Advocacy & Safety - Dangerous Montreal Group Riders

I was riding on the Lachine canal bike path, just about opposite the Atwater Market, slightly west, when a group of riders (all wearing matching blue jerseys) went by in the other direction. This was around noon.

The bike path has one lane on each side and each lane is about 2.5 feet wide. The group had about 15 riders in a pack and they were riding two bikes wide. This was, in my opinion, quite dangerous. I had to hug the right of the path (close to pedestrians) and still, these riders went by less than a foot away from me.

I don't know if this was a team training for competition or a casual club ride, but if anyone is in charge of that group, would it be possible to have people ride in a more intelligent manner?

I appreciate that the group picked a time when the path was less crowded (I would be very, very, very furious if they'd pulled that one off on a sunday afternoon), but still there are other users of that path and it would be nice if all were considerate of each other. These is not about cyclists claiming their legal right to the road against car drivers, this is about cyclists driving safely, so that other cyclists can ride safely as well.

Its not about anything you comment on. Group rides like this should not be on a small (5ft wide!) path like this. The group leader needs to better plan their rides.

Al

I wouldn't really mind if those group rides were on this path. But there are definite sections where you cannot ride in a double file and you have to be cautious when overtaking. Although you're probably right. 15 people in a pack is difficult on such a path. I have seen smaller groups riding on there and they've never caused me any trouble. I was more hoping that someone from that group would read this and realize that was a dangerous riding style.

If they're riding on your side of the path, stand your ground. I would even consider stopping and dismounting to force them to go around. Regardless of larger numbers or matching jerseys, they have no more right to the path than you do. If everyone gets out of their way then they have no incentive to share the path.

What I don't understand is how two cyclists (let alone a group) can safety pass each other on a 5' wide path. A 2.5' lane is too narrow for travel above 10mph.
Al

If they're riding on your side of the path, stand your ground. I would even consider stopping and dismounting to force them to go around. Regardless of larger numbers or matching jerseys, they have no more right to the path than you do. If everyone gets out of their way then they have no incentive to share the path.
Yup, that's the only way to get them to understand that not all is fluid around them. I have the same issue with dog walkers and rollerbladers - although I cut lots of slack for young kids on bikes and parents with trailers/childseats. Call me a softie.

This is why I now ride almost exclusively on the highway. Unfortunately these "club" riders sometimes pass as I'm getting to turn off and they sometimes show all the arrogance that makes motorists dislike/distrust cyclists. Other times I just suck their wheels, or drop them, just to piss them off that a fat guy on a steel bike can keep up!

I'm with va_cyclist and Wind 'N Snow - stand your ground.
They're playing chicken (without really thinking about it), and you lost.
Most of these groups adjust for all kinds of obstacles with uncanny precision.
But they need to recognize an obstacle in order to adjust. Someone moving out of their way is hardly an obstacle.

I'm with va_cyclist and Wind 'N Snow - stand your ground.
They're playing chicken (without really thinking about it), and you lost.
Most of these groups adjust for all kinds of obstacles with uncanny precision.
But they need to recognize an obstacle in order to adjust. Someone moving out of their way is hardly an obstacle.
Agree. If you are not in danger, or making it dangerous for someone else, stand your ground and make them do what they should have the sense to do in the first place. How else will they learn if you don't give them "gentle instruction"?

In yesterday's 20 mile ride I came across people riding side by side and taking up the whole path 6 times. On only one of the occasions, did they adjust to single file. Does anyone else remember the days when people cared enough about others to automatically make that adjustment? My normal response is to simply tell them in an evil tone to "ride single file" and nothing more. If they wish to argue, they can turn around and catch up. On the 7th occasion yesterday, it was a kid (10-12) on a bmx bike playing chicken. My warning to him was "chicken is a game you will lose son"... Amazing how fast he got out of the way :D