When should cyclists ride two abreast?

Isn't 18 inches a bit too close to the gutter? That'd be clipping the edge of every drain!

I have always interpreted Rule 66 as being aimed at cyclists in groups of two or three rather than larger groups of 8 or more, which is the audience for the GCN video. Very different styles of riding that calls for different tactics. A well disciplined peloton bowling along at 20+ mph is a very different beast when it comes to overtaking than a couple of friends strolling along chatting -- which they ought to be able to do, by the way. If traffic is heavy they won't be able to hear one another so should just ride however is safest for the conditions. SteppenHerring's rules put it better than I could.

Never understood the bit in Rule 66 about singling out around bends. If you ride out in the road rather than close to the side you will improve your visibility, and drivers should always drive at a speed where they can stop within their field of vision.

When your riding with Dolly Parton???

To be honest I think this whole debate about highway code is a little adacemic because the people who seem to quote the highway code (wrongly) the most is motorists, who seem to have wierd and wonderful ideas on what the highway code says about cyclists.

The people who seem to know the highway code (specifically regarding cyclists) are cyclists.  So by discussing it here we are preaching to the converted.  Yes, some of the rules are open to interpretation, but we all know that some of us like to ride primary, away from car doors, debris, taking the lane on the approach to pedestrian refuge islands to stop unsafe overtakes.  I know on club rides we take notice of cars, and call out "Car Back" to notify the leader, and he will then indicate when it is safe for the car to overtake.  On narrow lanes we cycle single file, and when safe(er) to do so we ride 2 abreast.

We cyclists know all this.  However, the sad tructh is that mototists don't, and they see these things as either illegal, or against the highway code.

It is motorists who need educating, which may help alliviate their frustrations if they think the cyclists in front is getting away with doing something illegal.

I think it might also help if there were videos telling motorists why some cyclists do jump red lights.  I know thats illegal, but in some instances there are reasons for it, i.e  getting ahead of the traffic rather than being pinned by a bus/lorry etc.  If people were educated on the reasons, they might be less frustrated/angry when it happens.  This then might actually reduce the instances that cyclists feel the need to RLJ.  

I personally feel that all motorists when sitting the driving test should have a number of hours on a bike in traffic, so that they understand how that feels, and then they are more aware of how their standard of driving impacts on cyclists.

I really don't see the conflict between the GCN vid and the recent Chris Boardman one. Both give good advice

The difference in tone can simply be explaine by the different target aduances - the GCN vid is aimed at new cyclists, and the Chris Boardman one aimed at drivers.

It's not quiet because everyone is more civil; it's because no one can get to grips with the new comments system. Newest first is killing ridiculous road.cc abusechat!

“Never ride more than two abreast, and ride in single file on narrow or busy roads and when riding round bends.” 

What? Exactly when you don't want people to try a stupid overtake?

I suppose I follow this rule when leading a group (prepares to be shot down):

• If the road is not wide enough for a car to safely pass 1 rider, then ride 2 up.
• If the road is wide enough for 1.5 cars and there's good visibility then single out to allow the overtake.
• If the road is wide enough for 2 cars then stay 2 up.
• If the road is 2.5 cars wide and busy then single out.
• If a queue has been behind for a while, look for a place to safely pull the group in to let it pass

In other words, single out when it will help a safe overtake, otherwise don't.

The question should be, "When is it safest for cyclists to ride 2 abreast?"

A lot of this discussion presumes that the driver wanting to pass is willing to do it safely.

Most do. PLENTY do not and are downright reckless/careless.

 The discussion could be better spent educating the more ignorant drivers.

Can I suggest young drivers and van drivers?

Big, important drivers in big, important cars.

The law says very little - the rule,  in this case Rule 66, says "never ride more than two abreast" etc. but this is not a statement of law - note that Rule 66 starts with "Should" rather than "Must".

It is not against the law to ride more than two abreast.

I'm not advocating it as a general way to ride but in many cases, e.g. when a group riding in pairs passes other riders, cyclists do and indeed may ride more than two abreast.

I had expected a whole brouhaha to be raging by now. A sign that the road.cc community is now a bit more civil?

While I usually ride two abreast when there's enough space, when solo I'm definitely more of a keep-just-inside-the-road (outside the shoulder) type of rider (except when approaching intersections or road debris). I'd rather reduce the times I test whether or not the driver behind has the mental faculties to equate "knocking over a bike out of frustration" with potentially murdering a human being.

If you know what you're doing, I say ride however you feel comfortable as long as you're following the law. If not I'd suggest keeping left (or right) until you approach intersections while you develop a better feel for the road.