch out into single-file to make passing as easy as possible. (The solid line is not an issue, because most of the roads have no lines or paint whatsoever...Yeah, farmland.... :-) I chalk our default response to traffic as common sense and courtesy. (Our groups are usually nomore than 8-12 riders...)

3. On a recent ride, there was a large truck that got stuck behind us as we were climbing a 1 mile, 6-7% grade that curved back and forth sharply. we were climbing single-file, stretched out due to differing climbing speeds, as far right as possible...but the truck did not attempt to pass until the road straightened out...probably because of some kind of common sense and courtesy, or something... :-)

AlmostTrick

^^^Thankfully, most road users are more co-operative than that... like the OP.

Oh, and Thank You!

RR3

If there is such a law and there isn't in my state but more to the point, then why are many roads too narrow for two motor vehicles to pass without one going off the shoulder and into the "Ditch". The standard approach to these situations is the car stops as far right as possible and the pickup going the other way rides off the road to scrape by.

If cyclists would ride single file as required by law, I could pass without going off the road. Pretty damned simple.

The OP is not the typical driver.

My point is rather simple. Cyclists are their own worst enemy by blocking the roadway when they have not legal or logical reason to do so.

lynnlee

Italktocats,
20 seconds of internet research is usually pretty reliable, but it turns out (according to the County Sheriff's Office) that it's actually legal in Va.

Bravo on originality though!
Oh, wait..

AlmostTrick

There may be some variance in vehicle code wording, but as far as I understand ALL states require the overtaking vehicle to only do so in a safe manner. It would be ludicrous not to.

This is why I really tire of hearing the “The cyclist’s (scofflaw or not) forced me to pass when it wasn’t safe” excuse. Every operator is ALWAYS responsible for safe operation of their vehicle.

I don’t know why your state doesn’t make roads wide enough for lifted monster trucks, but maybe they need to require their owners pass a special test proving they can safely operate them around others.

I’m very doubtful that cyclists are “their own worst enemy”, but I agree they shouldn’t block other road users when it isn’t necessary.

Juan Foote

Oh, I figured when you called me a liar and asked what area that you were actually willing to do some homework to back up your bull****. Guess disparaging someone's character is fine, so long as it's not too much work or have to follow up, or anything.

kickstart

As a cyclist and commercial vehicle operator, I know I'm often disrupting the flow of traffic, I also know a few will deal with it poorly. As road users we are all obligated to be as safe as possible without being compelled to endanger ourselves. Its our obligation to minimize our negative impact on others when we can regardless of our mode. The rules and laws of the road are not intended to be used as an excuse to relieve us of our obligations and responsibilities.

In the context of the thread, those who choose to use the road for group activities have an obligation to accommodate other road users ahead of their desire to maintain group integrity.

CB HI

I can see why cyclist in your area do not trust you with their safety, especially when you are in your oversized lifted vehicles.

CB HI

Based on your claims of obligation, your company and the other UPS, Fed-Ex, etc. companies should switch to mini-station wagons to lower their impact on the rest of us. Why do you feel you have a special right to drive an oversized vehicle and stop in places blocking much of the traffic?

cncspinner

The group I ride with on Monday nights usually brings 1500+ every Monday, when it's warm out its not uncommon to hit 2000. Cars where/are pretty understanding when they wait though 4-5 light changes till the group makes it through the intersection. This year there is a police escort to cork the intersections. I ride with 3 groups on different days of the week, around here a group of 20 is small

kickstart

Everybody is obligated to do what they can, when they can within reason, nobody gets a free pass to do as they please without consideration for others.

In the real world most folks in all user groups understand, and do what's reasonable. Those with mental, or emotional defects who can't define what is, or act in a reasonable manner on their own are a lost cause as it should be self evident. Unfortunately we're stuck putting up with their caustic martyrdom, and selfish oblivion.

Another problem with groups is the "group mentality", which often leads to behavior that people as individuals otherwise wouldn't engage in.

caloso

One thousand five hundred riders?

AlmostTrick

^^^Words of wisdom. If everyone practiced this there would be a lot less problems on our roads... and less to debate on A&S!

Oh, and in keeping with the "Most polite thread ever on A&S" Thank you, sir!

AlmostTrick

Critical mass, I'm guessing. A whole nother topic!

CB HI

As is evident in the UPS and Fed-Ex groups.

Rollfast

It took three whole pages to gather that you shouldn't pass at all on a solid line, and the OP says there is a legal way to do it in Virginia.

Ipso facto, they need to ask their authorities. Case closed?

FliesOnly1

I'm having a hard time understanding this. There are roads where you live on which two cars do not fit? Maybe you shouldn't be allowed to drive a vehicle that is wider than one lane down those roads then, eh?

lynnlee

FliesOnly1,

Roads like this are rampant in rural America. Narrow country roads often have areas that are impassable by two cars at one time. Usually there's a warning sign. Sometimes there's not.

CB HI

Why are you posting hypotheticals at us when you are the only one that has the exact numbers available to post up.

Makes it look like you are exaggerating again or hiding something.

How about actually posting the road your driving on, where you get on and approximate point you get off the roadway. What is the actual average number of cyclist in the group you ride behind?

I was being nice by using the low end of the speed range of 18 mph rather than a middle range of 21 mph. Then you want to drop the speed down to 17 mph for the cyclist for your hypothetical.

Maybe the real solution for everyone on this road, is to install an extra lane at a couple of the uphill sections that would allow easy passing at those points. That solution even works for slow busses/trucks on the road.