big chainring 

I've been seeing this more and more whilst driving my car. In traffic, during rush hour, a couple of dweebs have to ride side by side chit catting away making a nuisance out of themselves and blocking the road. Single file! Come on. Don't be hogging the road and pissing off drivers.

ahsposo 

Oh, bite me. It's legal in my state.

rpenmanparker 

Under the conditions you describe, single file would certainly seem to be more neighborly. But considering the preferred riding placement for safety and prevention of flats of well toward the center of the lane, even so, there won't be room for a car to pass. So it is largely moot. On a 4 lane road it shouldn't make any difference. Blocking traffic down to bike speed on a two lane road at times when passing isn't practical is just not a good idea.

Homebrew01

2 abreast on quiet roads.
Single file in traffic.

We are lucky to be able to ride for hours with just a handful of cars and no traffic lights.

coasting 

single file yes.

thehammerdog

I must confess that I am a culprit of such a side by side chat. While riding it seems to make sense until I drive then I want to stop and punch the tools.Unless they come up with a blue tooth ready helmet what else is a boy to do? It is not easy chatting it up as we arm up when your starring at your buddies butt going 20mph.

merlinextraligh

In Florida, it's legal to ride two abreast, unless it impedes traffic.

And for a large group on many roads, two abreast is less of an impediment to traffic, than a single line that is really long.

So it becomes a situational thing, sometimes two abreast is actually better.

rbart4506

Take a deep breath and relax....

Much more important things in the world to worry about

coasting 

They should make a law banning it.

BillyD

They're little girls is what it is.

Phil_gretz

I ride with a friend who is a marketing type, a talker. He's a good man. He and I both have teen-to-twenties daughters, so have many common concerns and issues. He talks up a storm, but it's interesting. I answer in brief sentences but try to keep the conversation going, and ask questions while we ride, but I let him do the bulk of the talking. It seems to work, as the riding time flys by.

If I want him to talk less, I take him out into the hilly horse country. Things quiet down...

Menel

You ride two abreast. Saw your car in half and narrow down to single file.

coasting 

huh?

This is what happened when you smoke too much weed.

halfspeed

What's with all the cars on my roads? I find it inconvenient at times so they should be banned while I'm on my bike.

halfspeed

Made perfect sense to me.

BillyD

Did somebody say banned?

RT

If I want chit-chat, I'll listen to the voices in my head talk to one another. I'm out to ride, not chew the fat.

topflightpro

I think the OP has a bit of a point. In high traffic areas and times, it really makes sense for a group of two to ride single file. Not doing so serves only to irritate drivers, many of whom don't like cyclists to begin with.

Road etiquette is a give and take, and it is incumbent upon us to offer drivers the same respect we expect from them.

At the same time, in low traffic areas and times, or as mentioned in large groups, riding two abreast is perfectly reasonable.

I will add that in my state, there is no law requiring bicyclists to ride single file, but there also is no law allowing the to ride wider than single file.

svtmike

Maybe they're still trying to figure out how the old guy on the hybrid stuck to their 30mph paceline? That kind of thing can take a long time to work through.

mkadam68

+1

+1

Hiro11

All true, but often non-cyclists assume that the law states that cyclists must be single file and must be all the way over to the right at all times. In fact, I've had many motorists tell me that it's illegal for me to be on the road at all. Of course, none of that is true, cyclists have just as much right to the entire lane as cars. In fact, many bicycle safety groups recommend taking the whole lane in high traffic situations. Having said that, there's the law and there's common sense. I certainly agree you should stay single file as much as possible on all roads and stay out of the way as much as possible. The problem is that many motorists seems to have zero tolerance of any inconvenience from cyclists ever. Every day, cars blow by me with inches to spare around blind corners. This lack of patience has often put me in serious danger when I'm out on my bike. Many motorists need to calm down, relax and give cyclists ten seconds.

Clipped_in

Agreed.

But, I also sympathize with the OP's comments. Too many cyclists I see just show no respect for vehicle traffic and go double and even triple wide when it simply is not appropriate.

tagaproject6

Somebody needs some anger management. Better yet, A&S.

whitemax

Use common sense in whatever traffic situation you find yourself in. Doesn't matter what the law or etiquette says after you've been hit with a rolling steel cage weighing over 3000 lbs.

ovoleg

OP is a typical fata$$ that is late to his McDonalds appointment.