Biking Safety / Riding Two Abreast

Biking Safety / Riding Two Abreast

Biking Safety has been on my mind a bit lately. In part this started with the accident in Manitoba (see back a few blog posts.) and our discussion with the TV news crew. But also, our experiences on various rides and our treatment by various motorists brought this to the forefront of my thoughts. In particular, my friend (and fellow C2C rider) Pieter and I have been talking a lot about this.

I'm sure all of us have had our fair share of run-ins with motor vehicles. Whether an undeserved toot on the horn, or a truck that passes too closely, or even some unkind words yelled at us... I'm sure we've all gotten some of that. It's too bad, as the vast majority of drivers do pass us with perfect courtesy, but it is the others we remember.

Last week, four of us were out on a 100km ride, on quiet paved back country roads, training for the East leg of the Sea To Sea tour. As such, we were riding two abreast. This allows us to talk and fellowship together as we ride. We were passed by a pair of motorcycles, one of whom slowed down and yelled at our lead biker that we were "all over the road".

The truth is, we weren't. We were within one lane, and in that lane we were riding on the right hand side of that lane. But we were riding two abreast.

Both Pieter and I have since put in some reading and researching and googling to find out more on this. And I thought I'd pass along some of what we found.

First off, two abreast bicycle riding is perfectly legal in Ontario.

Don't take my word for it, go to the Ministry of Transportation's Cycling Safety web pages and see for yourself. It makes no mention of a prohibition against two abreast cycling. The Can-Bike II safety course manual also makes no mention of two abreast cycling.

The ministry guide summarized bike safety like this:

1. Slower traffic stays right
2. Slower traffic must give way to faster traffic when safe and practical

"Accordingly, cyclists should ride one meter from the curb or close to the right hand edge of the road when there is no curb, unless they are turning left, going faster than other vehicles or if the lane is too narrow to share."

In other words, you are entitled to the entire lane IF you feel that your safety warrants taking it. (This is partly based on other bits and pieces I read there and in other locations, not just on the above quotation.)

Another good document on this subject was written by Avery Burdett of the Ottawa (Ontario) Bicycle Club. (Follow the link to read up on his run-ins with a police officer on this very topic.)

And one more from the Ottawa Bicycle Club here: Group Riding Introduction
In particular I found this section of that document very informative:

"The default formation is double file, changing to single file if traffic and road conditions dictate, provided that doing so does not imperil the safety of the pack. Riding double file is the traditional format for cycling groups-it permits easy conversation with other riders, uses the road space efficiently, and minimizes the overall size of each pack."

-ALSO-

"If motorists are experiencing difficulty passing the pack because of heavy and continuous traffic in the opposite direction, the pack leader will decide whether conditions merit changing to single file. The key factor is the width of the roadway or lane. It may be safer to hold up traffic if there is insufficient width for it to pass comfortably. Riding single file may not benefit either cyclists or motorists -- it doubles the length of the pack and this could make passing more hazardous because of poor sight distances." (emphasis added)

Well, lots to know. I just wish that all motorists would also be reminded of this. Especially the three drivers who honked their horns at me today, as well the two large trucks who passed me without giving me (IMHO) a safe amount of clearance.

Oh and just for our non-Ontario readers, let me add a bit more.

I also found this other document. This document is again from Ottawa (active cyclists up there, I guess) and primarily dealt with a local bylaw prohibiting two-abreast cycling, which they repealed. However, it also provided a bit of background information that covered other locations around the world.

For instance:

• European countries and Australia permit two abreast cycling. The UK Highway Code states "when cycling, do not ride more than two abreast".
• Eight Provinces and two territories explicitly forbid two abreast cycling. Ontario and Saskatchewan have no specific rule. (wow, lucky I live in Ontario!)
• Although it was not possible in carrying out our research to obtain information on every US state law, we found that most states permit side by side cycling. Virginia is the only state known to forbid the practice. "State laws are generally based on the Uniform Vehicle Code & Model Traffic Ordinance (revised 1987) published by the US National Committee on Uniform Traffic Laws and Ordinances. It states "persons riding two abreast shall not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic, and on a laned roadway, shall ride within a single lane".

And once again what started as a simple idea to write a short article about safety and two-abreast cycling has grown into a huge document. I hope you learned something, I know I did!

Safe Driving! (And Safe Cycling as well.)

I took this photo this morning... Bells are required by law in Ontario, but mirrors are not... curious. I think everyone should have a mirror on their bike.