Originally Posted by
doc0c
Legally, you can't drive two abreast, or ride motorcycles two abreast, so why bicycles?
Have you looked at a bicycle lately? A car? Have you noticed anything different between the two?
If not, I'll cut to the chase -- the bicycle is smaller. Much smaller. A bicycle with rider is about 2 feet wide -- a car or truck is about six to eight feet wide. Two cyclists riding two feet apart from each other are about as narrow as a small car.
Permitting cyclists (and motorcyclists) to ride two abreast makes perfect sense given the differences between the cycles and the cars.
"Same rights, same rules" sounds good in theory, but considering that bicycles and cars are different, some minor differences in the laws makes sense -- unless you'd like to take your bicycle in for exhaust emissions tests yearly?
If the law doesn't let you ride two abreast, then I guess you should follow the law -- but an even better plan would be to obey the law for now, but work to have the law changed. Permitting two abreast riding benefits cyclists
and motorists.