trek330

I was going South on 9W After the Alpine climb on the part without a shoulder Today.Across the road, going North, also without a shoulder, were a pair of riders,immaculately dressed and on high end bikes immersed in conversation riding side by side like no one else exists in the world!Not only is this arrogant it's also very dangerous and rude.My 2 cents.

indyfabz

I believe that is legal in NJ if you are not obstructing traffic.

trek330

There was no shoulder!

jpr1379

Well one blind corner and a fully loaded truck who can not stop on a dime will change that situation rather quickly.

SteamingAlong

I've had a full kitted club rider, run me off of a MUP, because her group of gal pals were riding 4-across and across both sides of the bike path. She was FLYING and so engrossed in her conversation that everyone within 1/2 mile could hear that I don't even think she noticed me.

Some people are just self-absorbed D-Bags.

Lightingguy

Agree in general. Possibly just needed to talk for a few seconds ?, route change ?, pee stop ?, whatever. I ride alongside my buddies all the time as I am nearly deaf in the voice range and cannot always carry a conversation while riding single file. I won't do this on a road where it might be dangerous or annoying to motorists (or try not too).

I'm suspecting you are getting fed up with the general lack of courtesy you see from cyclists who you would think would know better. You mention dress and quality of bike as expecting that that automatically makes them more experienced and possibly more aware of how their position in the road affects how other's think of them. I tend to find that the more expensive the bike, as well as the wearing of Euro team jerseys and shorts tends to have the reverse action.

randomgear

Was traffic backed up behind them?
Were vehicles having to wait to pass?

trek330

Not at all.People were smiling and waving as they changed lanes to pass them.

maxine

If the road had no shoulder, as you indicate, then motorists would have had to change lanes (or at the least move partially into the other lane) to pass even a single rider safely.

That being said, I tend not to ride side-by-side, particularly on no-shoulder roads, except for brief necessary conversations, and fall back and single up if I hear/see a car approaching from either direction.

indyfabz

So what? A reading from the NJ vehicle code pertaining to the operatrion of a bike:

"39:4-14.2, 39:4-10.11 Operating Regulations.
Every person riding a bicycle on a roadway shall ride as near to the right roadside as practicable exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction. A bicyclist may move left under any of the following conditions: 1) To make a left turn from a left turn lane or pocket; 2) To avoid debris, drains, or other hazardous conditions on the right; 3) To pass a slower moving vehicle; 4) To occupy any available lane when traveling at the same speed as other traffic; 5) To travel no more than two abreast when traffic is not impeded, but otherwise ride in single file. Every person riding a bicycle shall ride in the same direction as vehicular traffic." (emphasis added).

There is no mention of the need for a shoulder in order to ride two abreast, and you may occupy an entire lane when travelling at the same speed as other traffic. You post did not address these issues, hence my qualification "if you are not obstructing traffic." Based on the information you provided, they could have been riding legally. As such, you have no cause to get upset with my observation. The courteous response would have been to elaborate on your original post if traffic was in fact being impeded.

trek330

https://cyclistsinternational.com/?p=1683 This is the same road.

trek330

Basically the post was intended for those who are familiar with the road which is one of the most popular routes for cyclists in the area and is a major highway with a 55 MPH speed limit.