Cannot believe there are no replies!!

pwmedcraft wrote:

I live just off the A25 and ride & drive along it daily and I don't see many people riding 2 abreast let alone 3 or 4. Whereabouts and when do you see that?

Riding 2 abreast can sometimes make it easier for cars to overtake since the line of riders is shorter, and it can also discourage stupid overtaking, rather like riding in primary can.

True, if it is that busy, I find it hard to believe people are riding 4 abreast, that would take up the entire lane if not go a little onto the other side, and the group would have to be very big to cause that.

There is a difference between riding 2,3 and 4 abreast and cyclists overtaking each other. If a cyclist overtakes another one, that's not riding two abreast although it may seem for a very short period of time that they are. It's just like cars aren't allowed to drive two abreast but they can overtake each other. Sometimes 2 lines of cyclists will overtake a single cyclist, they're not 3 abreast, just overtaking, but some drivers get annoyed as they can't see the distinction.

Some also cannot see how riding 2 abreast will actually aid cars overtaking but that's another story...

pwmedcraft wrote:

I live just off the A25 and ride & drive along it daily and I don't see many people riding 2 abreast let alone 3 or 4. Whereabouts and when do you see that?

Riding 2 abreast can sometimes make it easier for cars to overtake since the line of riders is shorter, and it can also discourage stupid overtaking, rather like riding in primary can.

There's probably only one bit of the A25 between Guildford and Dorking where you would even consider riding more than two abreast and that's the bit between Silent Pool at the bottom of Newlands corner and the turning for Shere, about 1.5 miles maximum. The rest is typical rural A road where cycling in single file, or two abreast at a pinch, would be the norm. It doesn't make it dangerous and unsuitable for cyclists though, that's the fault of the knob-head drivers who think they own the road.

freespirit1 wrote:

2200 signed petition now.

The Tour of Britain closures could be the straw that breaks the camel's back.

I doubt that those signatures will stop the road closures next year, it may prompt them to vary the route into other counties the years following though.

Just a quick note though, you asked for reasoned comments on your points, I spent quite a while addressing each of your original issues plus others you raised and you have so far declined to comment at all on them. I find this very rude, no comment, rebuttal, agreement, thanks, not even an acknowledgment. Next time you want to put your point across, don't beg for feedback and then totally ignore it.

@freespirit1 Nobody cares about your problems anymore. You have exhausted what little sympathy you sought here. You do go on so.

Bikeboy, I think he's shown why he's on here, not to have a discussion or debate, just to try and antagonise and stir trouble. Best just to leave it, it's clear what he's trying to do, just provoke a response, what a hero.

freespirit1 wrote:

2200 signed petition now.

The Tour of Britain closures could be the straw that breaks the camel's back.

ToB is now in its 10th year. British winner in the shape of Sir Brad, further British interest in Cav who's obliged by winning two stages thus generating the extra media.

When the ToB was revived, it was quite difficult to get it into towns and it had to take some circuitous routes sometimes. However it's gone from a 5-day to an 8-day and got bigger and better every year.

Now, for every one town that they accept as a start/finish town, they have to reject a further 10. Councillors, the public, they all want it. It generates massive amounts of revenue, bit of a feel-good factor. I was up at the finish in Kendal on Monday and the place was packed (in spite of the rubbish weather). Cafes and pubs were all full, schools had come out to cheer the riders in, there was a really friendly atmosphere. Towns quite like that kind of thing. So no, Mr Freespirit1, it won't be the end of it. The council will look at the hundreds of thousands of people lining the route, the extra millions of pounds spent in the area, the publicity gained from the pictures and TV and they'll ignore the lonely voices of 2000 NIMBYs.

Sorry.