CJWessing

...had to follow a large group of bikers yesterday for about 15 minutes going up Angeles Crest Highway going ~5mph until the we had a safe passing zone. Speed limit was 45 mph. Something doesn't seem right here?

su8pack1

I've come across that many times where they block the entire lane. They want all the same rights of the road as vehicles, but most follow none. They run stop lights and stop signs, run the reds on school busses etc...

911Dreamin

Bikers have increasingly taken to "blocking" the lane as an attempt to increase safety when riding. This may seem counter intuitive but too many drivers are distracted or just plain not courteous. Just presenting another POV.

hatchetf15

808Bill

Can't stand it when these guys act like it's their road and have their own rules...Some roads are just not bike friendly!

iammacey

I cycle. And I agree. There are roads I refuse to ride, particularly enthusiast roads for cars/motorcycles.

They aren't breaking laws though. And they are to be treated as another vehicle. Frustrating, yes. And I wish that all people, regardless of mode of transport, would consider other's around them - but they are allowed to use the road and to treat it just like they are any other vehicle.

911Syncro

Here is one California vehicle code on driving too slowly: 22400. (a) No person shall drive upon a highway at such a slow speed as to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic unless the reduced speed is necessary for safe operation, because of a grade, or in compliance with law.

Also here is your trivia question: What is the speed limit on a CA road? Ans: The posted speed limit or whatever speed is the maximum safe speed. So for example you can get a speeding ticket in a 50 mph zone if you are going only 30 mph and the observing officer decides that is too fast to be safe (rain, obstacles, snow, etc I suppose).

Tommy Tuite

Drive earlier. Do your recon on the way down hills and scout for slower users that you'll see on the way back up. Certainly not all road users apply common sense, but that's life.

Dr_Strangelove

For a single biker or a small biking group I rarely have trouble going severely left in my lane, sometimes even straddling the line if visibility is fine to give them some security and respect. This is byproduct of coal rollers, and other a-holes who for some reason do not recognize a human being on a bicycle as a human being and mess with them. I've read plenty of articles of bikers being run off the road by animals who should not have licenses. My poor senior-age parents are still avid bikers, bless them, and I worry about them every time they hit the rural roads .

Safety in numbers... I understand the frustration.

DBC

BS! They are unlicensed, uninsured and unregistered. They are impeding the flow of traffic for licensed, registered and insured vehicles and are not allowed to use the road just like any other vehicle, try taking your bicycle on the freeway and see what happens. Groups like this create a danger to themselves and others because of their arrogance toward the legal vehicles on the road and the flagrant violation of VTL. Biggest liability nightmare to legal vehicles on the road are these bicyclist groups.

lowpue

I must admit, my wife bikes even with that I get furious about bikers capturing the whole road instead of staying to the side...the problem is it just takes one guy to do that and then you get prejudiced against the whole bunch. Can't wait to see the outcome of this thread.

hatchetf15

Flyfishnick

I bike too and it can be scary either way, in a car or on a bike. I do a couple of rides a year, long distance like the Seattle to Portland ride. Lots of bikers, but the groups I ride with stay single file or get yelled at. I won't ride with the groups "that own the road". It's not worth it. I don't want a car to have to come near me (or anyone for that matter) so I play it safe for everyone. While driving, I have come up on some groups going through twisty mountain roads outside Napa, CA and what a scare. The bicyclists are much braver than I. There is no way I would bike those beautiful hills and all blind corners. I will admit though, I have been going downhill on a road with tight turns that I will take the middle of the inside lane if there are 2 lanes in the same direction, but I am exceeding the speed limit at that point
(That is usually when I say "God, please don't let anything break right now") Going 45-50mph on 2 skinny wheels can be exhilarating, but it has to be a the right place at the right time.

Debo18D

Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.


D.

DBC

DH, it's not a rant, it's a comment about bicyclists flagrantly violating the law. Again, these bicyclist groups pose a great danger to themselves and the legal vehicles on the roadway. § 1234b - Persons riding bicycles or skating or gliding on in-line skates upon a roadway shall ride, skate, or glide single file when being overtaken by a vehicle. Again, driving on general use roads, not closed roadways or bicycle paths in groups with 2,3,5 abreast are a danger to themselves and the legally licensed and insured vehicles on the road.

I guess a group of 10,20,30,50 bicyclists should drive however they see fit on public roads or should they drive in a single file? The roads around here are all in use at all times by motorized vehicles, so the idea that bicyclist groups should not agree in advance to protect themselves and others by riding single file or at max, 2 abreast so they can get into single file quickly and efficiently as they are being overtaken by cars would be appropriate. To date, I can unequivocally say that I have never seen bicyclist group display ANY behavior that respects the roadway for cars, trucks, motorcycles, etc.